SUPPORTING THEATRICAL WORK WRITTEN, DIRECTED, DESIGNED BY WOMEN*


The idea for Works by Women was conceived in August 2009, when I attended a meeting of 50/50 in 2020, a grassroots organization dedicated to achieving parity for professional theatre women by the 100th anniversary of women being guaranteed the right to vote in America.

What was made clear to me at that meeting was the extent to which women theatre artists lack the opportunities (never mind equal pay) of their male counterparts.  It is estimated that women playwrights, directors, and designers represent only 20% of all theatre professionals hired each year.  Ironically, women purchase 65% to 70% of all theatre tickets.  

Works by Women was established to make theatregoers – particularly women theatregoers – aware of this disparity and of the power they wield in addressing it:

  1. Our Works by Women website lists theatre productions where women represent at least 50% of a production’s artistic team and encourages our members and the public to support these works. At this time the following disciplines are considered when calculating whether or not a show meets our 50% criteria: Director (Director, Music Director), Writer (Playwright, Book-writer, Composer, Lyricist), Designer (Sound Designer, Scenic/Set Designer, Lighting Designer, Costume Designer, Projection Designer, Choreographer, Properties Designer). The following disciplines are not considered at this time: Producer, Assistant Designer, Stage Manager, Production Assistant, Actor, Performer, Casting Director, Musicians. As our resources grow we plan to include additional categories.
  2. As members of Works by Women, we attend several  productions a month where women are equitably represented. Works by Women obtains significantly reduced ticket prices for its members, which allows theatre producers to be recognized for their support of our mission. 
  3. Works by Women features women writers, designers and directors, whose work we have seen, so that producers can use our website as a resource for finding talented women theatre professionals. 

Works by Women is a not-for-profit organization that is currently operating with the generous support of Jann E. Leeming and The Royal Little Family Foundation. We depend on the community for funding and we hope that you will consider giving to help us continue to grow and thrive.

There is no knowing if 50/50 is achievable by the year 2020, but Works by Women is committed to doing everything in its power in the next six years to make it happen.

It’s time!

Ludovica Villar-Hauser
Founder of Works by Women

   

Learn More about the issue

"Not There Yet: What will it take to achieve equality for women in theatre?" by Marsha Norman
"Broadway's Glass Ceiling" by Theresa Rebeck
"Majority of Theater-Going Audience, Minority of Playwrights and Directors" by Eleanor J Bader
"Frozen in a Niche?" by Maureen Dowd
"Chicago Storefront Summit" report from Gender Equity Task Force
"Opening the Curtain on Playwright Gender" by Emily Glassberg Sands
"The Sexist Reality That the Tony Nominations Just Highlighted" by Michele Willens
"Face It: One Female Director Reigns" by Michele Willens
"Women are Missing from Tonys and Broadway" by Lynn Nottage
"Rethinking Gender Bias in Theater" by Patricia Cohen
"A stage of their own: why female playwrights are still marginalised" by Ellie Horne