Check out these New York City theatres/festivals who, like Works by Women,
support the work of women* in theatre.
support the work of women* in theatre.
365 Women A Year
This international playwriting project involves over 200 playwrights who have signed on to write one or more one-acts about extraordinary women in both past and present history. The project’s ambitious yet focused goal is to write women back into the social consciousness as well as empower and promote female playwrights around the country.
What seemed like an unattainable goal became a reality when Jess Eisenberg decided that she couldn’t do a project this size alone. She brought on her dear friend, Gina Scanlon, and together they began to write. After some small scale calls for playwrights, the numbers quickly grew and grew. The dedicated playwrights plan to continue this project every year, with a new list of 365 women in history.
This international playwriting project involves over 200 playwrights who have signed on to write one or more one-acts about extraordinary women in both past and present history. The project’s ambitious yet focused goal is to write women back into the social consciousness as well as empower and promote female playwrights around the country.
What seemed like an unattainable goal became a reality when Jess Eisenberg decided that she couldn’t do a project this size alone. She brought on her dear friend, Gina Scanlon, and together they began to write. After some small scale calls for playwrights, the numbers quickly grew and grew. The dedicated playwrights plan to continue this project every year, with a new list of 365 women in history.
Arethusa Speaks
Arethusa Speaks is both a theatre arts group and an educational outreach group focused on raising awareness, encouraging the prevention of and inspiring justice pertaining to violence against women through the medium of theatre.
Arethusa Speaks is both a theatre arts group and an educational outreach group focused on raising awareness, encouraging the prevention of and inspiring justice pertaining to violence against women through the medium of theatre.
Airmid Theatre
The Airmid Theatre Company recovers, collects, and produces classic works by women with artists of both genders as the playwrights originally intended.
The Airmid Theatre Company recovers, collects, and produces classic works by women with artists of both genders as the playwrights originally intended.
Branch Street Productions
Here at Branch Street Productions we think of life as a collection of stories. So we engage in re-writing history, re-contextualizing, and re-telling our stories through performance. We are a Brooklyn-based performance collective that consistently produces independent, original material for live performance. Thematically, our work varies, although our focus is mainly creating performance by/about the Black female experience in America. We just like making work we would like to see.
Here at Branch Street Productions we think of life as a collection of stories. So we engage in re-writing history, re-contextualizing, and re-telling our stories through performance. We are a Brooklyn-based performance collective that consistently produces independent, original material for live performance. Thematically, our work varies, although our focus is mainly creating performance by/about the Black female experience in America. We just like making work we would like to see.
Estrogenius Festival
Manhattan Theatre Source’s EstroGenius Festival, an annual celebration of female voices, is one of New York City’s largest women’s arts festivals.
Founded by Fiona Jones in 2000, the festival debuted with a program of 10 short plays and music. Since then, it has grown into a multi-week event including short plays, solo shows, teen performances, visual art, and dance. In past years, we’ve also had stand-up comedy, live music and fundraisers for African girls’ education. For 2013, we are particularly excited about our Creative Lounges, which will be full-day events for networking, panels and workshops.
Manhattan Theatre Source’s EstroGenius Festival, an annual celebration of female voices, is one of New York City’s largest women’s arts festivals.
Founded by Fiona Jones in 2000, the festival debuted with a program of 10 short plays and music. Since then, it has grown into a multi-week event including short plays, solo shows, teen performances, visual art, and dance. In past years, we’ve also had stand-up comedy, live music and fundraisers for African girls’ education. For 2013, we are particularly excited about our Creative Lounges, which will be full-day events for networking, panels and workshops.
The Dark Lady Players
Our work is to perform the allegories in the Shakespearean plays, to show that The Dark Lady the feminist poet Amelia Bassano Lanier, created them as religious parodies which were fronted by Shakespeare, the play-broker. Hundreds of years of searching for the author of the plays reached a climax when the Dark Lady Players put forward an innovative new solution. Our methodologies suggested they were written by the so-called ‘dark lady’ of the sonnets, Amelia Bassano Lanier (1569-1645). The first woman to publish a book of original poetry, she came from a family of Venetian Jews and was the long-term mistress to the man in charge of the English theater.
Our work is to perform the allegories in the Shakespearean plays, to show that The Dark Lady the feminist poet Amelia Bassano Lanier, created them as religious parodies which were fronted by Shakespeare, the play-broker. Hundreds of years of searching for the author of the plays reached a climax when the Dark Lady Players put forward an innovative new solution. Our methodologies suggested they were written by the so-called ‘dark lady’ of the sonnets, Amelia Bassano Lanier (1569-1645). The first woman to publish a book of original poetry, she came from a family of Venetian Jews and was the long-term mistress to the man in charge of the English theater.
Exquisite Corpse Company
Exquisite Corpse Company, founded in 2012 by Tess Howsam, Blaire O'Leary, Dana Steinhoff, and Blake Bishton, is a Brooklyn-based performance and integrated arts company. The company works to collide theater, film, visual installation, music, and dance into transformative, immersive events. Exquisite Corpse Company develops new, multi-disciplinary performances borne of collaboration between emerging Brooklyn based artists of all mediums. In addition to creating new work, the company seeks to provide ample opportunity to female artists.
Exquisite Corpse Company, founded in 2012 by Tess Howsam, Blaire O'Leary, Dana Steinhoff, and Blake Bishton, is a Brooklyn-based performance and integrated arts company. The company works to collide theater, film, visual installation, music, and dance into transformative, immersive events. Exquisite Corpse Company develops new, multi-disciplinary performances borne of collaboration between emerging Brooklyn based artists of all mediums. In addition to creating new work, the company seeks to provide ample opportunity to female artists.
FAB Women
FAB (“For, About, and By”) WOMEN is a new theater company under the Off-Broadway umbrella of The Barrow Group. We are 100 highly trained, professional, female writers, actors and directors, ranging in age from our 20’s to our 70’s (so far!) We focus on creating intimate, powerful and thought-provoking pieces about what informs women of the 21st Century.
FAB (“For, About, and By”) WOMEN is a new theater company under the Off-Broadway umbrella of The Barrow Group. We are 100 highly trained, professional, female writers, actors and directors, ranging in age from our 20’s to our 70’s (so far!) We focus on creating intimate, powerful and thought-provoking pieces about what informs women of the 21st Century.
Good To Go Festival
A platform that features plays, musicals & songs written by women that are "good to go" and ready for full production.
A platform that features plays, musicals & songs written by women that are "good to go" and ready for full production.
Gold No Trade
The Gold No Trade theater company is based in Brooklyn, New York. Founded by two performers who met at the Lecoq school in Paris, Gold No Trade creates rich new works using simple means. We strip theater down to its most essential, combining language, narrative and striking visual imagery to ignite both passion and intellect. Our plays are built from a range of historical sources and speak to contemporary issues by revisioning forgotten moments in history. They combine elements of lo-tech design, rigorous research, literary language, object puppetry, mimodynamics and our own style of physical theater. Each piece is developed through extended periods of collaboration that include work-in-progress showings to small audiences and workshops. Our shows have performed in Asia, Europe and the United States. An important part of Gold No Trade’s mission is to support women in the arts, both on and off the stage. We pride ourselves in creating strong and nuanced female characters in our work and by offering women an important role behind the scenes in production, play-writing and company management.
The company is also committed to providing a more deep theatrical experience by joining performances wherever possible with audience talkbacks, expert panel discussions, historical bibliographies and other supporting materials for further reading and discovery.
The Gold No Trade theater company is based in Brooklyn, New York. Founded by two performers who met at the Lecoq school in Paris, Gold No Trade creates rich new works using simple means. We strip theater down to its most essential, combining language, narrative and striking visual imagery to ignite both passion and intellect. Our plays are built from a range of historical sources and speak to contemporary issues by revisioning forgotten moments in history. They combine elements of lo-tech design, rigorous research, literary language, object puppetry, mimodynamics and our own style of physical theater. Each piece is developed through extended periods of collaboration that include work-in-progress showings to small audiences and workshops. Our shows have performed in Asia, Europe and the United States. An important part of Gold No Trade’s mission is to support women in the arts, both on and off the stage. We pride ourselves in creating strong and nuanced female characters in our work and by offering women an important role behind the scenes in production, play-writing and company management.
The company is also committed to providing a more deep theatrical experience by joining performances wherever possible with audience talkbacks, expert panel discussions, historical bibliographies and other supporting materials for further reading and discovery.
The Habitat
The Habitat exists to develop and support new work by emerging theater artists. We are dedicated to putting women’s stories at the forefront and supporting the work of female practitioners. Our work demands collaboration from all artists involved, and treats designers, actors, playwrights and directors as equal creators. Our work is necessarily theatrical, always political, and deeply personal.
The Habitat exists to develop and support new work by emerging theater artists. We are dedicated to putting women’s stories at the forefront and supporting the work of female practitioners. Our work demands collaboration from all artists involved, and treats designers, actors, playwrights and directors as equal creators. Our work is necessarily theatrical, always political, and deeply personal.
Honest Accomplice Theatre
Honest Accomplice Theatre is a non-profit with a mission to generate dialogue and stimulate change by focusing on topics that are often silenced, seen as shameful, or portrayed as one-dimensional. To deliver on this mission, Honest Accomplice Theatre produces work by the community, with the community, and for the community.
Honest Accomplice Theatre is a non-profit with a mission to generate dialogue and stimulate change by focusing on topics that are often silenced, seen as shameful, or portrayed as one-dimensional. To deliver on this mission, Honest Accomplice Theatre produces work by the community, with the community, and for the community.
La Luna Productions
La Luna Productions is dedicated to creating new theater work by women featuring strong female protagonists, viewed though a unique artistic lens: fusing classical Japanese performance techniques (primarily Kabuki) with Western theater.
La Luna Productions is dedicated to creating new theater work by women featuring strong female protagonists, viewed though a unique artistic lens: fusing classical Japanese performance techniques (primarily Kabuki) with Western theater.
LezCab
LezCab seeks to produce and host musical theatre events that celebrate queer women in the musical theatre community, raising awareness of the general lack of representation, and giving a voice to this underserved community. Queer women rarely see their stories in musical theatre. This community is hungry to be on stage, and LezCab gives them their chance to shine, while also giving women a chance to meet other women with similar interests. And LezCab is not just for the ladies! People of all genders and sexualities are welcome to join the fun.
LezCab seeks to produce and host musical theatre events that celebrate queer women in the musical theatre community, raising awareness of the general lack of representation, and giving a voice to this underserved community. Queer women rarely see their stories in musical theatre. This community is hungry to be on stage, and LezCab gives them their chance to shine, while also giving women a chance to meet other women with similar interests. And LezCab is not just for the ladies! People of all genders and sexualities are welcome to join the fun.
Looking Glass Theatre
Looking Glass Theatre is dedicated to Peter Brook's idea of "Rough Theater," where, he says, "a bucket will be banged for a battle," the theatre of "the torn sheet pinned up across the hall, the battered screen to conceal the quick changes." Rough Theatre never hides the mechanics of the stage but celebrates them with the audience.
Equally important in our work is exploring a feminine aesthetic. In concrete terms, this means that we have a female artist at the core of every project. Aesthetically, we try to insure that women do not allow their natural instincts to be sublimated by the desire to please the male dominated commercial market.
Our goal is to create a community of artistic freedom: freedom from the pressure to be commercial, freedom from gender expectations and freedom from judgment.
Looking Glass Theatre is dedicated to Peter Brook's idea of "Rough Theater," where, he says, "a bucket will be banged for a battle," the theatre of "the torn sheet pinned up across the hall, the battered screen to conceal the quick changes." Rough Theatre never hides the mechanics of the stage but celebrates them with the audience.
Equally important in our work is exploring a feminine aesthetic. In concrete terms, this means that we have a female artist at the core of every project. Aesthetically, we try to insure that women do not allow their natural instincts to be sublimated by the desire to please the male dominated commercial market.
Our goal is to create a community of artistic freedom: freedom from the pressure to be commercial, freedom from gender expectations and freedom from judgment.
Manhattan Shakespeare Project
Manhattan Shakespeare Project is a Shakespeare community committed to fostering the development of the female artist. We explore and create vital and currently viable theatre in four areas: Shakespeare, New Works, International Outreach and Education.
Shakespeare: We are committed to exploring how we can re-envision Shakespeare’s works to communicate to new generations, and new communities both inside NY and worldwide. Our Shakespeare focuses on gender constructs by asking the question: What does it mean to use an all-female cast with scripts and characters that were originally written for all-male casts? (Besides who can resist chicks with swords?)
New Works: We are committed to developing new works from emerging female playwrights, with a focus on supporting the work and the workers. In short, artist driven work that encourages the betterment of those artists by allowing them a safe collaborative community to hear their work, receive feedback and make changes with an eye towards production. (We are women hear us roar!)
Manhattan Shakespeare Project is a Shakespeare community committed to fostering the development of the female artist. We explore and create vital and currently viable theatre in four areas: Shakespeare, New Works, International Outreach and Education.
Shakespeare: We are committed to exploring how we can re-envision Shakespeare’s works to communicate to new generations, and new communities both inside NY and worldwide. Our Shakespeare focuses on gender constructs by asking the question: What does it mean to use an all-female cast with scripts and characters that were originally written for all-male casts? (Besides who can resist chicks with swords?)
New Works: We are committed to developing new works from emerging female playwrights, with a focus on supporting the work and the workers. In short, artist driven work that encourages the betterment of those artists by allowing them a safe collaborative community to hear their work, receive feedback and make changes with an eye towards production. (We are women hear us roar!)
Me and She Productions
Formed in 2011 by co-artistic directors Katie Yamulla and Lucy McMichael, Me & She Productions Inc. is dedicated to developing, producing, and staging new and existing plays that focus on women and their role in society. Me & She strongly advocates for plays that place female characters at the forefront and strives to employ women in as many roles, front and back of the house, as possible.
Formed in 2011 by co-artistic directors Katie Yamulla and Lucy McMichael, Me & She Productions Inc. is dedicated to developing, producing, and staging new and existing plays that focus on women and their role in society. Me & She strongly advocates for plays that place female characters at the forefront and strives to employ women in as many roles, front and back of the house, as possible.
New Georges
ACT SCRAPPY. THINK BIG.
New Georges, founded in 1992, is one of New York City’s premiere downtown theater companies, a home and a playground for some of the most adventurous theater artists (who are women) working today.
ACT SCRAPPY. THINK BIG.
New Georges, founded in 1992, is one of New York City’s premiere downtown theater companies, a home and a playground for some of the most adventurous theater artists (who are women) working today.
New Perspectives Theatre Company
New Perspectives was founded in 1991 as a multi-racial ensemble dedicated to using theatre as an agent for positive social change. Our mission is to 1) develop and present new plays and playwrights, particularly women and people of color, 2) present classic plays in a style that sheds new light on our lives and work, and 3) present theatre to under-served audiences-especially young people-to build life skills and promote participation in our society.
New Perspectives was founded in 1991 as a multi-racial ensemble dedicated to using theatre as an agent for positive social change. Our mission is to 1) develop and present new plays and playwrights, particularly women and people of color, 2) present classic plays in a style that sheds new light on our lives and work, and 3) present theatre to under-served audiences-especially young people-to build life skills and promote participation in our society.
Nora's Playhouse
Named for the heroine of Ibsen’s A Doll House, Nora’s Playhouse is a theatre company devoted to providing an environment for women’s stories to be told by women artists. Our women-centered mission results from a recognition that women are still woefully under-represented as directors, playwrights, artistic directors and managers for professional theatre, as well as the primary subject matter for scripts.
Named for the heroine of Ibsen’s A Doll House, Nora’s Playhouse is a theatre company devoted to providing an environment for women’s stories to be told by women artists. Our women-centered mission results from a recognition that women are still woefully under-represented as directors, playwrights, artistic directors and managers for professional theatre, as well as the primary subject matter for scripts.
Pulse Ensemble Theatre
Pulse ensemble Theatre company is a not-for-profit theatre company,
founded in 1989 is dedicated to making the Classics accessible and exciting to the youth of today. Pulse is committed to taking an active role in its community, to being a nurturing and developing ground for actors in New York City, and to providing free outreach programs which train actors and allow playwrights and directors to hone their talents and develop their skills. Pulse is committed to multi-ethnic casting.
Pulse is committed to presenting works by or that deal with women’s experiences—particularly focusing on the mature woman. Pulse is dedicated to theatre that is socially significant thought provoking and topical; work which illuminates the universality of the human spirit and its intrinsic needs for equality and justice.
Pulse ensemble Theatre company is a not-for-profit theatre company,
founded in 1989 is dedicated to making the Classics accessible and exciting to the youth of today. Pulse is committed to taking an active role in its community, to being a nurturing and developing ground for actors in New York City, and to providing free outreach programs which train actors and allow playwrights and directors to hone their talents and develop their skills. Pulse is committed to multi-ethnic casting.
Pulse is committed to presenting works by or that deal with women’s experiences—particularly focusing on the mature woman. Pulse is dedicated to theatre that is socially significant thought provoking and topical; work which illuminates the universality of the human spirit and its intrinsic needs for equality and justice.
The Queen's Company
Joyful. Bold. Sexy. Funny. Elegant. Explosive. Riveting.
The Queen’s Company is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation of innovative productions of classical plays featuring all-female casts. Our critically acclaimed productions are directed by founding Artistic Director Rebecca Patterson.
The Queen’s Company weds a love of language to a love of life, weaving inspiration from history and world cultures into the fabric of our classical productions, celebrating the poly-cultural American voice. Our work is known for its exquisite use of language, bold physicality, creative storytelling and artistic playfulness.
We advocate for gender-blind casting in classical theatre.
Joyful. Bold. Sexy. Funny. Elegant. Explosive. Riveting.
The Queen’s Company is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation of innovative productions of classical plays featuring all-female casts. Our critically acclaimed productions are directed by founding Artistic Director Rebecca Patterson.
The Queen’s Company weds a love of language to a love of life, weaving inspiration from history and world cultures into the fabric of our classical productions, celebrating the poly-cultural American voice. Our work is known for its exquisite use of language, bold physicality, creative storytelling and artistic playfulness.
We advocate for gender-blind casting in classical theatre.
The Radium Girls
The Radium Girls is a New York City based theatre and production company committed to championing emerging female artists and strong female character driven work.
The Radium Girls is a New York City based theatre and production company committed to championing emerging female artists and strong female character driven work.
ReVamp Collective
ReVamp Collective is a woman-centric, though not women exclusive theatre company. We strive to create opportunities for women in all aspects of the theatrical process. By creating inspiring work that investigates societal constructs, our aim is to cultivate theatrical discourse, while producing established contemporary plays, works by new and emerging artists and collective devised theatre. Both behind the scenes and on the stage, our goal is to reset the woman default in theatre and to explore the direction of the work when women collaborate.
ReVamp Collective is a woman-centric, though not women exclusive theatre company. We strive to create opportunities for women in all aspects of the theatrical process. By creating inspiring work that investigates societal constructs, our aim is to cultivate theatrical discourse, while producing established contemporary plays, works by new and emerging artists and collective devised theatre. Both behind the scenes and on the stage, our goal is to reset the woman default in theatre and to explore the direction of the work when women collaborate.
Spicy Witch Productions
Spicy Witch Productions is committed to putting on professional and engaging performances in repertory: classical and contemporary pieces that explore the same story or theme. Focusing on females in theater, the shows may use gender-bending casting or slanted perspectives to highlight and/or question gender roles and traditional stories while allowing women to get onstage and play the male roles they've always wanted. The juxtaposition of contemporary pieces with classic pieces will act as a spring board for thought and conversation regarding societal and theatrical changes. With a love of New York that spreads well beyond Midtown, SWP strives to always bring audiences (and its actors) to theaters outside of the Theater District.
Spicy Witch Productions is committed to putting on professional and engaging performances in repertory: classical and contemporary pieces that explore the same story or theme. Focusing on females in theater, the shows may use gender-bending casting or slanted perspectives to highlight and/or question gender roles and traditional stories while allowing women to get onstage and play the male roles they've always wanted. The juxtaposition of contemporary pieces with classic pieces will act as a spring board for thought and conversation regarding societal and theatrical changes. With a love of New York that spreads well beyond Midtown, SWP strives to always bring audiences (and its actors) to theaters outside of the Theater District.
Spookfish Theatre Company
Spookfish Theatre Company is a critically acclaimed downtown theatre company committed to making inventive and explosively theatrical artwork. We actively seek gender and race equality concerning our casting, subject matter, and hiring opportunities.
Spookfish Theatre Company is a critically acclaimed downtown theatre company committed to making inventive and explosively theatrical artwork. We actively seek gender and race equality concerning our casting, subject matter, and hiring opportunities.
Teatro Luna
Teatro Luna is Chicago's first and only all Latina theatre. It was founded in 2000 by Coya Paz and Tanya Saracho and was, "Organized for the purpose of exploring the varied experiences and cultures of Latina/Hispana women." Teatro Luna's educational program, deemed The Luna Institute, offers both paid and free workshops, classes, and labs for adults and youth.
Teatro Luna is Chicago's first and only all Latina theatre. It was founded in 2000 by Coya Paz and Tanya Saracho and was, "Organized for the purpose of exploring the varied experiences and cultures of Latina/Hispana women." Teatro Luna's educational program, deemed The Luna Institute, offers both paid and free workshops, classes, and labs for adults and youth.
The Tempest Ladies
The Tempest Ladies, LLC is a group of six bold and brassy women, dedicated to making Shakespeare accessible through clear, physical, and engaging tribal storytelling. Currently based out of Manhattan, The Tempest Ladies, LLC have brought their critically acclaimed Tempest to Manhattan, the UK and most recently Istanbul.
The Tempest Ladies, LLC is a group of six bold and brassy women, dedicated to making Shakespeare accessible through clear, physical, and engaging tribal storytelling. Currently based out of Manhattan, The Tempest Ladies, LLC have brought their critically acclaimed Tempest to Manhattan, the UK and most recently Istanbul.
VH Theatrical Development Foundation
VH Theatrical Development Foundation is a not-for-profit organization committed to producing new theatrical work that is stimulating, culturally relevant, and written for discriminating audiences. We are dedicated to employing women in a predominantly male field, providing opportunities for new writers, and making quality theatre accessible to the general public.
VH Theatrical Development Foundation is a not-for-profit organization committed to producing new theatrical work that is stimulating, culturally relevant, and written for discriminating audiences. We are dedicated to employing women in a predominantly male field, providing opportunities for new writers, and making quality theatre accessible to the general public.
Voice & Vision
Voice & Vision develops and produces vibrant theater works with women at the core and provides them with time, space and resources to create in an environment free from commercial pressures. Founded as a not-for-profit in 1990, Voice & Vision's programming includes professional and educational opportunities for both established and emerging artists to articulate their voices and realize their visions. At the heart of Voice & Vision's programming is the ENVISION Retreat and the ENVISION Lab.
Voice & Vision develops and produces vibrant theater works with women at the core and provides them with time, space and resources to create in an environment free from commercial pressures. Founded as a not-for-profit in 1990, Voice & Vision's programming includes professional and educational opportunities for both established and emerging artists to articulate their voices and realize their visions. At the heart of Voice & Vision's programming is the ENVISION Retreat and the ENVISION Lab.
Watson Arts
Watson Arts is a resident company of La MaMa E.T.C. dedicated to original, innovative theater with a particular emphasis on women. Watson Arts develops and produces works that encompass text, dance, music, media, and performance.
Watson Arts is a resident company of La MaMa E.T.C. dedicated to original, innovative theater with a particular emphasis on women. Watson Arts develops and produces works that encompass text, dance, music, media, and performance.
WET Productions
WET Productions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1999 to empower women and girls by producing media that challenges female stereotypes and advocates for equality. WET develops, produces and promotes new material for theater, film, television and education.
WET Productions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1999 to empower women and girls by producing media that challenges female stereotypes and advocates for equality. WET develops, produces and promotes new material for theater, film, television and education.
Women Center Stage
Culture Project’s Women Center Stage is committed to supporting and vigorously promoting the work of women artists, and celebrating the unique contribution of women to social justice and human rights. Launched before the formal incorporation of Culture Project, Women Center Stage is our longest-running programmatic initiative. From the first collection of works presented under the festival mantle in 1996, Women Center Stage has grown into a multi-pronged initiative, an echo chamber for women artists to build community and share their stories, and a launch pad for provocative and relevant new work.
The cornerstone of WCS is the annual Women Center Stage Festival, a dynamic and diverse laboratory for works in progress by women artists at all stages of their careers. The month-long Festival provides a much needed home for exploring new ideas and inspiration, testing out early stages of new work, and putting women artists in conversation with new audiences, potential collaborators, future mentors and a vibrant community of peers.
Culture Project’s Women Center Stage is committed to supporting and vigorously promoting the work of women artists, and celebrating the unique contribution of women to social justice and human rights. Launched before the formal incorporation of Culture Project, Women Center Stage is our longest-running programmatic initiative. From the first collection of works presented under the festival mantle in 1996, Women Center Stage has grown into a multi-pronged initiative, an echo chamber for women artists to build community and share their stories, and a launch pad for provocative and relevant new work.
The cornerstone of WCS is the annual Women Center Stage Festival, a dynamic and diverse laboratory for works in progress by women artists at all stages of their careers. The month-long Festival provides a much needed home for exploring new ideas and inspiration, testing out early stages of new work, and putting women artists in conversation with new audiences, potential collaborators, future mentors and a vibrant community of peers.
Women's Project
"As the nation's oldest and largest company dedicated to producing and promoting theater created by women, Women's Project is the magnetic force field for innovative artists and adventurous theater-goers from around the world."
"As the nation's oldest and largest company dedicated to producing and promoting theater created by women, Women's Project is the magnetic force field for innovative artists and adventurous theater-goers from around the world."
WOW cafe theatre
WOW started in 1980 as an international festival of women performers. There was a second festival in 1981. In 1982, the founders—Peggy Shaw, Lois Weaver, Pamela Camhe, and Jordy Mark—decided to shift their focus to a local performance space. In the beginning we were in a storefront, and we actually had a cafÈ. We moved into this space in the mid 80s via the founding members’ hard work—clearing out four tons of equipment and building the space by hand. In 2000, we bought the space from the city (along with the other tenants here). We are raising money to bring the building up to code. WOW was founded as a women’s space. It has historically been a majority (but not exclusively) lesbian space, and in 2005 we became transgender-inclusive.
WOW started in 1980 as an international festival of women performers. There was a second festival in 1981. In 1982, the founders—Peggy Shaw, Lois Weaver, Pamela Camhe, and Jordy Mark—decided to shift their focus to a local performance space. In the beginning we were in a storefront, and we actually had a cafÈ. We moved into this space in the mid 80s via the founding members’ hard work—clearing out four tons of equipment and building the space by hand. In 2000, we bought the space from the city (along with the other tenants here). We are raising money to bring the building up to code. WOW was founded as a women’s space. It has historically been a majority (but not exclusively) lesbian space, and in 2005 we became transgender-inclusive.
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*We use an inclusive definition of “woman” and “female” and we welcome trans and genderqueer women.
