A new, NYC-based theater festival will address gender disparity in theater.
This summer, Project Y Theatre Company will present three weeks of new plays by women to New York City in the form of the first annual Women in Theatre Festival (WiT), the festival that pushes beyond parity to gender majority, with an entirely women-led lineup.
For the inaugural year of the curated, three-week festival there will be a run of new plays and performances by diverse women artists in two runs in New York City: a group of events, June 9th-18th at Under St. Marks & ART/NY Studios and more events in July at Theatre Row (dates to be announced).
All writers are women and there is a majority of women in all aspects of production – actors, directors, producers, and tech.
The objective of WiT is to broaden opportunities for women artists, engage with an audience who seek an indie theater experience, and add to the canon of women playwrights writing roles for women actors. WiT ensures that emerging, mid-career, and established women artists are represented.
Projects include the NY Premiere of EM Lewis’ searing new play, The Gun Show, and Lia Romeo’s dark comedy, Baby Boom, two plays about guns and violence. Queer women involved include the playwright Kirya Traber whose play Permitted represents the queer side of the Harlem Renaissance, and her director Nia Witherspoon, and playwrights Leta Tremblay, Mariah MacCarthy, and Diana Oh.
JUNE EVENTS:
Saturday, June 11
Online Release of Article:
“Beyond Parity” by Abby Fenbert
We asked essayist and playwright, Abby Fenbert to answer the question, “Why do we need more women in theatre?” Her response is this astounding essay that inspired us to change our thinking from #GenderParity to #BeyondParity.
Sunday, June 12 at 6:30p, 94 St. Marks Place:
#ParityPlays SHORTS – a production of new plays 50% or more women casts. Playwrights include Lauren Yee, Erin Mallon, Sarah Dunivant, Beth Blick-Raasquist, Gina Femia, Julienne Hairston, Kat Mustatea and Tasha Gordon-Solmon.
KICK OFF PARTY in association with WeBroadway.org.
Join the artistic leaders of two women-led companies to kick off our summer festival with live entertainment, refreshments, and conversation at this social event.
Monday, June 13 at 7:15pm ART/NY Bruce Mitchell Room 520 8th Avenue:
New EPIC Play reading:
Pulp Verite, by Crystal Skillman
Tuesday, June 14 at 6:30pm, 94 St. Marks Place:
New Play Production:
The Onion Show, by Katie Hartman
New Comedy and Sketch: “Humorless Feminist Comedy” Show
Hosted by Katie Hartman
*RECOMMENDED: Thursday, June 16 at 7:15pm ART/NY South Oxford Space Great Room 138 South Oxford, Brooklyn:
New LGBTQ Play reading: Permitted, by Kirya Traber
In 1948, a once (in)famous Harlem renaissance performer known for gender bending and public homosexual exploits, Gladys Bentley, struggles to find her place as an artist and individual in a climate where McCarthyism and anti-gay sentiment are literally and figuratively the law of the land. Directed by Nia Withersoon.
Saturday, June 18 at 2:30pm 94 St. Marks Place:
New Play Production: “Guilt Complexion” by Open Booth Theatre
#ParityPlay Reading: Bridesmaids by Melanie Marnich
From the writer of The L Word and Big Love comes a new comedy about best friends, turning forty, ugly dresses…and what can go wrong when one bridesmaid tells the truth about marriage.
JULY EVENTS:
All Shows at Theatre Row in The Studio Theatre (42nd Street, New York, NY)
The Gun Show
Playwright E. M. Lewis takes aim at her own relationship with firearms.
Baby Boom
By Lia Romeo, directed by Michole Biancosino
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the perfect couple… except for the baby they desperately want but are unable to have. When a machine gun dressed as a baby shows up on their doorstep, they decide to raise it as their own. A play about perfect towns, shiny people, and the tricky language of blame.
Steubenville
By Eleanor Bishop, performed by Molly Griggs
A participatory theatrical event where one performer leads the audience through the material of the Steubenville case.
Nice Tits!
A new solo show by Amy Marcs about breast cancer and Barbie dolls.
Demon Sorority
A New Devised Production from the writers/creators of My Lingerie Play, Leta Tremblay, Mariah MacCarthy and Diana Oh.