GREATER D.C.-AREA THEATERS ANNOUNCE THE RETURN OF THE WOMEN’S VOICES THEATER FESTIVAL

 Festival Takes Place January – February 2018

In Order to Further Showcase Theater Written by Women,

The Second Festival Expands to Include 2nd and 3rd Productions in Addition to World-Premiere Works

Seven Originating Theaters Announce Projects and Playwrights

 Washington, D.C. – The seven originating theaters of the Women’s Voices Theater Festival – Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre, Round House Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company – are proud to announce preliminary details for the second installment of the Women’s Voices Theater Festival, January 15 – February 15, 2018. Twenty- eight professional theater companies of all sizes from the region will join together to produce new works by female and female-identifying artists. In addition to presenting world-premiere productions, the   2018

Festival will expand to include second and third productions of works by female playwrights, nation-wide Festival-related activities and a variety of events for theater-makers and theater-lovers from across the country.

First launched in the fall of 2015, the Festival was created to highlight the scope of new plays written by female playwrights and the range of professional theater being produced in and around the nation’s capital.

In a joint statement the originating Artistic Directors shared the following:

“The 2015 Women’s Voices Theater Festival ignited a much-needed conversation within our theatrical community. The success of the first Festival inspired us to continue this important effort and to broaden how we highlight female playwrights. By presenting world premieres, as well as plays in their second and third productions, we hope this new undertaking will again call attention to the gender disparity on our stages and continue to introduce our audiences to exciting new female voices.”

For developing information about participating theaters, artists and tickets visit:

womensvoicestheaterfestival.org

 The Artistic Directors of the seven originating theaters – Molly Smith (Arena Stage), Paul R. Tetreault (Ford’s Theatre), Ryan Rilette (Round House Theatre), Michael Kahn (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Eric Schaeffer (Signature Theatre), David Muse (Studio Theatre) and Howard Shalwitz (Woolly Mammoth) created the Festival in 2015 as a response to the under-representation of female voices in the American theater. Heralded as “inspired” by The Washington Post and “an energizing showcase” by The New York Times, the Women’s Voices Theater Festival furthered the national dialogue about gender parity in the theater and displayed the range of professional theater being produced throughout the nation’s capital region with more than 50 world-premiere plays in the area from September-October 2015.

Nan Barnett of Flanagan Theater Projects will again serve as the Festival’s Coordinating Producer, this time with the support of theatreWashington, led by President Amy Austin, the service organization that represents and supports the region’s diverse theater community.

Originating Theater Company 2018 Productions

 Arena Stage

Sovereignty by Mary Kathryn Nagle World Premiere

Directed by Molly Smith January 12-February 18, 2018

 

Ford’s Theatre

Jefferson’s Garden by Timberlake Wertenbaker American Premiere

Directed by Nataki Garrett January 19-February 11, 2018

 

Round House Theatre Handbagged by Moira Buffini American Premiere

Directed by Indhu Rubasingham January 31-February 25, 2018

 

Shakespeare Theatre Company

Noura by Heather Raffo World Premiere

Directed by Joanna Settle February 6-March 18, 2018

 

Signature Theatre

4,380 Nights by Annalisa Dias World Premiere

Directed by Kathleen Akerley January 16-February 18, 2018

 

Studio Theatre

The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe

Regional Premiere Directed by Marti Lyons Dates TBA

 

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Familiar by Danai Gurira Regional Premiere

Directed by Adam Immerwahr February 5-March 4, 2018

 

Below are the region’s theater companies that are also currently planning to participate in the 2018 Festival.

 

Participating Theater Companies, as of March 3, 2017

 

Alliance for New Music-Theatre

Ally Theatre Company

Arena Stage

Baltimore Center Stage Brave Spirits Theatre

Convergence Theatre

dog & pony dc

Folger Theatre

Ford’s Theatre

Forum Theatre

Guillotine Theatre

Imagination Stage The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

MetroStage

Mosaic Theater Company

Nu Sass Productions

Olney Theatre Center

Rainbow Theatre Project

Rep Stage

Round House Theatre

Shakespeare Theatre Company

Signature Theatre Smithsonian Discovery Theater

Spooky Action Theater

Studio Theatre Taffety Punk Theatre Company

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

WSC Avant Bard —continued—

 

 The Women’s Voices Theater Festival is grateful for the renewed support of lead donors Heidi and Mitch Dupler, and hope that their generosity spurs new and renewed support of individuals and foundations across the national capital region.

 

 Connect with us on Twitter @WomensVoicesDC, use #WomensVoicesDC