Women in Theatre: August Edition

We're in that time right before theatres begin their fall season. However, here are some of the plays opening/playing this month here in the Bay Area written by women playwrights.

Moontel Six, Part 1 by Constance Congdon, A.C.T., Augst 22 - 28.

Ecstasy: A Water Fable by Denmo Ibrahim, Golden Thread at Thick House, July 23 - August 16.

Unexpected Man by Yasmina Reza, Spare Stage at the Exit Theatre, August 1 - 15.

I know this list is far from exhaustive, it's a first pass. I'll try to add on more plays as i find them.

Women in Theatre: July Edition

Here are some of the plays opening/playing this month here in the Bay Area written by women playwrights.

American Treasure by Julia Jarcho, public reading as part of the Bay Area Playwrights Festival at the Magic Theatre, July 18 at 8pm and July 25 at 12 noon.

Ecstasy | a waterfable by Denmo Ibrahim, Golden Thread at Thick House, July 23 - August 16.

Fayette-Nam by Aurorae Khoo, Asian American Theatre Company at Thick House, June 25 - July 11.

House and Junction by Martha Jane Kaufman, public reading as part of Bay Area SHorts (BASH) at the Magic Theatre, July 19 12 noon and July 26 12 noon.

March by Sharyn Rothstein, public reading as part of the Bay Area Playwrights Festival at the Magic Theatre, July 19 at 4pm and July 24 at 8pm.

Natasha and the Coat by Deborah Stein, public reading as part of the Bay Area Playwrights Festival at the Magic Theatre, July 17 at 8pm and July 25 at 4pm.

Our Peculiar Instituion by Lauren Yee, public reading as part of Bay Area SHorts (BASH) at the Magic Theatre, July 19 12 noon and July 26 12 noon.

I know this list is far from exhaustive, it's a first pass. I'll try to add on more plays as i find them.

Women in Theatre: May Edition

Here are some of the plays opening/playing this month here in the Bay Area written by women playwrights.

Assisted Living by Deirdre O'Connor, Playwrights Foundation, In The Rought staged reading, May 4 - 5

Dead Man's Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl, SF Playhouse, May 9 - June 13

For All the Babies' Fathers by WATA member Molly Rhodes, Brava Theatre, April 30 - May 16

Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck, the Magic Theatre May 23 - June 14

Natasha and the Coat by Deborah Stein, Playwrights Foundation, In The Rough staged reading, May 11 - 12

Wreckage by Caridad Svich, Crowded Fire, May 9 - June 6

You, Nero by Amy Freed, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, May 15 - June 28


I know this list is far from exhaustive, it's a first pass. I'll try to add on more plays as i find them.

Women in Theatre: April Edition

Here are some of the plays opening/playing this month here in the Bay Area written by women playwrights.

Distracted by Lisa Loomer, TheatreWorks, April 1 - 26

Rita Moreno in Conversation, by Rita Moreno, Berkeley Rep, April 20

This is Not a Torture or an Engine by Erin Bregman, staged reading, Playwrights Foundation, April 28

War Music by Lillian Groag at A.C.T., March 26 - April 26

Women's Will 24 Hour Playfest, featuring local playwrights, Women's Will, April 6


I know this list is far from exhaustive, it's a first pass. I'll try to add on more plays as i find them.

Woman's Will 24 Hour Playfest April 6, 2009

For the past three years I've participated in the Woman's Will 24 Hour Playfest, but unfortunately due to an out-of-state trip I'll not be one of the playwrights writing a brand new 10 minute play overnight.



Here's how the playfest works:

• The artists (playwrights, directors, and actors) meet at 10 pm at the Julia Morgan Theatre where and when they are given their theme. (You see you have no idea what you'll be writing about prior to the event).
• The playwrights have until 7 am the next morning to finish their script and email it in. Around 10 am the directors and the actors meet and begin rehearsal.
• The actors must be off book and have all their blocking down by 8 pm when the show begins.

It's a fantastic experience as a writer and always fun to meet other artists. And the ticket sales and silent auction benefit Woman's Will Theatre.

Women in Theatre: February Edition

Last year New York City women playwrights convened a meeting to discuss women's parity in playwrighting.

At an October town hall meeting of women playwrights Julia Jordan's pointed out in her introduction that:

Thirty years ago, only 7% of plays on national non-profit stages were written by women. Currently that number is around 17%. A rise of around 3.3% a decade. At that rate, if it continues, we will reach parity in just under another hundred years.

With this in my mind while I was looking at the February theatre line-up, I decided to call out the plays here in the Bay Area in production written by women playwrights. They are:

Cuckoo by Madison Clell, Jump! Theatre, Feb. 5-28

Girls War by Joyce Van Dyke, Golden Thread Productions, Feb. 16-March 8

Mud by Maria Irene Fornes, Cutting Ball Theatre, Jan. 9-Feb.15 (an extended run)

Song for Coretta by Pearl Cleage, Brava! For Women in the Arts, Jan. 22-Feb.7

Tough Titty by Oni Faida Lampley, Magic Theatre, Jan. 24-Feb. 22

In the Next Room (Or the Vibrator Play) by Sarah Ruhl, Berkeley Repertory, Jan. 30-March 15


I'm sure this list isn't absolutely exhaustive. If there's any plays that should be added to the list, please feel free to mention them in the comments section.