Women's Project Theater

Background

Women's Project Theater was founded in 1978 by Julia Miles, who was associate director at the The American Place Theatre, to address the conspicuous under-representation of women artists working in the American theater. A survey at the time indicated that only 7% of plays produced in the United States were written by women. Over three decades later, employment statistics for women playwrights and directors have improved, But women are still in a minority position. Even today, only 20% of opportunities in the professional theater nationwide are granted to women theater artists.

Women's Project Theater continues to combat gender bias with the simple act of job creation. A season at Women's Project Theater includes a three play 'Mainstage Season' season, 'WP Lab', and 'Annual Women of Achievement Awards Gala'.

Women's Project Theater has produced more than six hundred mainstage plays and developmental projects including Crooked by Catherine Treischmann, Aliens with Extraordinary Skills by Saviana Stănescu and Virginia Woolf's only play, Freshwater, directed by Anne Bogart. Other productions include Or, by Liz Duffy Adams, Smudge by Rachel Axler, Lascivious Something by Sheila Callaghan, Apple Cove by Lynn Rosen,Milk Like Sugar by Kirsten Greenidge, How The World Began by Catherine Treischmann, Bethany by Laura Marks and Jackie by Elfriede Jelinek.

Women's Project Theater artist alumni include Anne Bogart, Ruby Dee, Eve Ensler, Kim Hunter, Lynn Nottage, Diane Paulus, Maggie Siff, Frances Sternhagen, Anna Deavere Smith, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

The 'WP Lab' is the heart of Women's Project Theater's artistic programming, and the only program in the nation that fosters artistic collaboration between emerging and mid-career Playwrights, Directors and Producers.

Each year, Women’s Project Theater hosts the Women of Achievement Awards Gala Awards, which has honored Chita Rivera, Eve Ensler, Whoopi Goldberg, Estelle Parsons, Gloria Steinem, Vanessa Redgrave, and Laurie Anderson, amongst others.

The Lab

The Lab is a two-year residency for women playwrights, directors and producers. Selected through a highly competitive process, the Lab provides its members with a vital professional network, entrepreneurial and leadership training, rehearsal space, and opportunities for the development and production of bold new work for the stage.

The Lab has two main goals: to cultivate the work of women theater artists and to give them the tools they need to succeed in the business. In addition to developing their own unique work, Lab artists collaboratively create a culminating residency production. Past shows include WE PLAY FOR THE GODS (2012), GLOBAL COOLING (2009), CORPORATE CARNIVAL (2008), and GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUND$ (2007) and THE ARCHITECTURE OF BECOMING (2014).

Under the auspices of Women’s Project Theater, the 2008-2010 Lab Playwrights published OUT OF TIME AND PLACE, a two-volume anthology of plays, including contributions from 11 Lab Playwrights. With an introduction by Theresa Rebeck, the anthology has had great success especially in academic communities hungry for work by women that feature strong female roles.

Many Lab artists continue to work together long after their official residency ends, and the Women's Project Theater continues to advocate ferociously for its Lab alumnae by brokering agents, providing references, and submitting their work to theaters around the country. Women's Project Theater also hires many Lab artists for main stage productions; over 75% of plays produced at WP during the past five years were written and/or directed by Lab artists and alumnae.

Noteworthy Lab Alumnae

Women of Achievement Awards

Each year, Women’s Project Theater recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of women from the worlds of entertainment, business and philanthropy at the Women of Achievement Awards Gala. Over the past 28 years, Women’s Project Theater has paid homage several women luminaries and, in 2014, recognized Sharon Bush, Arianna Huffington, and Joan Vail Thorne.