WomensWork Theatre Collaborative Comes To Cranston

Juliet was traditionally played by a boy. A man played Medea. For centuries, women have been consigned to play lesser parts in the creation and production of theater. And even as progress is being made, gender and age parity, onstage and off, continues to be a major issue in the theater.

A new Rhode Island group is addressing the concern head on.

WomensWork Theatre Collaborativeis a creative collective of theater professionals joining together to provide more opportunities for women - with a focus on roles for women over the age of 40. Founding members-or Founding Mothers-of the group, represent more than 350 years of combined experience in the arts, and many arefamiliar names in the Rhode Island theater community.

WomensWork is focusing on four specific goals, called the Four Mores:

· More roles for women, specifically older women

· More opportunities to tell women's stories and promote women playwrights

· More women in creative leadership and decision-making roles

· More venues where women can make their own work

Founder and Creative Director Lynne Collinson notes, "Our intent with WomensWork is not to start a theater, but to MAKE theater - to initiate projects where women take the lead. Our mission is to start a movement where women take charge of their creative work and - without excluding young women, men or others - to focus on higher visibility and more meaningful creative opportunities for older women. We want mature women to be in the driver's seat where their talent and expertise can be put to work to make great theater."

The Artists' Exchange(Cranston, RI) will produce WomensWorkunder its organizational umbrella. Collinson credits Elaine McKenna-Yeaw, Executive Director of The Artists' Exchangeas being instrumental in advancing the idea and viability of WomensWork.

WomensWorkTheatre Collaborative's inaugural events, in Fall 2018 and Spring 2019, will highlight the work of Obie Award-Winning playwright Susan Miller. Production elements will be minimalist, with the spotlight on solid, women-centric storytelling.

MY LEFT BREAST
By Susan Miller
October 12, 13, 2018 at 7:30PM
October 14, 2018 at 2:00PM

A sometimes humorous, sometimes searing, always honest journey exploring relationships, parenthood, cancer, loss, and a woman's ever-changing self.
Director: Lynne Collinson;

Dramaturg: Margaret Melozzi

Cast: MJ Daly, Joanne Fayan and Rae Mancini*

*3 actors share the role of Susan in this production with permission of the playwright

"The laughter is as spontaneous as the flicker of recognition that passes through the audience. She's suddenly Everywoman, standing there for all of us our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, ourselves." The Boston Globe

20THCENTURY BLUES
By Susan Miller
May 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18, 2019 at 7:30PM

Four women meet once a year for a ritual photo shoot, chronicling their changing (and aging) selves as they navigate love, careers, children, and the complications of history. But when these private photographs threaten to go public, relationships are tested, forcing the women to confront who they are and how they'll deal with what lies ahead.
Cast & Crew: TBD

"20TH CENTURY BLUES...breaks the mold when it comes to the female ensemble dramedy...With poignant but still laugh-out-loud social commentary on the process of aging in America, razor sharp one-liners and thought-provoking questions about older generations adjusting to the younger world, 20TH CENTURY BLUES takes a tried and true comedic premise and adds a uniquely modern twist." -BroadwayWorld.com.

TICKETS: Tickets will soon be available on-line at www.Artists-Exchange.org. INFORMATION: WomensWorkTheatre@gmail.com

About WomensWork Theatre Collaborative

WomensWorkis a newly formed (2018) creative collective designed to provide theatrical opportunities for women - with a focus on roles for women over the age of 40. "Founding Mothers" are Lynne Collinson, Creative Director; Peggy Becker, Sharon Carpentier, Paula Faber, Joanne Fayan, Gayle Hanrahan, Rae Mancini, Margaret Melozzi, Dr. Juli Parker, and Carol Schlink. They share decades of experience in the Rhode Island arts community, including education, acting, directing, production design, public relations, and arts administration.

About Artists' Exchange

Artists' Exchange is a 501(c)3 non-profit visual and performing arts collaborative whose mission is to create an atmosphere in which creativity, learning and discovery converge and individuality is celebrated. Artists' Exchange is home to multiple art studios, ceramics studio, 2 theaters, a gallery, a café, hosts weekly theatrical performances, classes, and art, music, theater and community events.

About Susan Miller, Playwright

Susan Miller is a two-time OBIE Award winner and Guggenheim Playwriting Fellow. She received the coveted Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, as well as the Pinter Prize, for her play, A MAP OF DOUBT AND RESCUE. Her plays, which include MY LEFT BREAST, NASTY RUMORS AND FINAL REMARKS, CONFESSIONS OF A FEMALE DISORDER, ARTS AND LEISURE, 20thCENTURY BLUES and more, have been produced at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre, Second Stage, Naked Angels, and Trinity Rep, among many others.

Miller was a consulting producer/writer on Showtime's "The L Word" and ABC's "Thirtysomething." She won the Writers Guild of America Award for her hit indie web series, "Anyone but Me," which has earned over 50 million views worldwide and can be streamed on Hulu. Miller also served for seven years as co-director of the renowned Dramatists Guild Fellows program.

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