Greater D.C.-Area Theaters Prep for Return of Women's Voices Theater Festival in 2018
By: BWW News Desk Mar. 03, 2017
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 - have announced 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
Baltimore Center Stage
Brave Spirits Theatre
Convergence Theatre
dog & pony dc
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
Smithsonian Discovery Theater
Spooky Action Theater
Studio Theatre
Taffety Punk Theatre Company
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
WSC Avant Bard
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 on Twitter @WomensVoicesDC | #WomensVoicesDC.
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