Women Playwrights Come to Life at The New School for Drama
How many historical woman playwrights can you name?
Although women have been writing plays since time immemorial, many people are hard-pressed to name more than a few. In 2012, playwright Andrea Lepcio, performer Lillian Rodriguez, and dramaturg/scholar Susan Jonas who is also the founder and director of The Legacy Project founded a new reading series On Her Shoulders to address the underrepresentation of canonical woman playwrights.
This new initiative is dedicated to “re-loading the canon” by familiarizing potential producers and audiences with a neglected legacy of plays. On Her Shoulders intends to restore women playwrights contribution to theatre history, the canon and the living repertory, by encouraging: teachers to include the plays written by women on their syllabi; students to make use of the materials for monologues and scene study; and professionals to consider the plays written by women for production.
Every month throughout 2013, The New School for Drama will host On Her Shoulders, which will also include scholars and biographers invited to introduce the plays or to lead a discussion afterwards.
A sneak preview of this new series will take place on March 10, at 2:00 p.m. with Sir Patient Fancy by Aphra Behn, in the Kellen Auditorium, 66 Fifth Ave, ground floor. This little known play will be presented by The Queen’s Company, a NYC nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation of innovative productions of classical plays featuring all-female casts and directed by its artistic director, Rebecca Patterson. RSVP to OnHerShouldersReservations@gmail.com.
The series officially launches on May 27, at 6:00 p.m. with Fashion, Anna Cora Mowatt’s farce about the nouveau riche. Upcoming readings include Lorraine Hansberry’s Les Blancs, and Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal.
Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to acquaint yourself with the dazzling artistry and variety of great women playwrights.