History

THE WOMEN’S THEATRE PROJECT -
A BRIEF HISTORY

The Women's Theatre Project is a company of professional female theatre artists dedicated to producing theatrical works exploring the female voice. TWTP was incorporated as a 501c3 not-for-profit organization in May 2002. The company was founded from a need for women's voices to be heard, a desire to break down the stereotypes of women propelled by the media, and to create more professional theatrical opportunities for women of all shapes, sizes, races, and ages.

TWTP began presenting staged readings throughout Broward County in the fall of 2001 and built a strong following throughout the entire South Florida region with this outreach. In 2002, TWTP participated in The Lysistrata Project (a worldwide reading for world peace) at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. TWTP continued to perform staged readings throughout the Broward Library system and, in 2003, created the First Annual Creative Women’s Festival at the Broward County Main Library. In 2004, TWTP presented their first full-length theatrical production of The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women by Carolyn Gage. The play received critical acclaim and we sponsored a special appearance by the playwright for this World premiere.

TWTP also presented the Southeastern premiere of Necessary Targets by Eve Ensler in 2004, through a community partnership developed with Miami-Dade College. An internationally known activist and author of the Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler spoke to a standing-room-only audience at an event coordinated and sponsored by TWTP at Miami-Dade College. In 2004, TWTP was honored with the prestigious Wilks Award for making significant contributions to women in theatre over the age of 40. In 2005, we presented a revival of Necessary Targets, and the Southeastern premieres of Hold Please by Annie Weisman and If We Are Women by Joanna McClelland Glass.

In 2006, The Women’s Theatre Project continued its expansion by providing truly unique theatrical experiences. Showcasing artistic excellence in Broward County, our season included the World premiere of 6 Women Playwrights Turning 60 in 2006 (a unique traveling play festival by 6 women baby-boomer playwrights), the World premiere of Dancing the God by Patricia Montley, and Southeastern Premieres of Bold Girls by Rona Munro, Memory House by Kathleen Tolan, and Tongue of a Bird by Ellen McLaughlin.

In 2007, TWTP produced staged readings in association with the West Boca Theatre company that included the titles Dames, Damsels, Darlings & Divas and Wonderful, Wild, Wicked Women. Our main stage season included the East Coast premiere of Sister Cities by Colette Freedman (for which Linda Bernhard was nominated by the Carbonell Awards for Best Supporting Actress), the Southeastern premiere of Shiloh Rules by Doris Baizley and the Southeastern premiere of Real Women Have Curves by Josefina Lopez. TWTP also presented a special memorial tribute to Wendy Wasserstein, with our production of her play Uncommon Women and Others. We also continued with our successful education component, Behind the Scenes with The Women’s Theatre Project at Sixth Star Studios.

Premieres continued to dominate 2008 and boasted two World and two Southeastern premieres punctuated with visits from three of the four featured playwrights. Kicking off the season was the Southeastern premiere of Jar the Floor by Cheryl L. West, followed by the World premiere of Three Fittings by Stephanie Alison Walker at Sixth Star Studios. In the third slot was the World premiere of True Blue by Marj O’Neill-Butler, followed by the Southeastern premiere of Silent Heroes by Linda Escalera Baggs.

2009 looks like another promising year for female playwrights working with The Women’s Theatre Project. We are currently negotiating with playwrights and can confidently announce that at least one production will be another World premiere! Stay tuned for more information on our 2009 Season!