Feel Good Friday - WP Theater

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, let’s spend this Feel Good Friday with women in theater!

WP Theater was founded by Julia Miles in 1978 as Women’s Project Theater. It is “the nation’s oldest and largest theater company dedicated to developing, producing, and promoting the work of women and trans theater artists at every stage of their careers.” 

One of the ways WP Theater promotes these artists is through the Lab, a two-year residency for playwrights, directors and producers. Participants are provided with entrepreneurial and leadership training, rehearsal space, a professional network and the opportunity to develop and produce their work for the stage. Each Lab residency culminates with the Pipeline Festival. This biennial festival features five new plays written, directed and produced by the residents. Over 350 artists have participated in the program and shared their finished work with the world.

 

More recently, Trans Lab was formed to support the creation of a critical mass of trans and gender nonconforming plays by trans and gender nonconforming writers. This year-long program provides participants with professional development sessions and culminates in a series of readings of the works developed in the lab.

 

To date, WP Theater has produced over 600 mainstage productions and developmental projects and their work has continued throughout the pandemic. The 2020-2021 season is taking place on the virtual stage with monthly presentations of new work. If you’re reading this before 3:30pm Pacific, you can catch a rebroadcast of Galatea, “a trans love story set against the backdrop of a climate crisis.” Next on the calendar is Weightless, a visual concept album that tells the story of two sisters and their journey to reunite. 

If you’re interested in these shows you can buy tickets here. You can also support the work of WP Theater by making a donation and spreading the word on social media. Like their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @WPTheater. Brava!