WP Theater (formerly known as Women's Project Theater) is a not-for-profit Off-Broadway theater based in New York City. It is the nation's oldest and largest theater company dedicated to developing, producing and promoting the work of Women+ theater artists of all kinds at every stage in their careers.[1] Lisa McNulty serves as the Producing Artistic Director and Michael Sag serves as the managing director.[2][3]
Background
WP Theater was founded in 1978 by Julia Miles to address the conspicuous under representation of women artists working in the American theater. Miles was producing at The American Place Theatre, an Off-Broadway theater dedicated to produce new work by American writers. Miles began as Assistant Manager at The American Place Theater in 1964 and advanced in the ranks to associate director.[4] During this time, she noted the lack of plays written by women being produced by The American Place Theater in comparison to those written by men. Under a grant from the Ford Foundation, Miles created The Women's Project under the umbrella of The American Place Theater to encourage the development of female playwrights and directors and to provide a forum for their work.[5] For its first nine years, WP Theater staged its productions in the basement of The American Place Theater. In 1987, the project left The American Place Theater and became an independent organization, known today as WP Theater. In 1998, the project bought a church at 424 West 55th Street, also the site of Theater Four,[6][7] which was named the Julia Miles Theater in 2004.[8]
WP Theater aims to empower artists who have historically been marginalized for their gender or gender expression to reach their full potential. The fundamental components of WP Theater are the Main stage Season, the WP Lab and Pipeline Festival, and the annual Women of Achievement Awards gala.[9]
WP Theater founder Julia Miles died on March 18, 2020.[14][15]
Productions
Since 1978, WP Theater has produced more than 600 Off-Broadway plays and developmental projects and has partnered with a number of other New York theater companies for co-productions, including Playwrights Horizons and The New Group. Often, WP Theater produces plays that are New York premieres or world premieres. These include Bright Half Life written by Tanya Barfield and directed by Leigh Silverman, Stuffed by Lisa Lampanelli, Or, by Liz Duffy Adams, and Virginia Woolf's only play, Freshwater, directed by Anne Bogart.
WP Theater's first production was Choices, a one-woman show that was adapted from the works of Colette, Virginia Woolf, Dorothy Parker, Gertrude Stein, Sylvia Plath, Adrienne Rich, and Joan Didion, among others. It was conceived by writer Patricia Bosworth and adapted by Bosworth, director Caymichael Patten, and actress Lily Lodge. Choices ran from November 30 to December 17, 1978, in the American Place Theater basement. Julia Miles said the production "explores the choices that women have. Hopefully, there are now more of those choices and women are more definite about what they are." After the production opened, Mel Gussow of The New York Times wrote, " Choices serves as a brief introduction to the artistic energy of literary women. Given the variety of versatile people who are engaged in the 'Women's Project', we look forward to the plays, playwrights, and directors that should emerge from the American Place."[16]
In 1981, WP Theater produced Still Life, a documentary-style play about the aftermath of the Vietnam War written and directed by Emily Mann. The production featured Mary McDonnell, Timothy Near, and John Spencer and earned four Obie Awards, including the award for Best Production.
WP Theater has worked closely with Cuban-American playwright, María Irene Fornés, since its inception. Fornés, a Pulitzer Prize nominee and nine-time Obie Award winner, is known for her avant-garde and experimental plays. WP Theater has produced three Fornés plays, including Abingdon Square, which earned the 1988 Obie for Best New American Play.[17]
The Lab
The Lab is a two-year residency for female-identified playwrights, directors, and producers. Members of the Lab are selected through a highly competitive application and interview process. The Lab provides its members with a vital professional network, entrepreneurial and leadership training, rehearsal space, and opportunities for the development and production of bold new work for the stage.
The Lab began as the Directors Forum, created in 1983. In 1992, WP added the Playwrights Lab. The Producers Lab was added in 2006 to enhance the collaborative nature of the residency.
The Lab has two main goals: to cultivate the work of the participating artists and to give them the tools they need to succeed in the industry. In addition to developing their own unique work, Lab artists collaboratively create a culminating residency production. Since 2016, Lab members' work has been showcased at the biennial Pipeline Festival. For the month-long Pipeline Festival, groups of three—one writer, one director, and one producer—come together to collaborate on a piece.[18]
Prior to 2016, Lab members would devise new work, showcased in a production at the end of the residency term. These productions include The Architecture of Becoming (2014), We Play for the Gods (2012), Global Cooling: The Women Chill (2009), Corporate Carnival (2008), and Girls Just Wanna Have Fund$ (2007).[19][20][21]
Prior to 2004, the Lab did not function on a two-year rotation.
Under the auspices of WP Theater, the 2008/2010 Lab Playwrights published Out of Time and Place, a two-volume anthology of plays, including contributions from 11 Lab playwrights and an introduction by Theresa Rebeck.[22]
Many Lab artists continue to work together long after their official residency ends, and WP Theater continues to advocate for its Lab alumnae by brokering agents, providing references, and submitting their work to theaters around the country. WP Theater also hires many Lab artists for main stage productions.
Each year, WP Theater recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of women from the worlds of entertainment, business, and philanthropy at the Women of Achievement Awards Gala. Since 1986, WP Theater has paid homage to dozens of women who have taken risks, pushed limits, and broken ground in a variety of fields. The event is typically emceed by a female celebrity, with a variety of performances and appearances by other artists. Past recipients of the Women of Achievement Award include Maya Angelou, Katie Couric, Whoopi Goldberg, Billie Jean King, Chita Rivera, and Gloria Steinem.[24]
by Alyssa Haddad-Chin, August Hakvaag, Skyler Volpe directed by Autumn Angelettie, Michelle Chan, Annabel Heacock
WP Theater
WP Space Program Residents: Moxie Arts NY
2022-2023
Regretfully, So the Birds Are
by Julia Izumi, directed by Jenny Koons
Sasha Diamond, Gibson Frazier, Antoinette Lavecchia, Kristine Nielsen, Sky Smith, Pearl Sun, Zo Tipp, Shannon Tyo
Playwrights Horizons
World Premiere, a co-production with Playwrights Horizons
2022-2023
The 2022 Pipeline Festival
Writers: Gethsemane Herron-Coward • Jen Goma • Nambi E. Kelley • Haruna Lee • Zizi Majid • Daaimah Mubashshir
Directors: • Carolyn Cantor • Chika Ike • Sophiyaa Nayar • Machel Ross • Katharine Wilkinson
Producers: Iyvon E • B.J. Evans • Kristin Leahey • Ayana Parker Morrison • Cynthia J. Tong
WP Theater
New York Premiere
2022-2023
Sancocho
by Christin Eve Cato
Zuleyma Guevara, Shirley Rumierk
WP Theater
Off-Broadway Premiere
2022-2023
Space Program: Lightning Rod Special's The Appointment
Lead Artist: Alice Yorke
Lead Book Writers: Alice Yorke, Eva Steinmetz, Scott R. Sheppard, and Alex Bechtel
Music, Lyrics and Arrangements: Alex Bechtel
Director: Eva Steinmetz
Composer: Alex Bechtel
Choreographer: Melanie Cotton
Co-Creators: Katie Gould, Jaime Maseda, Lee Minora, Brett Ashley Robinson and Brenson Thomas
Katie Gould, Jaime Maseda, Lee Minora, Brett Ashley Robinson, Scott R. Sheppard, Alice Yorke, Danny Wilfred
WP Theater
Off-Broadway Premiere
WP Space Program Residents: Lightning Rod Special
Producers: Renee Blinkwolt, Erica Rotstein, Rachel Sussman
2022-2023
Weightless
an indie rock musical written by The Kilbanes, directed by Tamilla Woodard, choreography by nicHi Douglas
Lila Blue, Kofy Brown, Dan Harris, Kate Kilbane, Dan Moses, Joshua Pollock
WP Theater
Off-Broadway Premiere
2021-2022
sandblasted
by Charly Evon Simpson, directed by Summer L. Williams
Marinda Anderson, Brittany Bellizeare, Andy Lucien, Rolonda Watts
Vineyard Theatre
World Premiere, a co-production with Vineyard Theatre
2021-2022
Welcome Home,
or Ten Tiny Snapshots of WP
conceived and created by Rebecca Martínez
contributing artists: Kate Benson, Donnetta Lavinia Grays, and Journey Brown-Saintel, Laylanie Farris, Kziana Flores, Michelan Le'Monier, Alexandria Russell from viBe Theater Experience
narration: Soneela Nankani
featuring archival audio from: Billie Allen, Kathleen Chalfant, María Irene Fornés, Emily Mann, Julia Miles, Wendy Wasserstein and a few surprises...
WP Theater
World Premiere
2021-2022
Many Happy Returns
created by Monica Bill Barnes & Co.
Monica Bill Barnes, Robbie Saenz de Viteri, Flannery Gregg, Mykel Marai Nairne, Indah Walsh
WP THeater
World Premiere
2020-2021
Weightless
a theatrical concert film by The Kilbanes, directed by Tamilla Woodard
Lila Blue, Kofy Brown, Dan Harris, Kate Kilbane, Dan Moses, Joshua Pollock
Streaming
with support from piece by piece productions
2020-2021
Galatea
by MJ Kaufman, directed by Will Davis
Ty Defoe, Esco Jouléy, Jo Lampert, Pooya Mohseni, Aneesh Sheth, Futaba Shioda, TL Thompson
Streaming
presented in collaboration with Red Bull Theater
2020-2021
Final Boarding Call
by Stefani Kuo, directed by Mei Ann Teo
Streaming
in partnership with Ma-Yi Theater Company
2020-2021
Keep Moving
created by Monica Bill Barnes & Co.
Manuela Agudelo, Monica Bill Barnes, Olivia Brown, Kai Chen, Anakeiry Cruz, Sarah Isoke Days, Katherine De La Cruz, Grace Deane, Nadjie Forte, Reagan Gordon, Kathryn McKenzie, Naja Newell, Esther Nozea, Amanda Konstantine Perlmutter, Julieta Rodriguez-Cruz, Robbie Saenz de Viteri, Lina Sierra, Jessica Son
Streaming
World Premiere
2020-2021
The Nourish Project
conceived and directed by Rebecca Martínez
Natalie Benally, Latrelle Bright, Siobhan Juanita Brown, Camryn Bruno, Sage Chanell, Jono Eiland, Brittany Grier, Joaquin Lopez, Nikiko Masumoto, Megan J. Minturn, Movement of the People Dance Company, Joya Powell, Madeline Sayet, Dr. Michelle Tom, Meghan "Sigvanna" Topkok, Edna Vazquez
Streaming
World Premiere
2020-2021
Lockdown
by Cori Thomas, directed by Kent Gash
Lillian Andrea De León, Reynaldo Piniella, Travis Raeburn, Heather Alicia Simms, Keith Randolph Smith
Streaming
in partnership with Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
2020-2021
Ole White Sugah Daddy
by Obehi Janice, directed by Caitlin Sullivan
Alex Esola, Obehi Janice, Andy Lucien, Natalie Paul, Taji Senior, Greg Stuhr, Madeline Wise
Streaming
in partnership with AYE DEFY
2019-2020
The 2020 Pipeline Festival #pipelineonline
Writers: Vanessa Garcia • Sukari Jones • C. Quintana • Charly Evon Simpson • Bryna Turner
Directors: Victoria Collado • Sarah Hughes • Candis C. Jones • Rebecca Martínez • Arpita Mukherjee
Producers: Ilana Becker • Marie Cisco • Lucy Jackson • Stephanie Rolland • Alyssa Simmons
WP Theater
New York Premiere
2019-2020
Where We Stand
by Donnetta Lavinia Grays, directed by Tamilla Woodard
Donnetta Lavinia Grays
WP Theater
World Premiere, Off-Broadway Premiere, a co-production with Baltimore Center Stage
2019-2020
Our Dear Dead Drug Lord
by Alexis Scheer, directed by Whitney White
Carmen Berkeley, Daniel Duque-Estrada, Alyssa May Gold, Rebecca Jimenez, Michaela Perez, Matthew Saldivar, Malika Samuel
WP Theater
Off-Broadway Premiere, a co-production with Second Stage, by special arrangement with Benjamin Simpson and Joseph Longhorn
2018-2019
Natural Shocks
by Lauren Gunderson, directed by May Adrales
Pascale Armand
WP Theater
World Premiere
2018-2019
Hurricane Diane
by Madeleine George, directed by Leigh Silverman
Mia Barron, Michelle Beck, Becca Blackwell, Danielle Skraastad, Kate Wetherhead
New York Theatre Workshop
a co-production with New York Theatre Workshop
2018-2019
Hatef**k
By Rehana Lew Mirza, directed by Adrienne Campbell Holt
Kavi Ladnier, Sendhil Ramamurthy
WP Theater
World Premiere, Off Broadway Premiere, a co-production with Colt Coeur
Ann Harada, Zainab Jah, Lisa Lampanelli, Jessica Luck
WP Theater
World premiere
2015–2016
The Pipeline Festival 2016
Playwrights: Sarah Burgess, Monet Hurst-Mendoza, Martyna Majok, Riti Sachdeva, Susan Soon He Stanton
Directors: Adrienne Campbell-Holt, Lee Sunday Evans, Sarah Krohn, Danya Taymor, Tamilla Woodard
Producers: Pearl Hodiwala, Rachel Karpf Reidy, Kristen Luciani, Liz Olson, & Rachel Sussman
Sofiya Akilova, Dahlia Azama, Farah Bala, Purva Bedi, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Soraya Broukhim, Tommy Crawford, Damon Daunno, Edward Hajj, Dariush Kashani, Teresa Avia Lim, Jessica Love, Paola Lázaro, Marjan Neshat, Larry Pine, Amanda Quaid, Ana Reeder, Kate Rigg, Charles Socarides, Andrea Syglowski, Matthew Van Oss, Rita Wolf
Conceived & created by the 2012–2014 WP Lab: Elena Araoz, Kara Lee Corthron, Lydia Fort, Sarah Gancher, Virginia Grise, Dipika Guha, Deadria Harrington, Jane Jung, Lauren Keating, Meropi Peponides, Aktina Stathaki, Lauren Yee, Lanie Zipoy
Claudia Acosta, Vanessa Kai, Christopher Livingston, Jon Norman Schneider, Danielle Skraastad
New York City Center Stage II
World premiere
2013–2014
Row After Row
By Jessica Dickey, directed by Daniella Topol
Rosie Benton, Erik Lochtefeld, PJ Sosko
New York City Center Stage II
World premiere
2012–2013
Collapse
By Allison Moore, directed by Jackson Gay
Nadia Bowers, Hannah Cabell, Maurice McRae, Elliot Villar
New York City Center Stage II
New York premiere
2012–2013
Jackie
By Elfriede Jelinek, directed by Tea Alagić, Translated by Gitta Honegger
Tina Benko
New York City Center Stage II
North American premiere
2012–2013
Bethany
By Laura Marks, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch
Emily Ackerman, America Ferrera, Kristin Griffith, Ken Marks, Tobias Segal, Myra Lucretia Taylor
New York City Center Stage II
World premiere
2011–2012
We Play for the Gods
Conceived & created by the 2010–2012 WP Lab: Charity Ballard, Alexandra Collier, Elizabeth R. English, Jessi D. Hill, Andrea Kuchlewska, Dominique Morisseau, Kristen Palmer, Sarah Rasmussen, Mia Rovegno, Melisa Tien, Nicole A. Watson, Stephanie Ybarra & Stefanie Zadravec
Conceived & created by the 2008–2010 WP Lab: Bekah Brunstetter, Alexis Clements, Charity Henson-Ballard, Kara Manning, Lynn Rosen, Crystal Skillman, Andrea Thome, Heidi Carlsen, Linsay Firman, Susanna Gellert, Wendy McClellan, Donya K. Washington Diane Alianiello, Heather Cohn, Jennifer Conley Darling, Aimee Davis, Amanda Feldman, Marissa Rosenblum & Allegra Schorr, musical direction by Matt Castle, choreography by Elizabeth Montgomery, visual art installation by Annie Boyden Varnot & Elizabeth Ferrer
B. Brian Argotsinger, Casey Boyle, Addie Brownlee, Jorge Cordova, Kibibi Dillon, Danielle Famble, Richard Gallagher, Laura Gilbert, Rebecca Henderson, Sarah Hillmon, Beth Kirkpatrick, Julie Kline, Toby Knops, Russell Stuart Lilie, Rebecca Lingafelter, Bryony Lucas, Dominique Morisseau, Ned Noyes, Lance Olds, Allie Pfeffer, Haas Regen, Angel R. Rodriguez, Phoebe Rose Sandford, Myxolydia
World Financial Center
World premiere co-presented by arts>World Financial Center
2008–2009
Freshwater
By Virginia Woolf, directed by Anne Bogart
Akiko Aizawa, Gian-Murray Gianino, Ellen Lauren, Kelly Maurer, Tom Nelis, Barney O'Hanlon, Stephen Duff Webber
Shirine Babb, Seth Fisher, Gian-Murray Gianino, Kevin Isola, Jessica Pimentel, Marnye Young
Julia Miles Theater
World premiere
2007–2008
Corporate Carnival
Conceived & Created by Megan E. Carter, Julie Crosby, Jyana S. Gregory & the Performers, directed by Jyana S. Gregory, Text by Andy Paris
David Anzuelo, Karen Grenke, Andrew Grusetskie, Andy Paris, Richard Saudek, Meghan Williams, Lisa Rafaela Clair, Prudence Heyert, Megan Raye Manzi, Austin Sanders, Jeff Wills
World Financial Center
World premiere co-presented by arts>World Financial Center
Conceived & created by the 2006–2008 WP Lab: May Adrales, Gia Forakis, Leigh Goldenberg, Christina Gorman, Maria Goyanes, Jyana Gregory, Karen Grenke, Katori Hall, Amy Kaissar Andrea Lepcio, Patricia McNamara, Linda Powell, Molly Rice, Saviana Stanescu, Joy Tomasko & Kim Weild
Chriselle Almeida, Addie Brownlee, Davina Cohen, Ginger Eckert, Edwina Findley, LeeAnne Hutchison, Khris Lewin, Anthony Manna, KK Moggie, Sara Moore, Dominique Morisseau, Sarah Murphy, Tamilla Woodard
World Financial Center
World premiere co-presented by arts>World Financial Center
Jeannette Bayardelle, Ronnell Bey, William Scott Davison, Shaun Hoggs, Charles R. King Jr., Griffin Matthews, Kenita R. Miller, Richard E. Waits
Julia Miles Theater
World premiere
2004–2005
Antigone Project
By Tanya Barfield, Karen Hartman, Chiori Miyagawa, Lynn Nottage & Caridad Svich, directed by Annie Dorsen, Dana I. Harrel, Anne Kauffman, Barbara Rubin & Liesl Tommy
Sheila Dabney, Abdul Salaam El Razzac, Carmine Iannaccone, John Nesci, Deirdre O'Connell, John Pappas, Ebbe Roe Smith, Dendrie Taylor, Ching Valdes-Aran
Apple Corps Theater
1987–1988
Reverend Jenkins' Almost All Colored Orphanage Band
Terri Dobins, Renee Ezell, Miranda Jennings, Jeneen Jones, Pamela Johnson, Coby Johnson, Elliot Keener, Warren Kenner, Clyde Kerr Jr., Nicholas Payton, Skip McGee, Gregory Stafford, Patrick Sturgis, Carol Sutton, Harold Sylvester, Barbara Tasker
World premiere, Obie Award: Best New American Play
1987–1988
The Snicker Factory: An Evening of Political Satire
Conceived and directed by Suzanne Bennett and Liz Diamond, music composed and directed by Adrienne Torf, written by Billy Aronson, William Boardman, Cynthia Cooper, Holly Hughes, Lavonne Mueller, Michael Quinn, Jack Shannon, Y. York
Didi Conn, Tino Juarez, Geraldine Librandi, Joan MacIntosh
The American Place Theatre
1985–1986
Breaking the Prairie Wolf Code
By Lavonne Mueller, directed by Liz Diamond
Judith Barcroft, Robert Black, James Lally, Novella Nelson, Keliher Walsh, Tenney Walsh
The American Place Theatre
1985–1986
Women Heroes: In Praise of Exceptional Women
Colette in Love by Lavonne Mueller, directed by Mirra Bank; Emma Goldman by Jessica Litwak, directed by Anne Bogart; How She Played the Game by Cynthia Cooper, directed by Bryna Wortman; Millie by Susan Kander, directed by Carol Tanzman; Parallax: In Praise of Daisy Bates Written and directed by Denise Hamilton; Personality by Gina Wendkos and Ellen Ratner, directed by Gina Wendkos and Richard Press
World premiere, Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Revue
1983–1984
To Heaven in a Swing and Festival of One Act Plays
To Heaven in a Swing by Katharine Houghton, directed by Joan Vail Thorne; Candy & Shelley Go to the Desert by Paula Cizmar, directed by Carey Perloff; Old Wives Tale by Julie Jensen, directed by Alma Becker; The Longest Walk by Janet Thomas, directed by Claudia Weill; The Only Woman General by Lavonne Mueller, directed by Bryna Wortman; Special Family Things by Ara Watson and Mary Gallagher, directed by Page Burkholder
Garrett M. Brown, Frances Chaney, Sharon Chatten, Donna Davis, Colleen Dewhurst, Sol Frieder, Lisa Goodman, Katharine Houghton, Kenna Hunt, Lois Smith, Helen Stenborg, Mary Catherine Wright
Ritch Brinkley, Dave Florek, Douglas Gower, John Griesemer, Kristen Jolliff, Steven Loring, Margaret MacLeod, Mary McDonnell, Sarah Jessica Parker, Shaw Purnell, Cotter Smith
The American Place Theatre
1980–1981
Constance and the Musician
Book and lyrics by Caroline Kava, music by Mel Marvin, directed by Joan Micklin Silver
Jeff Brooks, Marilyn Caskey, Philip Casnoff, M'el Dowd, Caroline Kava, Mel Marvin, Stan Wilson
The American Place Theatre
1980–1981
Still Life
Written and directed by Emily Mann
Mary McDonnell, Timothy Near, John Spencer
The American Place Theatre
Obie Awards: Best Production, Performance – Mary McDonnell, Performance – Timothy Near, Performance – John Spencer
Peter Friedman, Michael Kaufman, Peter Phillips, Mark Soper
The American Place Theatre
1978–1979
Signs of Life
By Joan Schenkar, directed by Esther Herbst
Kathleen Chalfant, Ethan Kane Dufault, Gwyllum Evans, Kathleen Gittel, Barton Heyman, Barbara Le Brun, Nancy Mainguy, K. Lype O'Dell, Susan Stevens, Lisa Rifkin, Caroline Thomas
The American Place Theatre
1978–1979
Choices
Conceived by Patricia Bosworth, Adapted by Patricia Bosworth, Caymichael Patten & Lily Lodge, directed by Caymichael Patten
