Project Y Theatre presents the 9th Annual Women in Theatre Festival. The festival, which is devoted to presenting works by and about women, will feature two World Premiere productions by Amina Henry and Banna Desta as well as an evening of one-act plays adapted from a play by the first woman playwright.
The Women in Theatre Festival seeks to broaden the opportunities for women in the entertainment industry by producing new work by women with more than 50% representation of all artists involved. The festival is a model of going beyond parity, as they commission and produce new works by women+ writers, devisers and creators, develop an audience interested in feminist theatre and foster opportunities that center interdisciplinary practices and experimentation. More Women. More Theatre. All the Time.
Lineup includes:
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Written by Amina Henry
Directed by Michole Biancosino
June 9-23
In this modern adaptation of the classic The Pied Piper of Hamelin, the town of Hamelin struggles with a rat infestation. Led by their mayor, the people of Hamelin employ several tactics to get rid of the rats. When the rats remain, they employ a strange pied piper who suddenly arrives in town and offers to get rid of the rats for a price. The pied piper successfully rids Hamelin of rats, but when the mayor, and the other adults of Hamelin refuse to pay the piper for his work, he exacts a horrific revenge. With poetic and playful language, The Pied Piper examines the lessons adults teach the children in their lives through their words and actions.
Bygone Fruit
Written by Banna Desta
Directed by Celestine Rae
June 6-23
Blake and Selam appear to be a perfect couple—but that harmony is put to the test when they prepare for their families to meet for the first time. During a tense cook-off, subtle and startling revelations are made about their respective identity, Black heritage and views on the diaspora, creating a divide that might be too great to overcome.
The Hrosthwitha Project
Written by Maya Macdonald, Alyssa Haddad-Chin, Elinor T. Vanderburg, Lana Meyer and Divya Mangwani
June 10
Aimed at reclaiming and celebrating the history of women in theatre, these plays are commissioned adaptations of a play by the first woman playwright, 10th century abbess, Hrosthwitha of Gandersham. This is part of a 6 year project to adapt all 6 of these historical plays and bring more awareness to this unknown female writer who deserves a place in theatre history. This year, playwrights Maya Macdonald, Alyssa Haddad-Chin, Elinor T. Vanderburg, Lana Meyer and Divya Mangwani were commissioned to write a 5-9 minute play adapted from Hrostvitha's play Sapientia.
