NEA: Not Funding Women's Project Playwrights Lab this Year

Rocco Landesman and the NEA have angered many a woman today with the news that they will not be funding the Women's Project's Playwrights Lab this year. According to a report in Time Out New York, part of the reason is because the NEA, which has steadily supported the Women's Project for many years, is no longer supporting general operating budgets.  Instead they are underwriting specific projects.  

Time Out New York explains: "The amount at issue is a mere $20,000, but the impact of an NEA award goes far beyond its actual financial gift. Smaller foundations often look to the NEA as a "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval," and so any NEA decision always has a profound ripple effect."

Says Women's Project Artist Director Julie Crosby: "This is taxpayer money, and yet they aren't going to fund the oldest and largest theater for women in America?"

To read the report in Time Out New York in its entirety, click here.

Women's Project (WP) produces theater created by women, providing a forum for women's perspectives on political, social, and cultural topics. WP was founded in 1978 by Julia Miles to address the conspicuous under-representation of women theater artists in the professional theater. During its 32 years, countless artists have achieved significant recognition through WP productions, including Anne Bogart, Eve Ensler, Maria Irene Fornes, Lynn Nottage, Suzan-Lori Parks, Leigh Silverman, and Anna Deavere Smith, among the many. WP has staged over 600 mainstage productions and developmental projects, and published ten anthologies of plays by women. In 1998, WP purchased a historic off-Broadway venue on Manhattan's West 55th Street, making WP the first and only women's theater company to hold the keys to its own stage.

Founded in 1994, the Playwrights Lab helps members to develop new work in a productive environment. Lab Playwrights meet monthly under the direction of Megan Carter, Associate Artistic Director and Dramaturg, to hear their work read aloud and receive feedback.

The Women's Project is currently presenting the world premiere production of Liz Duffy Adams's restoration-style comedy Or,.  Liz Duffy is a WP Playwright's Lab alumna. The production is directed by Wendy McClellan (also a Lab alumna) and features Kelly Hutchinson, Andy Paris and Maggie Siff.

Or , is Ms. Adams's fast-past, three-hander about Aphra Behn played by Maggie Siff trying to get out of the spy trade and into show biz, also features Kelly Hutchinson and Andy Paris playing multiple characters of varying genders including 17th century A-listers Nell Gwynne, King Charles II, and super-spy and double-agent William Scott. While war rages and Aphra and her friends celebrate free love, cross-dressing and pastoral lyricism, the 1660s start to look a lot like the 1960s. Verse or prose, now or then, love or death... and a lot of kissing. The production opened on November 3 and runs through November 22.

Or, is designed by Jennifer Moeller (sets), Andrea Lauer (costumes), Deb Sullivan (lights), and Elizabeth Rhodes (sound).

The production will run at the Women's Project, 424 West 55th Street. Performances will be: Sunday, November 1, at 3:00pm; Monday, November 2, at 7:00pm; Tuesday, November 3, at 7:00pm. Subsequent performances through November 22 are Mondays & Tuesdays at 7:00 pm, Thursdays-Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm. For more information, including how to get tickets, visit http://www.womensproject.org/.