LuPone, Ahrens, Merkerson and More Featured on CUNY's 'Women in Theatre'

The League of Professional Theatre Women has announced the fourth season of its acclaimed series, "Women in Theatre," featuring 13 interviews, conducted by Linda Winer, theatre critic for Newsday. The first man to appear in the series, Edward Albee, speaks about the women in his plays.

"Women in Theatre," which premieres April 7 2006, is produced by the League, in alliance with CUNY-TV, the cable station of the City University of New York, which is broadcast throughout the city's five boroughs. It can be seen on Channel 75 on Time Warner Cable and Cablevision Systems and on RCN. Each interview will air three times on Fridays at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 12 Noon.

The women interviewed in the series, in order of broadcast appearance, are Patti LuPone (April 7 and 9), S. Epatha Merkerson (April 14 and 16), Edward Albee (April 21 and 23), Tina Packer, artistic director of Shakespeare & Company (April 28 and 30), Lynn Ahrens (May 5 and 7), casting director Rosemarie Tichler (May 12 and 14), Margot Harley, producer, The Acting Company (May 19 and 21), costume designer Carrie Robbins (May 26 and 28), Emily Mann, artistic director of the McCarter Theatre, (June 2 and 4), playwright Kia Corthron (June 9 and 11), Estelle Parsons (June 16 and 18), the advocary organization Guerrilla Girls on Tour, and Zoe Caldwell (June 30 and July 2).

"Women in Theatre" is produced by Betty Corwin, Ruth Mayleas and Harriet Slaughter, who are solely responsible for its programming and financing. The entire series will become part of the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Canter. Re-runs of past series are regularly shown on Channel 75 and each episode can also been seen in streaming video on CUNY-V's Web site, www.cuny.tv.

An advocacy organization, The League of Professional Theatre Women (www.theatrewomen.org) promotes visibility and increases opportunities for women in professional theatre. Through its "Women in Theatre" television series, the League, in collaboration with CUNY-TV, brings before the public the accomplishments of outstanding women who create, produce, design and perform in the contemporary American theatre. The series is made possible by contributions from the Ford Foundation, the Grisham Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts (a state agency), the Lucille Lortel Foundation, the Strelsin Foundation, the Edith Meiser Foundation, the Amber Foundation, the Palisades Educational Foundation, Sally Trippe Revocable Trust, Nina Lannan, William M. Haber, and individual members of The League of Professional Theatre Women and other private donors.

Alex Rybeck, noted pianist and music director, performs the series theme, "The Glamorous Life" from A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim. Audra D. Malone directs "Women in Theatre." The Creative Consultant for CUNY-TV is Leonard Fleischer; Associate Producer for CUNY-TV: Lauren Mucciolo. Executive in Charge of Production for CUNY-TV is Robert Isaacson.

Don't Miss a Broadway News Story Sign up for all the news on the Winter season, discounts & more...