Casting Announced for THE PUSSY GRABBER PLAYS At Joe's Pub
Award-winning artists and activists are joining forces to bring the #MeToo movement to the stage. Inspired by the women who have come forward with personal accounts of President Donald Trump's sexual harassment and assaults, "The Pussy Grabber Plays" will premiere Monday, January 14 at 9:30 p.m. at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. An acclaimed, all-female production team will make the play available royalty-free to theaters, community groups and colleges across the country, creating a new platform for survivors of sexual abuse.
"The Pussy Grabber Plays" draws from interviews of the seven women who reported sexual harassment and assault by President Trump in the wake of the notorious Access Hollywood tape and were sidelined during the 2016 election.
Each piece will focus on an aspect of one woman's personal experiences, including deciding to come forward, telling their families what happened to them, and questioning and confronting issues of victimhood, sexism and power. One will center on women who have not yet come forward, creating a unique theatrical evening of hurt and humor, disgust and courage, honesty and anger.
Playwrights also include Halley Feiffer, Bess Wohl and Anna Ziegler. Directors include Lila Neugebauer, Sarna Lapine and Jade King Carroll. Participating actors include Clea Alsip, Genevieve Angelson, Tina Benko, Kathleen Chalfant, Michael Chernus, Tasha Dixon, Katie Finneran, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Judy Gold, Sue Jean Kim, Lora Lee Gayer, Maria- Christina Oliveras, Maureen Sebastian, Mirirai Sithole and more. A full list of participants can be found below.
"The Pussy Grabber Plays" were developed and produced by an award-winning, all-female creative team led by co-creators Kate Pines (Theater Agent, ICM Partners) and Sharyn Rothstein (playwright, "By the Water"). Tasha Dixon, actress and former Miss Arizona who has spoken out about Trump's beauty pageant harassment, will play herself in a piece written by Julia Brownell. Natasha Stoynoff, who was attacked by Trump when interviewing him for People magazine, is writing her piece with playwright Melissa Li.
"The women President Trump assaulted have to confront him every time they turn on their televisions or log onto Twitter, and he continuously attempts to silence them. We couldn't think of a more powerful way to amplify their stories than through the theater, which brings people together and reveals our humanity," said Kate Pines and Sharyn Rothstein, co-creators of "The Pussy Grabber Plays." "This New York premiere is the beginning of a national movement of theaters, educational institutions and community centers to celebrate the strength of these women and to ensure that their stories remain a vital part of the conversation about this administration, the #MeToo movement and the 2020 election. Together, we will raise our voices to support survivors and end sexual violence."
All of the proceeds from the Joe's Pub premiere will be donated to The New York Women's Foundation's The Fund for the Me Too Movement and Allies. The fund was launched with Tarana Burke to invest in organizations across the country that led by and for survivors of sexual violence working to prevent gender-based violence and promote healing at the individual and community level. Following the premiere, the plays will be available online and royalty-free for artists and survivors nationwide to partner and share their stories, and will benefit local women's organizations.
Videos
