Tennessee Women's Theater Project announces new season's offerings

Tennessee Women's Theater Project has announced its 2010-2011 season, presenting two plays new to Middle Tennessee audiences, and the return of the company's annual Women's Work showcase of performing and visual arts at Nashville's Z. Alexander Looby Theater. A fourth production, last year's successful Warriors Don't Cry, will be touring Nashville area schools.

TWTP's fourth season opens October 1 with the U.S. professional premiere of Unravelling the Ribbon, by Irish playwrights Mary Kelly and Maureen White.

The play is described as "a tender, often hilarious exploration of the lives of three women": 34 year-old Rose lives on a farm with her husband and two children, wondering if she married too young. Lola, in her 50s, is selling her house, and feeling overwhelmed by the task. Lyndsey, at 11, is worried that her best friend has stopped sitting beside her in art class. When breast cancer intrudes, everything begins to unravel.

The Irish Independent called the play "...glowingly touching and truthful, deeply gentle and lovely." The production coincides with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the company is pursuing partnerships with cancer-focused organizations.

For its winter 2011 production opening February 25, TWTP has chosen another regional premiere, Impressionism, by Michael Jacobs. This comedy is set in a small art gallery where the owner, Katharine and her assistant, Thomas, have been hiding out from a world that has shattered them both. As they gradually open their hearts, they learn that love is not always painted in realistic style, and discover the art of repairing broken lives.

In its review, the New Yorker praised the play's "brazen sweetness and openhearted humor."

The Fifth Annual Women's Work celebration and showcase rounds out the season, opening May 6. The presenters are still to be chosen, but Clarke is confident the 2011 edition of Women's Work will offer a stimulating mix of theater, dance, music, film and visual arts.

In a new undertaking, the company will present its acclaimed one-woman show, Warriors Don't Cry in dozens of performances in Nashville area schools. Company founder Maryanna Clarke says the play - based on the memoir of Melba Pattillo Beals of the Little Rock Nine - attracted attention from schools during its run in September, 2009.

"After our Looby Theater run, we were invited to perform Warriors at Montgomery Bell Academy, University School of Nashville, Harpeth Hall and even at Motlow State Community College in Lynchburg. We'll be doing more of that this year, but we wanted to find a way to make the show affordable for public school kids as well," she said.

The company has received grants that will fully fund some two dozen performances in Metro Nashville schools, at no charge to the students or the schools.

"Warriors Don't Cry brings a piece of history to life through the power of theater," says Clarke. "We're grateful and excited that we can present this important work as a gift to Metro students."

For a complete schedule of 2010-2011 performance dates and times, reservations and information, call (615) 681-7220, or visit www.twtp.org.

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