Women's Voices Theater Festival Announces Second Year of DC Productions

The Women’s Voices Theater Festival returns to the greater D.C. area January 15-February 15, 2018, for its second installment. Twenty-eight professional theater companies of all sizes from the region will join together to produce new works by female and female-identifying artists. In addition to presenting world premiere productions, the 2018 festival will expand to include second and third productions of works by female playwrights, nationwide festival-related activities, and a variety of events for theater makers and theater lovers from across the country.

The seven originating theaters of the Women’s Voices Theater Festival — Arena Stage, Ford's Theatre, Round House Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company — have announced preliminary details for their contributing productions.

Arena Stage will present the world premiere of Mary Kathryn Nagle's Sovereignty, directed by Molly Smith (January 12-February 18, 2018); Ford’s Theatre will present the American premiere of Timberlake Wertenbaker's Jefferson's Garden, directed by Nataki Garrett (January 19-February 11, 2018); Round House Theatre will present the American premiere of Moira Buffini's Handbagged, directed by Indhu Rubasingham (January 31-February 25, 2018); Shakespeare Theatre Company will present the world premiere of Heather Raffo's Noura, directed by Joanna Settle (February 6-March 18, 2018); Signature Theatre will present the world premiere of Annalisa Dias's 4,380 Nights, directed by Kathleen Akerley (January 16-February 18, 2018); Studio Theatre will present the regional premiere of Sarah DeLappe's The Wolves, directed by Marti Lyons (dates TBA); and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company will present the regional premiere of Danai Gurira's Familiar, directed by Adam Immerwahr (February 5-March 4, 2018).

First launched in fall 2015, the Women's Voices Theater Festival was created to highlight the scope of new plays written by female playwrights and the range of professional theater being produced in and around the nation’s capital.

In a joint statement, the originating artistic directors shared the following:

"The 2015 Women’s Voices Theater Festival ignited a much-needed conversation within our theatrical community. The success of the first Festival inspired us to continue this important effort and to broaden how we highlight female playwrights. By presenting world premieres, as well as plays in their second and third productions, we hope this new undertaking will again call attention to the gender disparity on our stages and continue to introduce our audiences to exciting new female voices."

For more information about participating theaters and productions, click here.