20% Theatre Company Chicago is dedicated to strengthening the presence and raising public awareness of women artists in theatre. It is estimated that only 20% of theatre professionals are women. By providing educational opportunities for women directors, producers, designers, and playwrights, 20% Theatre Company Chicago strives to increase the number of women in theatre.
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“Women are creating some of the most exciting and challenging art in the United States today. And yet, despite great strides in other fields and a few high-visibility success stories, women continue to face enormous employment discrimination in the arts.”
- Martha Richards, Founder and Executive Director of WomenArts
Since 2003, 20% Theatre Company Chicago has engaged the talents of over 350 established and emerging female playwrights, directors, and designers with full-length productions as well as Snapshots, their annual short play festival. 20% has also nurtured the development of local female playwrights through its new play development series, The Darkroom.
Our History:
In 2002, a three-year study by the New York Council on the Arts revealed that only 20% of working professional theatre artists that year were women, only 16% of plays produced were written by women and only 17% of plays were directed by women. Later that year, 20% Theatre Company Chicago was founded by Elizabeth Schwan-Rosenwald and Abigail Boucher. By producing shows written, directed, and designed by women, the artists of 20% have created a home for strong female voices in the field, thus strengthening the presence of women in and around theatre in Chicago.
The baton was passed to current Artistic Director Lindsay Bartlett in 2010, and the largely re-structured Company is as committed as ever to breaking down these barriers. Now in our 9th season, 20% is advancing the presence of women in theatre by expanding our mission to include female-written adaptations of works originally written by men, as well as commissioning new works for fully-realized productions. We are working hard to increase our presence in Chicago's theatre community and we are proud to welcome our "Class of 2011" Artistic Associates, who both embody and respect the value of the female perspective in theatre.
Mission Statement
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copyright 2012
