FAQs
(And please feel free to send us your questions! We’ll post ‘em and share the answers with others.)
What’s the reason for the initiative?
To promote positive action. Female playwrights are critically underrepresented on stages across the country, and we want to do our part in Los Angeles to ensure that women playwrights are fairly represented here, and elsewhere.
Who can be involved in the initiative?
Anyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re an emerging or an established playwright, theater artist or audience member, or if you’d rather be onstage than behind the scenes. We welcome – no, we need – your ideas and involvement.
Is the initiative only for playwrights based in Los Angeles?
No. The LA FPI exists to support playwrights, theatermakers and theatergoers who share the common goal of seeing women’s work onstage in Los Angeles and beyond.
Are only female playwrights involved?
No. The LA FPI is a spearheaded by men and women who realize that, particularly in these difficult times, an “us vs. them” approach is not going to serve anyone. The more work we get onstage, the more we all benefit.
What will the initiative do for female playwrights?
Hopefully, a lot. We want to advocate for female playwrights based in LA by creating an active nexus between theaters, companies, organizations and theater artists who want to produce, promote and employ women playwrights.
What about other female theater artists?
We love them. A main goal of the LA FPI is to open channels and create opportunities for women playwrights, and by extension all women theater artists. Women helping women. It works.
Why should I care about the initiative if I’m a producer?
Because we care about you. We want to recognize and support LA area theaters who produce, promote and employ female theater artists through sharing our logo and advocating for – and attending – your productions.
How can I become a part of the initiative?
It’s easy – just let us know. We’re a grassroots movement at its beginning stages, so there are tons of ways you can help out. Contact us and we’ll put you to work. Tell us how you want Get Involved.
What’s the deal with the LA FPI’s Logo?
The Logo is an essential part of LA Female Playwrights Initiative. It was inspired by the American Humane Association logo that we now expect to see on the end credits of films. We wanted to raise awareness of the very dire situation at present, and at the same time foster accountability among theaters and theater-makers. While keeping our sense of humor. In essence, we’re saying: “No female playwrights were harmed . . .”
Where does the LA FPI want to see its Logo?
On programs, websites, and promotional materials throughout the Southland. It’ll be a badge of honor, and a signal of change.
Why should I put the Logo on my promotional materials?
It’ll help get our message out there, and at the same time, serve as a marketing tool for your production, theater or organization. We’re an inside source for LA theatergoers who want invest in the theaters who’re with the FPI – by buying tickets to plays by female playwrights.
Can I tell friends and theater companies about the Logo?
Definitely! It’s a great way to spread the word about what we’re doing. As a side benefit, we’d love it if the LA FPI could help unify the LA theater community.
What does the Logo mean?
Next to the Logo, we ask that the following text be included: “We actively support the goals of the LA Female Playwrights Initiative, to ensure that women playwrights are fairly represented on stages in the Greater Los Angeles area.” Use of the Logo means just that.
How do I get a copy of the LA FPI Logo?
If you’re ready to say, “I’m with the FPI!” you’ve earned our Logo. It’s that easy. Click here to become part of what we’re doing.
What data will be included in the Study?
The Study will include productions on stages in the Greater Los Angeles area from 2000 to 2009, the first decade of the 21st century. A separate component will tally the plays of Los Angeles-area female playwrights over the same period.
How will the data be collected?
The data will be primarily collected through Survey Monkey, an online research tool. The Study will analyze data directly from theaters and producing organizations as well as other comprehensive sources, and also from individual playwrights who will self-report. Data will also be collected and processed manually to ensure accuracy.
Who can take part in the Study?
Any theater or producing organization in the Greater Los Angeles area, and any individual playwright who is LA-based, or has had work presented in the LA area.
Why should female playwrights self-report for the Study?
In order to ensure the accuracy and completeness of data received from theaters and producing organizations. (This is the “blind” portion of the Study.) In addition, we want to collect data from LA female playwrights – where and how often our plays were presented – in order to celebrate our collective achievement, and see just how impressive and important a cultural resource we are, locally and elsewhere.
Can male playwrights self-report for the Study?
Of course. Again, this serves as a blind to ensure accuracy. However, for the purposes of this Study, we will only be able to use data reflecting the work of male playwrights in the Greater Los Angeles area.
What information should I collect before participating in the Study online?
Whether you’re self-reporting as a playwright or participating as a theater or producing organization, you should have handy a list of all plays produced or developed from 2000 – 2009, along with the approximate dates of each presentation, and other information such as the location of the venue. The Study also includes an optional question about submissions: for playwrights, a rough approximation of how many submissions you made over the 10-year period; for theaters or producing organizations, a rough approximation of how many submissions you received, from male and from female playwrights.
Why does the Study need anyone’s zip code?
Whether collected from a playwright, theater or producing organization, zip codes are only used to identify geographical regions in terms of the Greater Los Angeles area.
What is considered the “Greater Los Angeles area?”
Anywhere within Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino or Orange Counties. We are focusing on contiguous neighboring counties to Los Angeles, as an area of cultural impact, for our initial efforts.
What does the Study mean by a “presentation?”
A presentation can be a production, workshop or either public or developmental readings as long as they are associated with a theater or production companies. (A private reading at someone’s living room, for instance, should not be included.)
What does the Study count as a “production?”
For the purposes of the Study, productions can be at a professional (Equity or non-Equity), community or college/university theater, as long as admission was charged and design elements were incorporated.
Will the Study include productions that are self-produced?
Yes. Self-produced plays will be included, as long as they were professional productions.
What about productions written by students?
If a production – or workshop or reading – of a student-written play is mounted by a college or university during the time the student is attending that college or university, it should not be counted for the purposes of this Study. (We figure it’s part of a student’s coursework or educational activities.) However, if a student-written play receives a professional production it should be counted, regardless of whether the playwright is a student at the time of production. A student-written play which is produced a college or university – any college or university – after the playwright is no longer a student should also be counted in the Study.
Why is the Study concerned about whether a production is a solo show?
The Study will make use of this information to identify possible trends and opportunity for women playwrights in general, and in the Greater Los Angeles area.
What happens if one play receives multiple presentations during the time period of the Study?
The Study will record individual presentations – productions, workshops or readings – not the number of plays (e.g. if a play receives a reading at two different theaters, then a workshop and production through another company, it’s recorded as four presentations).
Why does the Study ask about a producer’s location if the play is presented in a Los Angeles area venue?
The Study will use this information to identify which companies and organizations are “importing” productions by female playwrights. In the case of presentations by Los Angeles-based playwrights outside the LA area, the information will be used to measure the impact of local artists as a “cultural export.”
How long will the data collection take?
We plan on 6-9 months to document and compile all the data.
When will the results of the Study be available?
In early 2011.
What will be done with the results?
We’ll publish the results on our website, and make the data available to everyone in the Los Angeles theatre scene and organizations and theatermakers nationwide. We plan on connecting with NY’s 50/50 by 2020 movement supporting women theater artists. Theaters, organizations and artists will be able to use the results for advertising and marketing purposes.
Why is the Study important?
To compile an accurate account of the history of Los Angeles theater in the 21st century; quite simply, no accurate data exists on this topic to date. Once completed, this Study will provide a baseline against which the current and future accountability of gender issues of Los Angeles playwrights may be considered.
admin | 
March 30, 2010 9:21 pm
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