It’s a fact: Female playwrights are critically underrepresented on stages across the country.

And we’re taking positive action here in LA.

The Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative is a local movement working to support, promote and connect women+ playwrights in LA and beyond…

We’re here to amplify plays by women and nonbinary writers in Los Angeles, and also the theaters, collaborators and producers who are putting them onstage.

If you’re a femme-identifying or nonbinary playwright, we want to introduce you to other artists.

And as an organization, we can be a springboard to facilitate new projects and ideas.

Whether you’re a playwright, theatermaker or theatergoer – of any gender – join forces with us!

“Powder Puff Pilots,” book by Marian Partee, lyrics by Noelle Donfeld, music by Cindy O’Connor (photo by Sandra Cruz)

Wouldn’t you like to say,
“I’m with the FPI?”
Become part of the movement.

“A theatre that is missing the work of women is missing half the story, half the canon, half the life of our time.  That is the situation we have now.”

Marsha Norman, “Not There Yet,”  American Theatre Magazine

 

28 thoughts on “”

  1. It’s beyond thrilling to know you’re promoting the works of women playwrights in L A, and although I’m from Irvine, perhaps I’m close enough to count and would gladly risk my life driving the 405 to productions you recommend. I finally wrote a play that takes place in California’s mighty Mojave Desert, and would love to share it with anyone willing to risk permanent neurological damage, ha! Anyway, it’s great to know you’re out there! Feel free to download any of my plays at fengar.com. The California play is WILD ORCHIDS (A Gardening Guide to the Galaxies). Please keep me on your mailing list! [email protected]

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  2. A friend just made me aware of this group. I have a dear friend named Fengar Gael who is an award-winning playwright now living in Orange County who has a large catalog of work, but is rarely produced. I am going to make her aware of this wonderful group! Thank you! Her website is http://www.fengar.com and all of her plays are available on the website free of charge. She also painted all the paintings and wallpaper for the site. – Darcy Patch, a life-long theatre lover

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  4. Thank you for doing the work you do! Are you aware of something similar for the SF Bay Area? Thanks for any leads you have!

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    1. Thanks for finding us! I know Theatre Bay Area has a lot of gender parity and diversity action, and there are quite a few women up there working on the gender parity front. Look at https://worksbywomensf.wordpress.com/home/ and also https://www.womenarts.org/. A great way to connect directly is through Social Media. Yeah, I Said Feminist is a great Facebook Group. If you’re on Twitter, connect with Patricia Milton. And I know there are quite a few theater companies doing work by women including https://3girlstheatre.org/ and https://www.brava.org/ Woot!

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  5. I’m a retired TV writer/producer who has finished a play and I don’t know what to do next. This sounds like the kind of community of support I’ve been looking for. Please add me to your email list.

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  9. I attended the SWAN DAY ACTION FEST at Samuel French Bookshop on Saturday 29th March and had a great time. A wonderful forum for women playwrights to have their ‘voice’ heard and their plays read in a supportive positive atmosphere. It was very well organized and it was also a wonderful networking environment too. Many thanks for a great day, congratulations one and all responsible for making it happen. And kudos to Samuel French for providing the space for all this excellent creative work to take pace.

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  10. If no one has told you lately, thanks for all the hard work in keeping this vital resource going. And with such excellence. Let’s keep moving forward together.

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  15. I’m thrilled you guys exist … and i wish we could grow you to cities around the country. You might be interested in hooking up with Synchronicity Theatre in Atlanta, GA. About 80 percent of its work is by women playwrights. The company was founded, and is run, by women. It also hires women directors, technicians, designers and looks for plays with good role for women. you can find them at http://www.synchrotheatre.com. Producing Artistic Director is Rachel May.

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  16. Pingback: LA FPI » Addendum to Playwrights in Mind: A National Conversation

  17. This is such a wonderful breakthrough for all women playwrights. I applaud all the cast of LAPFI and have had great experiences with these knowledgeable women. Thank you so much for creating a much needed voice.

    Jean Colonomos – Playwright, poet and Associate Artist with Playwrights’ Arena

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  18. Glad there is someone who is shedding light on women and their words. I tire of being a spectator for and to men. Thanks LA FPI

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  19. Brava and congratulations! I know I’m the odd man out (literally!) on this site, but I just wanted to extend my kudos to LAFPI. As I’ve always said, “Boys are boring! Women are always more fun at parties.” So I’m excited about the work that is happening here. Rock on, fabulous women!
    — Larry Dean Harris, playwright + LA regional rep for the Dramatists Guild

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