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A poster inspires a poster at Coastal Carolina University! What's the biggest obstacle to feminism? Hmmmmmm.......

Represent Asian: The Changing Face of New York Theater

Calling all NYC based playwrights, directors and Asian American Actors! Please fill out a short anonymous survey by Feb 3rd re your views on non-traditional/inclusive casting. Click the links below to fill out the survey. Also see below for information about an industry roundtable anddialogue on access and representation of minority actors on NYC stages and how best to overcome obstacles to more inclusive casting on February 13^th.

Asian American Actor Survey:http://kwiksurveys.com/?u=representasian

Director Survey:http://kwiksurveys.com/?u=aapacdirectors

Playwright Survey:http://kwiksurveys.com/?u=aapacplaywrights

Here's a great blog post by Randy Gener that features some of the illuminating statistics we have gathered on minority representation in NYC stages:

http://theaterofoneworld.org/2012/01/30/why-are-asian-actors-invisible-on-new-york-stages/

This is not an Asian issue. All minorities are still under-represented. We need the entire industry to come together to discuss how best we can overcome obstacles to more inclusive casting.

Join us for an industry roundtable with prominent producers, artistic directors, directors, playwrights, agents and casting directors to have a dialogue on access and representation of minority actors on NYC stages and how best to overcome obstacles to more inclusive casting. It will be co-presented with Fordham University and moderated by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang. Please feel free to invite any and all people who you think would be interested in joining the discussion.

Represent Asian: The Changing Face of New York Theater

Monday, February 13th @ 7:00 pm

The Pope Auditorium at Fordham University

60th St. & Columbus Ave. (just inside the main entrance)

RSVP: aapacrsvp@gmail.com

Guerrilla Girls On Tour! are looking for a few good gorillas!

Guerrilla Girls On Tour are recruiting!

We are looking for a few funny feminists to tour with us in 2012.

Rehearses Feb. 2012 in NYC; tours March-April 2012 in the U.S.

Must live in the tri-state area of NY, NJ and CT. Theatre experience and performing a plus especially improv, dance, and singing. If you have a passion for addressing women's issues with humor in fake fur please apply.

Auditions will be held by appointment on Feb. 3, 10 a.m.-1 p.m in Manhattan.

Send us your pix, résumés, and/or a letter describing your interest to casting@guerrillagirlsontour.com.

Please forward this to anyone you think might be interested.

Go bananas!

- The GGOT's

CERES GALLERY - Humor in the Service of Feminism

Edith Evans and I kicked the New Year off with a bang at CERES gallery with an informal program entitled “Humor in the Service of Feminism”. CERES gallery was founded in 1983 and has been going strong since then. It was originally started as a program of the NY Feminist Art Institute and now is a not-for-profit artist run gallery dedicated to the promotion of women in the arts. We heart that a lot. The gallery exhibits a broad spectrum of work which we could not help but notice upon entering the fabulous and open space. Currently on view is an exhibit by Ceres members entitled “Inside/Outside” which includes the works of Joan Arbeiter, Marilyn Banner and Ellen Halloran, to name a few. The show runs through January 28^th. Check it out here http://www.ceresgallery.org/

Aphra Behn, Joan Arbeiter, Edith Evans

After donning masks at a nearby loading dock Edith and I proceeded to the gallery space a little before 6PM. Joan Arbeiter ,who had everything set up and ready for our talk, greeted us with her infectious smile. The audience was warm and welcoming and we were glad to look out and see many new and different faces in the crowd. After showing our work via a powerpoint presentation the evening quickly turned into a lively chat about the definition of the word feminist, the future of feminism and what current events are happening in NYC by women artists. It was as if we were sitting a living room which happened to feature only fabulous paintings by women. The female art vibe that permeated the night certainly inspired a terrific dialogue with artists in our own hometown.

Afterwards we went down in the elevator with some tipsy art lovers who had had one too many at a recent opening elsewhere in the building. Seeing two gorilla masked women seemed to sober them up. We exited and returned back to our loading dock to de-mask, leaving CERES with warm hearts and newfound feminist friends.

Love,

Aphra Behn

January 12, 2012

It's time for some GOOD NEWS!

GOOD NEWS LIST 2011/2012

Theatres that present 50% or more plays by women

in their 2011/2012 Main Stage Seasons!

*Actors Theatre of Louisville, Louisville, KY

*Arena Stage, Washington, DC

*New Georges, New York, NY

*Wilma Theater, Philadelphia, PA

*Women’s Project, New York, NY

*Arizona Women’s Theater Company, Scottsdale,AZ

*Brava! For Women in the Arts, San Francisco

*Looking For Lillith, Louisville, KY

*Voices and Vision, New York, NY

*Detroit Repertory Theater, Detroit, MI

*Orlando Repertory Theater, Orlando, FL

*Panasian Repertory Theater, New York, NY

*13th St Repertory Company, New York, NY

*Hawaii Repertory Theater, Honolulu, HI

*Tennessee Women’s Theater Project, Nashville, TN

*Kitchen Theatre Company, Ithaca, NY

*Astoria Performing Arts Center, LI City, NY

*Zach Theatre, Austin, TX

*Echo Theatre, Dallas, TX

*Halcyon Theater, Chicago, IL

*Rivendell Theater, Chicago, IL

*Prologue Theatre Co, Chicago, IL

*The Strangetree Group, Chicago, IL

*Full Circle Theatre Company, Jersey City, NJ

*Manhattan Theatre Club, New York, NY

*TheaterWorks, Hartford, CT

*The Attic Ensemble, Jersey City, NJ

*Vortex Theater, Austin, TX

*Vermont Stage Company, Burlington, VT

Actor’s Theatre, Phoenix, AZ

Company of Fools, Hailey, ID

Salt Lake Acting Company, Salt Lake City

Hyde Park Theatre, Austin, TX

Imagination Stage, Bethesda, MD

Kitchen Dog Theater, Dallas, TX

Alliance Theater, Atlanta, GA

Bond Street Theatre, New York, NY

Youth Performance Co., Minneapolis, MN

Borderlands Theatre, Tucson, AZ

New York Theatre Workshop, New York NY

NC Stage Company, Asheville, NC

Playwrights Horizons, New York, NY

BRAT, Philadelphia, PA

Theater of the First Amendment, Fairfax, VA

Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT

Interact Theatre Company, Philadelphia, PA

Invisible Theatre, Tucson, AZ

Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT

Congo Square Theatre Company, Chicago, IL

Coterie Theatre, Kansas City, MO

Bushfire Theatre of Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Swine Palace, Baton Rouge, LA

Court Theatre, Chicago, IL

A.D. Players, Houston, TX

Company of Angels, Los Angeles, CA

Huntington Theatre Company, Boston, MA

Rep Stage, Columbia, MD

Crowded Fire Theatre, San Francisco

Golden Thread, San Francisco

Horizon Theatre Company, Atlanta, GA

The Catastrophic Theatre, Houston, TX

Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis, MN

Clubbed Thumb, New York, NY

2econd Stage Theatre, New York, NY

Lexington Children’s Theatre, Lexington, KY

New Ground Theatre, Davenport, IA

Adventure Stage, Chicago, IL

African American Shakespeare Co., San Francisco

Stage Works, Tampa, FL

3Girls Theatre, San Francisco

SF Playhouse, San Francisco

* indicates multiple years on the Good News List

MORE GOOD NEWS

· FOUR theatres that were on the Girlcott List last year are now on the Good News List! The theatres that went from producing NO plays by women to producing 50% or more plays by women are (drumroll…..): The Attic Ensemble, Jersey City, NJ; Vermont Stage Company, Burlington, VT; Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City and Full Circle Theatre Company also in Jersey City.

· Los Angeles Female Playwright Initiative:

http://www.theatreinla.com/news.php?articleID=48

· Hedgebrook Women Playwrights Festival: http://www.hedgebrook.org/newsdetails.php?id=26&PHPSESSID=47f50e95435c7a30af3e06e22f81195c

· Theatre Festival Highlights Women Playwrights of Colour: http://feministing.com/2011/09/28/theatre-festival-highlights-women-playwrights-of-colour-2/

· Writer’s Conference to Champion Women Playwrights:

http://featheredquill.blogspot.com/2011/03/writers-conference-to-champion-women.html

· Check out the brand new Women’s Theatre Festival of Memphis:

http://www.womenstheatrefestivalofmemphis.org

Compiled by Liz Walsh

THE 2011/2012 GIRLCOTT LIST and bonus - ethnic casting stats NYC!

GUERRILLA GIRLS ON TOUR! PRESENT

THE 2011/2012 GIRLCOTT LIST

These theatres will not be producing a single play by a woman

on their main stages for the 2011/12 season.

American Folklore Theatre - Fish Creek, WI**

Park Players - Birmingham, AL* **

Theatre Works - Hartford, CT **

New Stage Theatre - Jackson, MS**

A Noise Within Glendale - CA**

Seattle Shakespeare Company - Seattle, WA**

Theater for a New Audience - New York, NY**

Florida Studio Theatre - Sarasota, FL**

Ford’s Theatre - Washington, DC**

(female director added since last year)

Ivoryton Playhouse - Ivoryton, CT**

Connecticut Repertory Theater - Storrs, CT**

Book-It Repertory Theater - Seattle, WA**

Sierra Repertory Theater - Sonora, CA* **

Texas Repertory Theater - Houston, TX**

Stepphenwolf Theatre - Chicago, IL

SecondStory Repertory - Redmond, WA**

Repertory Theater of Iowa - Des Moines, IA**

California Repertory Company - Long Beach, CA**

McKinney Repertory Theater - McKinney, TX**

Rosedale Community Players - Southfield, MI* **

Lofte Community Theater - Manley, NE**

Dreamcatcher Repertory Theater - South Orange, NJ**

Adobe Theater - Albuquerque, NM**

Centre Stage - Greenville, SC**

Mariemont Players - Cincinnati, OH**

Artist’s Cooperative Theater - Nashville, TN**

Community Playhouse - Tullahoma, TN**

American Heartland Theater - Kansas City, MO**

Hangar Theater - Ithaca, NY**

Lucille Ball Theatre - Jamestown, NY**

San Angelo Civic Theatre - San Angelo, TX**

Beaumont Community Players - Beaumont, TX**

Unity Theatre - Brenham, TX**

Theatre Three - Dallas, TX**

Ennis Public Theatre - Ennis, TX**

Kaufman Civic County Theatre - Terrell, TX**

Essex Community Players - Essex, VT**

Northern Stage Company - White River Junction**

Gala Hispanic Theater - Washington, DC^*

Jackson County Community Theatre - Brownstown, IN**

Raven Theater - Chicago, IL **

Remy Bumppo - Chicago, IL **

Strawdog Theater - Chicago, IL**

The House Theatre - Chicago, IL**

Hypocrites - Chicago, IL **

Writers Theater - Chicago, IL**

Clinton County Civic Theatre - Frankfort, IN**

Fort Wayne Civic Theatre - Ft. Wayne, IN**

Colonial Playhouse - Aldan, PA**

Act II Playhouse - Ambler, PA**

Hedgerow Theatre - Media, PA**

The Acting Company - New York, NY*

Lord Leebrick Theatre Company - Eugene, OR

Marin Shakespeare Company - San Rafael, CA

New Jersey Repertory Company - Long Branch, NJ

Olney Theatre Center - Olney, MD *

Pearl Theatre Company - New York, NY *

Classic Stage Company - New York, NY *

The Colony - Burbank, CA

Commonwealth Theatre Comapny - Lanesboro, MN

Writer’s Theatre - Glencoe, IL *

Peninsula Players - Fish Creek, WI

Harrisburg Shakespeare Company - Harrisburg, PA

George Street Playhouse - New Brunswick, NJ *

(1/3 of one musical is written by a woman)

Public Theater - New York, NY *

St. Michael’s Playhouse - Colchester, VT

Shakespeare Theatre Company - Washington, DC

Amphibean Stage Productions - Fort Worth, TX

The Antaeus Company - North Hollywood, CA

Crede Repertory Theatre - Crede, CO

New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane - New Orleans, LA

Harlequin Productions - Olympia, WA

L.A. Theatre Works - Los Angeles, CA

Arden Theatre Company - Philadelphia, PA

BookIt Repertory Theatre - Seattle, WA

Bristol Riverside Theatre - Bristol, PA

Guthrie Theatre - Minneapolis, MN

Aurora Theatre - Lawrenceville, GA

Barrington Stage Co - Pittsfield, MA

Center Rep - Walnut Creek, CA

Bickford Theatre - Morristown, NJ

Actor’s Express - Atlanta, GA^

Actor’s Shakespeare Project - Somerville, MA

Lantern Theatre Company - Philadelphia, PA

Long Wharf Theatre - New Haven, CT

Cara Mia Theater Company - Dallas, TX^

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey - Madison, NJ

Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre - Mars Hill, NC

Centre Stage - Greenville, SC

Cider Mill Playhouse - Endicott, NY

Syracuse Stage - Syracuse, NY

Triad Stage - Greensboro, NC

The Western Stage - Salinas, CA

Williamstown Theatre Festival - Williamstown, MA *

American Blues Theatre - Chicago, IL

Ensemble Theatre - Santa Barbara, CA

First Folio Theatre - Oak Brook, IL

California Repertory Company - Long Beach, CA

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina - Hilton Head Island, SC

Fusion Theatre Company - Albuquerque, NM

* indicates no women directors have been hired either

** indicates multiple years on the Girlcott List

^indicates at least one playwright is a man of color, but no female playwrights

Complied by Liz Walsh

AND IF THIS ISN'T ENOUGHT TO MAKE YOU CREATE SOME ACTIVIST STREET THEATRE RIGHT NOW, READ ON....

Asians Americans comprise 12.6% of New York City and is the city’s fastest growing minority group, yet they were seen in only 2.3% of all roles on New York City stages in the last five years:

Ethnic breakdown of casting in New York City Theatre*

(2006-07 to 2010-11 Seasons)

Caucasian: 80%

African American: 13%

Hispanic American: 3.6%

Asian American: 2.3%

Middle Eastern/ Arab American: 0.7%

Native American: 0.1%

Non-Traditional Casting by Ethnicity

46% of the roles played by actors of color were roles that did not specify race (non-traditionally cast). This number, however, was still only 9% of total roles available. African Americans were far more likely than any other minority group to be cast in a role which did not specify race. Breakdown by ethnicity as a proportion of all roles which were non-traditionally cast:

African American: 62.8%

Hispanic American: 20.7%

Asian American: 15%

Middle Eastern/ Arab American: 0.6%

Native American: 0.07%

Broadway

When looking at Broadway as a separate industry, the representation of Asian Americans dropped significantly to 1.5 %:

Caucasian: 82%

African American: 12%

Hispanic American: 4 %

Asian American: 1.5%

Middle Eastern/Arab American: 0.25%

Native American: 0.17%

Ethnic breakdown of Casting at the Largest Non-Profit New York Theatre Companies

2006-07 to 2010-11 seasons:

ATLANTIC THEATRE CO

Caucasian: 95%

African American: 3.5%

Hispanic American: 1%

Asian American: 0.5%

ROUNDABOUT THEATER COMPANY:

Caucasian: 90%

African American: 8%

Hispanic American: 1 %

Asian American: 1 %

PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS:

Caucasian: 86%

African American: 12.4%

Hispanic American: 1.1%

Asian American: 0.6%

THEATRE FOR A NEW AUDIENCE:

Caucasian: 83%

African American: 14%

Hispanic American: 2 %

Asian American : 1 %

VINEYARD THEATRE COMPANY:

Caucasian: 74%

African American: 21%

Hispanic American: 2.5%

Asian American: 2.5%

LINCOLN CENTER THEATRE:

Caucasian: 76%

African American: 17.5%

Hispanic American: 4 %

Asian American: 2.5%

MCC THEATER:

Caucasian: 84.5%

African American: 5.8%

Hispanic American: 3.8%

Asian American: 3.8%

Arab American: 1.9 %

NEW YORK THEATRE WORKSHOP:

Caucasian: 73%

African American 12 %

Hispanic: 3%

Asian American: 4%

Arab American: 8%

CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY

Caucasian: 85.5 %

African American: 6.5%

Hispanic American: 3%

Asian American: 4%

Arab American: 1.0%

PUBLIC THEATRE:

Caucasian: 64%

African American: 21%

Hispanic American: 5.6%

Asian American: 6.5%

Arab American: 3 %

SECOND STAGE THEATER:

Caucasian: 80%

African American: 8.7%

Hispanic American: 4 %

Asian American: 6.4%

Arab American: 1 %

SIGNATURE THEATRE:

Caucasian: 47.5%

African American: 44.9%

Hispanic American: 2.4%

Asian American: 5.5%

THE NEW GROUP

Caucasian: 88%

African American: 2%

Hispanic American: 2%

Asian American: 7%

Arab American: 1%

MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB

Caucasian: 86.5%

African American: 11 %

Hispanic American: 1.0 %

Asian American: 1.0%

Arab American: 0.5%

*includes new shows that opened on Broadway during this period (with the exception of “Soul of Shaolin”, a special event imported directly from China), subsequent replacement casts, and the seasons of the fourteen largest non-profit theatre companies. Does not include shows which opened on Broadway prior to this period but may still be running or Commercial Off Broadway shows. Special Note: Ethnic classification was not self-identified though significant effort was made to research interviews and bios which might indicate ethnic self-identification. Asian American actors include those of East Asian, South Asian (India and Pakistan) and South East Asian origin.

These stats were culled by a group of Asian American actors in NYC who recently formed an ad hoc committee to raise awareness about the systemic biases (both conscious and unconscious) within the casting process.

Here is their FB Page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aapac-Asian-American-Performers-Action-Committee/274685732556028

COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND DIARY #2

Eva and Edith outside our dressing room

November 11, 2011

Hey Diary,

I went to Staten Island and all I brought you back was this diary entry! Ha Ha!

The bomb sniffing dog who checked our bag takes a break at the SI Ferry terminal

If you're free this week I suggest you take a ride on the SI Ferry...it's lovely!

What do they say? Hindsight is 20/20. If I had hindsight my day planner last November would have looked like this:

Wednesday the 9th:

1:30 (ish) - Debark ferry. Meet up with Ellen from College of Staten Island after slight confusion. Basically very few people are picked up from the ferry by car so there was not a clear place to do this. Breaking rules already.

1:30 - 2:00- Take a beautiful ride through Staten Island to the College. Enjoy the harbor and the fall foliage.

2:00 - 4:00 - Meet incredible crew and do wicked fast and professional tech.

4:00 - 5:00 - Play in hallways. Record videos.

5:00 - 6:00 - Finish tech with incredible student volunteer who took the name Frida Kahlo.

6:00 - 7:00 - Eat. More play in hallways. Warm-ups.

7:00 - 9:00 Perform "Feminists Are Funny" and end with Q and A to warm and attentive audience who after slight hesitation about hugging a feminist will jump in and participate. Hear from audience member women do not just need to vote women also need to run for political office on all levels. Receive news during show after an incredible version of 'Lesbian, Vagina, Feminist' that the song moves up on the Netherlands pop charts to #11. Raise your voices and you can affect change.

Thursday the 10th:

1:30 - 3:30 - Do a theatre workshop. Come to conclusions. In many workshops you see people who are eager to jump in and you also see people who begin with their arms crossed, or their eyes down. They are nervous and uncertain. Then you start working and they hopefully open up to the experience. In this particular workshop everyone opened up. It was a big beautiful class full of expression. I could only come to the conclusion that in their lives these students know trust, stability, guidance, support, generosity. They know it in at least one area of their lives - home, school, friends, relationships - and probably more. I think that's why this workshop opened up so much and everyone glowed. Those who had that trust from the beginning kept it, those who didn't found it, and they all offered it to each other. If I could, I would send this workshop out as my holiday card for all to be inspired by in the New Year. Check out the video of one of the devised theatre pieces created by the awesome CSI students below.

Monkey Love,

Edith Evans