Change begins with a conversation.
Women & Theatre, a community connection project and podcast founded by Hayley Goldenberg and Amy Andrews, is opening the floor to overlooked voices in the theatre industry, allowing women and gender-expansive people the chance to truly be respected and heard.
"The world right now really has 'man with a microphone' syndrome," shares Andrews, reflecting on the proliferation of male podcasters who have flooded the digital radio waves (usually spouting increasingly rigid ideas of masculinity). "There are a lot of young women receiving the message that our voices are not wanted. A part of our creating this podcast was making a point, carving out our own space in which women and other gender expensive folks in the theatre community are encouraged to use their voices and connect."
"We really subscribe to the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats, and we're very pro transparency in the theatre industry," Goldenberg adds, matter a factly. "That's the way forward."
Now in its fifth podcast series, Women & Theatre is zeroing in on the importance of remembering those who came before. In partnership with for Women's History Month, they will highlight the irrepressible power of five individuals of theatre history as inspiration for the way forward. Spotlighting legendary Harlem Renaissance folklorist Zora Neale Hurston, Baroque Mexican philosopher and composer Sor Juana In茅s de la Cruz, Japanese American resistance playwright Wakako Yamauchi, Ukrainian activist and playwright Lesya Ukrainka, and early feminist playwright Hannah Cowley鈥攖he series puts Goldenberg and Andrews in conversation with a variety of powerful theatremakers from today's landscape to discuss their experiences in the industry.
Released on Tuesday's at 6 PM ET, the five episodes will be as follows
- 2/25: Interview with Jennifer Ashley Tepper, with a history highlight of Zora Neale Hurston
- 3/4: Interview with Maria Wirries, with a history highlight of Sor Juana In茅s de la Cruz
- 3/11: Taking Control of Your Career discussion episode, with a history highlight of Wakako Yamauchi
- 3/18: Interview with Julie Richardson, with a history highlight of Lesya Ukrainka
- 3/25: Interview with Victoria Detres, with a history highlight of Hannah Cowley
"Like so many people in our community, we are absolutely heartbroken by what is going on in the world right now. It is horrific. The harmful decisions that this current administration is making are directly impacting many of the folks in our community, including the two of us, and we feel strongly that that art is essential in this moment," states Andrews. "Art is, in many ways, an antidote to the problems that we're seeing. The utter empathy drought that we are experiencing in the world can only be overcome by the tough conversations that we are trying to facilitate and participate in. It is our responsibility to listen to and protect those in vulnerable positions as we continue to move the needle forward toward building equity in our industry, and in the rest of the world."
Adds Goldenberg: "Since starting this project, I have had multiple men in my life come in and say, 'You know, I never thought about that.' Even my dad鈥揾e works in insurance and has been an entrepreneur in the tech space, and listening to our conversations has been a big eye opener for him. The act of listening to women talking about what it's like to be women is revolutionary for some of these men. He isn't in the theatre industry, but listening to us in this space has shifted his mindset around how he approaches work in his industry, and the kinds of questions he asks people in his own life."
As the duo embark on their newest phase, they're eager to expand the conversation. Won't you join them?
Visit .
