Horizons Theatre: theatre from a woman's perspective

Find out more about Horizons! 20 years ago, Horizons performed in Copenhagen, Denmark at the U.N. meetings on the Status of Women. 13 years ago, Horizons received a special award from the Dramatists Guild for producing plays by women. For the past 24 years, we have given voice to over 75 women playwrights through our full productions and staged readings. We have produced 12 original works created by the Horizons company.

Among the playwrights introduced to Washington audiences by Horizons, are Jane Martin, Robin Swicord (who went on to write the screenplays for Little Women and Practical Magic), Canadian playwright Erica Ritter, Kathleen Betsko (editor of Contemporary Women Playwrights), Velina Hsau Houston, Darrah Cloud, Marisha Chamberlainn, Deborah Tannen, Chris White, Elizabeth Diggs, Doris Baizley, Joan Shenker, Kristin Kann, Diane Samuels, Wendy Hammond. We were among the first to produce Emily Mann, Caleen Sinette Jennings, Caryl Churchill, and Lynne Kaufman in DC.

We revived the voices of significant women playwrights from the past including Zona Gale (whose Miss Lulu Bett won a Pulitzer Prize in 1920) June Havoc, and Rachel Crothers. We introduced some male playwrights - Lee Blessing, Craig Lucas and Richard Rashke-- to D.C. audiences, as well. We entered into productive partnerships with numerous other arts organizations over the years--The George Washington University's Department of Theatre and Dance, The Washington Women's Art Center, The New Playwrights' Theatre, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, The U.S. Memorial Holocaust Museum, The Center Company, Theatre J, The Writer's Center.

Hundreds of outstanding theatre artists--actors, singers, composers, directors, designers, stage managers, technicians--have brought over 50 full productions and over 25 staged readings to life on stage. Our dedication to education has motivated us to offer workshops to adults and young people in acting, improvisation, auditioning and playwriting over the years. We've offered post-show discussions and panels on issues important to woman and men, exploring gender issues. We've built relationships with Kenmore Middle School, and other schools. I Want to Tell You, by Leslie Jacobson and Roy Barber, will be touring to 10 high schools this season. For almost 24 years, we've showcased writing, directing, designing, acting talent from a woman's perspective, while mentoring scores of artists-in-the-making.