Last year, The Kilroys — a self-described “gang of playwrights and producers in LA who are done talking about gender parity and are taking action” — launched a list of 46 plays by women and trans writers they deemed worthy of production.
The response was “stunning,” according to Kilroys member Daria Polatin, a playwright and TV writer (Starz’s “Flesh and Bone”). According to the 2015 List’s press release, “More than 47 productions have been mounted or announced” of those 46 works. “Playwrights featured on The List have cited a significant increase in interest and readership of their work,” notes the Kilroys. “One theater agent noted that a List play received a level of inquiry usually reserved for ‘when a new play goes into production or we announce a premiere.’”
The List “has energized the continued conversation of bringing gender parity to our stages and also been used as a programming tool by theaters in planning their seasons to include excellent new plays by female and trans* writers,” commented Polatin. “We’re still far from equality and our work isn’t over, and as an LA-based advocacy group, we know there’s still ground to cover in reaching gender parity for women in storytelling, but the momentum we’ve seen is an encouraging start, and we’re committed to helping move the needle.”
This year’s version of The Kilroys List compiles the top un- and
under-produced plays written by female and trans writers based on a survey
of over 300 professional artistic directors, literary managers, professors,
producers, directors and dramaturgs. The List serves as
a resource for producers and theaters in the effort toward gender equality in theatre. The Kilroys
have partnered with the New Play Exchange to provide interested parties fast and easy access to The List plays, according to the statement.
The 2015 Kilroys List features the 53 most recommended works of
over 755 nominated plays. The works that have made it on the list are either unproduced or has had only a single professional production. Last year’s nominees were ineligible. The List from both years is available at www.thekilroys.org.
Here’s the 2015 Kilroys List:
●
YOU
GOT OLDER by Clare Barron
●
PEERLESS
by Jiehae Park
●
SMALL
MOUTH SOUNDS by Bess Wohl
●
THE
GHOSTS OF LOTE BRAVO by Hilary Bettis
●
CARDBOARD
PIANO by Hansol Jung
●
NO
MORE SAD THINGS by Hansol Jung
●
KENTUCKY
by Leah Nanako Winkler
●
THE
ROOMMATE by Jen Silverman
●
I
WILL BE GONE by Erin Courtney
●
SOJOURNERS
by
Mfoniso Udofia
●
BALLAST
by
Georgette Kelly
●
FEATHERS
AND TEETH by Charise Castro Smith
●
FRUITING
BODIES by Sam Chanse
●
GIRL
SHAKES LOOSE HER SKIN by Zakiyyah Alexander and Imani Uzuri
●
KING
LIZ
by Fernanda Coppel
●
STILL
NOW
by Katie Bender
●
WOLF
PLAY
by Hansol Jung
●
KING
OF THE YEES by Lauren Yee
●
MILLER,
MS
by Boo Killebrew
●
PETTY
HARBOUR by Martyna Majok
●
SMART
PEOPLE by Lydia R. Diamond
●
SOLDIER
X
by Rehana Lew Mirza
●
THE
WOLVES by Sarah DeLappe
●
UGLY
LIES THE BONE by Lindsey Ferrentino
●
UNSEEN
by
Mona Mansour
●
SAGITTARIUS
PONDEROSA by MJ Kaufman
●
SWEAT
by
Lynn Nottage
●
AN
ALMANAC FOR FARMERS AND LOVERS IN MEXICO by Kate Tarker
●
CAMDENSIDE
by
Sarah Burgess
●
COLONY
COLLAPSE by Stefanie Zadravec
●
MANAHATTA
by Mary Kathryn Nagle
●
NATIVE
SON
by Nambi E. Kelley
●
ROMEO
& NAOMI RAMIREZ by Kathryn Walat
●
RESIDENCE
by
Laura Jacqmin
●
THE
HISTORY OF AMERICAN PORNOGRAPHY by Hilary Bettis
●
NOLLYWOOD
DREAMS by Jocelyn Bioh
●
MEN
ON BOATS by Jaclyn Backhaus
●
SPILL
by
Leigh Fondakowski
●
BULLY
by
Amina Henry
●
COCKED
by
Sarah Gubbins
●
DIRTY
CRUSTY by Clare Barron
●
FADE
by Tanya Saracho
●
GIVE
IT ALL BACK by Calamity West
●
THE
LAST MATCH by Anna Ziegler
●
MADAME
HO
by Eugenie Chan
●
SUPERTRUE
by Karen Hartman
●
THE
ASHES UNDER GAIT CITY by Christina Anderson
●
THE
INSURGENTS by Lucy Thurber
●
THE
TIGER AMONG US by Lauren Yee
●
THE
UNDENIABLE SOUND OF RIGHT NOW by Laura Eason
●
THE
WOLFE TWINS by Rachel Bonds
●
TO
THE BONE by Lisa Ramirez
●
TODAY
IS MY BIRTHDAY by Susan Soon He Stanton
