Separate and Not Equal!

The other day I was in the presence of a spectacular playwright and human being, Jennifer Fawcett. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of sitting with a woman of equal interest Ms. J. Nicole Brooks, and just recently playwright and director Ms. Coya Paz. The saying is true ...a moment can overshadow a lifetime. Interviewing each of these extraordinary women has been an artistic enlightenment. Growing up in a single parent home (with my mama), I really thought I had a grasp of women and their struggles with this male dominated, obelisk protruding society. Like most, I respected the feminist movement of previous era's, and supported the political and societal empowerment of women in the current age.  So, yeah, like most men I felt women were earning their “equal” place in the world. However, with as much "progress" as we have made over the last century or so, I was smacked in the face by the reality that woman still don't have a voice; and what was even more appalling is that woman don’t have a voice in the one arena that one would expect them too, the one place where they could feel at liberty to express themselves and tell their stories, in the way they see it...the THEATRE!
 
Epiphany: Approximately 20% of the plays produced in the U.S. are written, directed, and/or produced by women; within 80% of male oriented works, majority of the dramaturges or Literary managers and even stage managers are WOMEN! What the heck! When I was young(er) an elder once told me how in most orthodox societies the male is responsible for providing and strengthening the family unit, and the woman had the task of nurturing and passing along the family traditions (i.e. Religion, songs, stories, family tree, cooking, way of life etc.), to the children. When and why did this change? When did man decide he was the all-and-be-all in society and within the family structure? My single parent up bringing (my mama) had well informed me why the family structure is deteriorating , but also, sitting with these women has help me realized why our traditions are being lost, why the world has lost so much heart. The world is cold, hard and sterile, and it has transitioned into art imitating life. Theatrical stories are so hard, abrasive, and in many instances unilateral. We (men) don’t know what the hell we are doing (for the most part). Upon discovering the works of these women I came to realize that my most passionate work (and best performances) have been plays and films written by women. The true story tellers! They are equipped with the natural ability to receive and recite information in a way that men just aren't wired to do. (We see, we hunt, we regurgitate).
 
Yes, men are great playwrights too, and we have written plays that will stand the test of time. But women are more than great playwrights; they are the vessels that carry the essences' of who we are and what it means to be humane. So this June, I will not only stand for the ten playwrights represented in the Alcyone Festival, but I will stand for the privilege of hearing our-story penned by the ones who were destined to tell it.  
 
GO ALCYONE…GO HALCYON!!!!! 

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