FRONTLINES: Political Plays by American Women, editors Shirley Lauro & Alexis Greene

"Seven women playwrights write of the struggle for justice in America, where their characters are thrust into an unjust world."




FRONT LINES: Political Plays by American Women Alexis Greene . Shirley Lauro

editors

foreword by Julie Crosby

The New Press : New York, London. June 1, 2009.

Front Lines is a collection of seven brilliant, critically acclaimed plays - each a dazzling dramatic work by a leading contemporary woman playwright. Together they tackle some of the toughest isses of the day - from war and reproductive rights to the crises in our prisons, courts, and public schools - and are by turns provocative, moving, and inspiring.

Among the plays is Jessica Blank's riveting and widely heralded The Exonerated (written with Erik Jensen) based on interviews with American prisoners incarcerated for crimes they did not commit. Also included is Nilaja Sun's outstanding No Child..., winner of the Outer Critics Circle's 2007 John Gassner Award for Best New Play - a funny, stirring one-woman play centering on an inner-city teacher's success at involving her rebellious students in their own education by putting on a play. Also featured in the collection are Emily Mann's Mrs. Packard revealing the early struggle for women's rights; Paula Vogel's Hot'n'Throbbing, exosing domestic violence issues; Shirley Lauro's Clarence Darrow's Last Trial about the dominence of white upper-class power in the court room; Quiara Alegria Hude's Elliot, a Soldier's Fugue, centering on the impact of war on a family; and Cindy Cooper's Words of Choice, exploring a woman's right to choose.

With a preface by distinguished playwright, Shirley Lauro, an introduction by theater critic and historian, Alexis Greene, and a foreword by Julie Crosby, artistic director, the Women's Project, New York City, Front Lines also includes a production photo of each play.



2008 Honoree, Coalition of Professional Women in the Arts and Media

SELECTED WORK

Full Length Plays
THE RADIANT
WORLD PREMIERE 2010-11 The New Theatre, Coral Gables, FL. THE RADIANT centers on the true, tempestuous, and love-torn life of Madame Marie Curie. Winner of the TCG/Edgerton Award; Ensemble Studio Theatre/Sloan Grant; and the Dramatists Guild Play Grant.
ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT
NEW YORK PREMIERE October 2009 Chicago World Premiere, 2005 "Jeff Award"
CLARENCE DARROW's LAST TRIAL
2006 Carbonell Award Nominee; 2004 NEA "Access to Excellence Award", in collaboration with New Theatre, FL; 2001 New American Play Prize (Finalist)
"AKA"
Dark comedy of shifting identities and cultures.
OPEN ADMISSIONS
Tony & Drama Desk nominations, New York Times pick for the “Ten Best Plays of the Year” list, Dramatists Guild Hull-Warriner Award.
A PIECE OF MY HEART
The Barbara Deming Prize for Women Playwrights, The Susan Blackburn Prize (Finalist, The Kittredge Foundation Award.
THE CONTEST
National Foundation for Jewish Culture Award
MARGARET AND KIT
Susan Smith Blackburn Award (finalist)
PEARLS ON THE MOON
National Endowment for the Arts Residency Grant at The Alley Theatre of Houston, TX Jane Chambers Play Award (finalist)
SPECKLED BIRDS
Multigenerational play commissioned by Theatreworks, USA.
OUT OF TIME
An explosive, sexually charged drama drawing on the supernatural.
Anthology of Plays
FRONT LINES: Political Plays by American Women, Shirley Lauro & Alexis Greene, Editors
2009 New York Coalition of Professional Women in the Arts & Media, Collaboration Award Finalist. Playwrights include: Paula Vogel, Quiara Hudes, Emily Mann, Shirley Lauro, Cindy Cooper, Nilaja Sun, Jessica Blank. Foreword by Julie Crosby, Artistic Director, The Women's Project, New York.
One Act Plays
OPEN ADMISSIONS
New York Times pick for the “Ten Best Plays of the Year” list, Dramatists Guild Hull-Warriner Award, Samuel French OOBA Festival Award.
NOTHING IMMEDIATE
Samuel French Play Writing Award
THE COAL DIAMOND
The Heidemann Prize at Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival, selected for "Best Short Plays of 1980"
BACK STORY
A play commissioned by Actors Theatre of Louisville showcasing the work of their Playwrights.
Other Work