Mission

 

History Matters promotes the study and production of women’s plays of the past in colleges and universities and theatres throughout the country and encourages responses to those plays from contemporary playwrights.

 

 

 

WHY DO WE DO IT?

  • BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN IMPACTFUL WOMEN-IDENTIFYING PLAYWRIGHTS THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND THEY DESERVE TO BE REMEMBERED AND CELEBRATED.
     
  • BECAUSE THERE IS A TREASURY OF WOMEN'S PLAYS BURIED IN THE PAST THAT WILL ENRICH THE FUTURE. ​
     
  • BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN SPREADING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HISTORICAL WOMEN PLAYWRIGHTS AND IN WEAVING THE IMPACT OF THEIR WORK THROUGH THE FABRIC OF CONTEMPORARY THEATRE.

HOW DO WE DO IT?

OUR MISSION IS SUPPORTED BY THREE CRITICAL PROGRAMS:

  • "ONE PLAY AT A TIME" INVITES THEATRE PROFESSORS TO INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE HISTORICAL WOMEN'S PLAY ON THEIR SYLLABUS
  • THE JUDITH BARLOW PRIZE ENCOURAGES STUDENTS ENROLLED IN A 'ONE PLAY AT A TIME' COURSE TO WRITE A ONE-ACT PLAY RESPONDING TO THE WORK OF A HISTORIC WOMAN PLAYWRIGHT
  • THE SALLIE BINGHAM GRANT OFFERS FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO STUDENT-DIRECTED PRODUCTIONS OR READINGS OF ONE OR MORE  HISTORIC PLAYS BY WOMEN