April News

by Gina L. Grandi, Artistic Director

A lot is afoot with The Bechdel Group! We're coming to you fresh off our March reading - one of our most engaging to date. Mari, our Digital Communications Director, and I spent a weekend with some of our favorite Bechdel actors recording episodes of our podcast - keep an eye on this blog for links to the audio of some of the 10 minute plays from our 24 Hour Writing Challenges. And last night's board meeting included talks of benefit galas, staged readings, and the kind of tedious paperwork that makes a theater company official. 

The April Reading!
We're just a few weeks away from our monthly reading! Mark your calendars for Monday, April 24th. We'll be at The Back Room at Jimmy's No. 43 (43 E. 7th Street in the East Village) from 6-9pm. Come hear and discuss selections from Brenda Foley’s Fallen Wings and Marcus Scott's Tumbleweed.

Fallen Wings tells the story of a woman who comfortably resides on the sidelines of life and is forced to confront her capacity for resilience as she embarks on a road trip to discover the truth behind a childhood friend's murder.

Following an interracial family living in a townhouse within the Morningside Park area of NYC's Upper West Side over the course of a weekend, Tumbleweed is a slice of life drama about a young girl whose natural hair and blooming womanhood causes controversy in the household.
​
Call for Submissions!
We're currently reading for our Fall 2017 Workshop Series. Have a script you've been working on? Does it meet our submission guidelines? Submit! We'll be reading until June 15th.

News That is Sad
Well, it's sad for us, but not for her. Our co-founder Alexa Fitzpatrick has left New York for new and fabulous opportunities, and has stepped down (in an official capacity) from The Bechdel Group. If you'd like to keep up with her or send her a loving message, you can find her on Twitter at @alexa81611.

Some Statistics! (For those who like numbers)
Did you know that since The Bechdel Group's first reading in June, 2014, we've

• Heard and discussed selections from 42 scripts at our monthly readings ...
• ... from 37 writers ...
• that have featured close to 200 new roles for women?

And that's not counting the 40 10-minute plays to come out of our 24 Hour Events!
Want more? We'll be brining them to you. 

Happy April, everyone. See you soon!