Bechdel Fest
Taylor Raye and Sophie Hoyt in Michael Allen Harris’s FOR THE CULTURE, directed by Martin Hanna. 2018. (Spenser Davis)
In the Fall of 2013, we programmed a festival that would allow us to work with some of the city’s most talented artists in front and behind the table, with a slate of plays that all pass The Bechdel-Wallace Test. Seven years later, this one-time event has evolved into an annual staple at Steppenwolf 1700, one in which the stage is occupied solely by femme- and trans-centric stories. Festival alum includes writers that range from Bekah Brunstetter (TV’s This Is Us) and Nambi E. Kelley (Native Son), to Isaac Gomez (La Ruta), Calamity West (In the Canyon), and Loy Webb (The Light), among many, many others.
Bechdel Fest 7: Momentum
August 25 - 29, 2019 @ Steppenwolf Theatre’s 1700 space
ALL I REALLY WANT
By Jillian Leff | Directed by Becca Holloway
Featuring Amy Johnson and Alice Wu
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI OF THE STANTON SCHOOL
By Ryan Oliveira | Directed by Alison Dornheggen
Featuring Diana Lee, Vero Maynez and Alison Plott
harderfasterharderfaster
By Grace McLeod | Directed by Madisen Dempsey
Featuring Rebecca Flores, Sophie Rosado, Shaina Schrooten and Charlotte Thomas
REHEARSAL
By Dolores Diaz | Directed by Ben Locke
Featuring Teresa Kuruvilla^, Carmen Liao, Aziza Macklin, Jackie Seijo and Mindy Shore
LAUGH OUT LOUD
By Michael Turrentine | Directed by Alejandro Tey
Featuring Imani Hayes and Maria Stephens
THE GREAT WHIRLPOOL OF THE NIAGARA
By Robert Koon^ | Directed by Jen Poulin*
Featuring Jean Marie Koon and Teresa Kuruvilla^
PLANNED SISTERHOOD
By Michael Allen Harris^ | Directed by Brittney Brown
Featuring RjW Mays^ and Sarah Rachel Schol
OPERATION MARSHMALLOW FLUFF
By Hallie Palladino | Directed by Taylor Raye
Featuring Rainee Denham, Leilanii Mesa Ellis, Kelsey McGrath, Song Marshall and Ann Wiggs
THROW AWAY
By Jenni Lamb | Directed by Julia Skeggs^ | Assistant Director JD Caudill^
Featuring Claire Alpern, Deveon Bromby and Aria Szalai-Raymond^
^Broken Nose Theatre artistic associate/staff/Resident Playwright
*Broken Nose Theatre company member
BECHDEL FEST 6: REVOLUTION
July 29 - 31, 2018 @ Steppenwolf Theatre’s 1700 space
FOR THE CULTURE
By Michael Allen Harris^ | Directed by Martin Hanna*
GOLDSTAR
By Cleo Shine | Directed by JD Caudill^
EVERY OTHER TUESDAY
By Elise Marie Davis* | Directed by Spenser Davis*
HOLY INAPPROPRIATE
By Allison L. Fradkin | Directed by Kim Boler^
WAVE
By Nancy García Loza | Directed by Laura Alcalá Baker
PORCH PROBLEMS
By Kristi Parker-Barnhart | Directed by Julia Skeggs^
PROM REBEL
By Loy Webb | Directed by Deanna Reed-Foster
TAKING A (ONE NIGHT) STAND
By Benjamin Brownson* | Directed by Adrienne Matzen
OCCUPY GAMBIER
By Beth Hyland | Directed by Brian Balcom
^Broken Nose Theatre artistic associate/staff/Resident Playwright
*Broken Nose Theatre company member
BECHDEL FEST 5: IDENTITY CRISIS
September 10 - 13, 2017 @ The Den Theatre’s Mainstage
PROJECT POTENTIAL
by Isaac Gómez | Directed by Laura Alcalá Baker
Featuring Phoebe Gonzalez Ramirez and Erica Cruz Hernández
THE YOU YOU HEAR
by Georgette Kelly | Directed by Jen Poulin*
Featuring Rachel Geistfeld and Arielle Leverett
SHIFT
by Cassandra Rose | Directed by Gaby Labotka
Featuring Elizabeth Dowling, Terri Lynn Hudson, Bessie Soino and Kristen Sudman
READY SET
by Eileen Tull | Directed by Anne Walaszek
Featuring Bailey Hayman, Victoria Hines, Adrienne Matzen, and Tricia Rogers
HEAR ME ROAR
by Jennifer Blackmer^ | Directed by Elyse Dolan
Featuring Tricia Rogers, Julia Skeggs, and Maria Stephens
LAYALINA
by Martin Hanna | Directed by Sonny Das
Featuring Ashley Agbay, Rachel Sepiashvili and Erin Mimi Reininga
ROPA VIEJA
by Nelson A. Rodriguez | Directed by Juan Castañeda
Featuring Angelica Acebedo-Frint, Isabel Quintero, and Deanalís Resto
EXPOSURE
by Cynthia Hines | Directed by JD Caudill^
Featuring Echaka Agba*, LaKecia Harris, and Arielle Leverett
with Matt Singleton serving as Fight Choreographer
Stage Managed by Jennifer Aparicio and featuring performances from Meredith Ernst and Hilary Schwartz
^Broken Nose Theatre artistic associate/staff/Resident Playwright
*Broken Nose Theatre company member
BECHDEL FEST 4: BOILING POINT
October 23 - 26, 2016 @ Pride Arts Center’s Buena space
1 IN 7
by Beth Kander | Directed by Angela Forshee
EVERYONE’S A CRITIC
by Michele Stine | Directed by Iris Sowlat
FABIENNE
by Nambi E. Kelley | Directed by Samuel G. Roberson Jr.
KISSING FIRE
by Elaine Romero | Directed by Gage Wallace
SARDINES
by Danny Bernardo | Directed by Brian Balcom
SHE’S COMING HOME
by Aria Szalai-Raymond^ | Directed by Kristen Johnson
THIS IS TO MOTHER YOU
by Grant Varjas | Directed by Elyse Dolan
TUESDAY
by Rebecca Kling | Directed by JD Caudill^
With Stage Management by Rose Hamill
^Broken Nose Theatre artistic associate/staff/Resident Playwright
*Broken Nose Theatre company member
BECHDEL FEST 3: FIND YOUR VOICE
September 20 - 23, 2015 @ The Den Theatre’s 3A Space
FOIL
by Sara Sevigny and Corrbette Pasko | Directed by Charlie McGrath
Choreography by Christopher Young | Fight Choreography by Travis Barnhart
Featuring Ada Grey, Christina Renee Jones, Michelle Lauto, and Lindsay Tornquist
HYMN AND HER
by Elise Spoerlein* | Directed by Breahan Eve Pautsch
Featuring Allison Cain, Jean Marie Koon, RjW Mays, Melissa Reeves,
Judi Schindler and Lisa Stran White
KODAK SHIRLEY
by Joe Zarrow | Directed by Benjamin Brownson*
Featuring Clare Cooney and Echaka Agba
MURDER
by Bekah Brunstetter | Directed by Clare Cooney
Fight Choreography by Celeste Burns
Featuring Katie Incardona and Sarah Ruggles
NO MORE MAIDS
by Anne García-Romero | Directed by Susan E. Bowen
Featuring Jen Bosworth, Selene Perez, and Alejandra Vivanco
THE ROCKERS
by Sarah Rose Graber | Directed by Rebecca Willingham
Featuring Susan Myburgh and Brenda Scott Wlazlo
THE WOMAN WHO STARED INTO THE EYES OF THE RED HORSEMAN
by Michael Allen Harris | Directed by Kanomé Jones
Featuring Echaka Agba and Alexandria Miller
YET TO BE
by Nambi E. Kelley | Directed by Jen Poulin
Featuring Kristin Ellis and Stephanie Mattos
Production Coordinator was Caitlin Boylan. Stage Manager was Laura Swierzbin.
*Broken Nose Theatre company member
BECHDEL FEST 2: THE HEALING PROCESS
October 19 - 22, 2014 @ The Greenhouse Theater Center
A RIDICULOUS PROPOSITION
by Karen Kessler | Directed by Krista D’Agostino
Featuring Nina O’Keefe and Elise Spoerlein*
CAULDRON OF MOURNING
by Kristiana Rae Colon | Directed by Tara Branham
Featuring Zarinah Ali, Magdalena Mentelska, and Karen Rodriguez
HALF LIFE
by Shepsu Aakhu | Directed by Lauren Lundy
Featuring Danielle Lorae, RjW Mays, and Selena Reed
IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BACON
by Brooke Allen | Directed by Elizabeth Laidlaw
Featuring Christy Arington and Tasha Anne James
MILEY CYRUS IS STILL TWERKING OR, I KNOW YOU
by Calamity West | Directed by Majel Cuza
Featuring Stella Martin and Lila Morse
SO SOON FORGOTTEN
by Bilal Dardai | Directed by Benjamin Brownson*
Featuring Maggie Cain and Arti Ishak
THE COOKIE PLAY
by Mikala Hansen | Directed by Patrice Foster
Featuring Cami René Philgreen and Claire Elizabeth Saxe
OREGON TRAIL
by Emily Dendinger | Directed by Spenser Davis*
Featuring Meredith Ernst and Elise Spoerlein*
Production Coordinator was Ivy Reid*. Production Stage Manager was Caitlin Boylan. Props Designer was Danielle Case.
*Broken Nose Theatre company member
BECHDEL FEST
December 9 - 18, 2013 @ The Greenhouse Theater Center
THE BALL
by Sarah Illiatovitch-Goldman | Directed by Helen Young
BITTE(R)
Written and Directed by Dani Bryant and Erica Barnes
BREAKING INTO MEMORY LANE
by Benjamin Brownson* | Directed by Leslie Ruettiger*
FAMILY MATTERS
by Sydney Davis | Directed by Arianna Soloway
THE MECCA TALES
by Rohina Malik | Directed by Cassy Sanders
NOT PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE
by Mia McCullough | Directed by Michael Carnow
OPEN SEASON: A FLYOVER FAIRYTALE
by Chelsea M. Marcantel | Directed by Juan Castañeda
THRIFT SHOP ROOTS
by Robert Koon | Directed by Mary Rose O’Connor
BODIES
by Carla Stillwell | Directed by Jenn Adams
The ensemble of femme-identifying actors includes Kaori Aoshima, Dani Bryant, Jazmin Corona, Emily Demko, Jaci Entwisle, Ellenkate Finely, Patrice Foster, Emily Gann, Kanomé Jones, Jodi Kingsley, Teresa Kuruvilla, Molly Rose Lewis, Carla Marchese, RjW Mays, Lyndee McPeek, Carmen Molina, Kim Morris, Annie Pesch, Alexis Randolph, Shariba Rivers, Cheryl Roy, Leslie Ruettiger*, Elise Spoerlein*, Aria Szalai-Raymond, Christine Vrem-Ydstie, and Sally Wippman.
Production Coordinator was Ivy Reid*. Production Stage Manager was Patsy Radford. Props Designer was Danielle Case. Costume Consultant was Rachel S. Parent.
*Broken Nose Theatre company member