Nan’s Notes: March 2023

Celebrating Women in Theater

National New Play Network is honored to celebrate Women’s History Month by introducing you to some of the amazing women we are privileged to work with at NNPN. The Women in Theater (New Works Edition!) campaign will feature female-identifying theater-makers who serve all aspects of our field – you will meet playwrights, producers, directors, dramaturgs, Board Members and rising management and artistic leaders, all focused on new plays and supported by NNPN.

L to R: Previous Programs Director Jordana Fraider passing the baton off to current Programs Director Anne G. Morgan // Impact Assessment Director Lynde Rosario

I have had the great good fortune to work with several generations of WIT now, and continue to be astounded, challenged, awed, delighted, and enlightened by them. Some I see every few years, some more often, some I’ve known since childhood, and some I met this week. It is one of the many joys of this gig -the time I get to spend with passionate, smart, talented, funny, visionary, female artists, and arts lovers.

Left to Right: The staff at Tofte Lake Center: Membership and Communications Manager Monica Montoya, Executive Director Nan Barnett, Programs Director Anne G. Morgan, Administrative Manager Rose Figueroa // Development Manager Lakesha York

There’s a very special group of amazing women that I am especially pleased to get to see most days – the dedicated NNPN staff. And while our team of staff and contractors does include a few very special men (thanks NPX® Project Director Gwydion Suilebhan and Interim Programs Director Ryan-Patrick McLaughlin!) the Network has an all remote, almost all-female team. Programs Director Anne G. Morgan (VA), Impact Assessment Director Lynde Rosario (MN), Membership and Communications Manager Monica Montoya (CA), and Administrative Manager Rose Figueroa (FL), Lakesha York (WI), Development Manager, Social Media Coordinator Liana Irvine (PA), Senior Development Consultant Christine Stanley (DC) and NPX Higher Education Partnership Manager Siobhan Carroll (NC) join me virtually to support the work of the Network and I am forever astonished by their commitment to the Network, their advocacy for the artists and form, and the joy they bring to our “office” each day.

I will be donating to NNPN’s Women in Theatre campaign to honor the dedication of these women that I admire. I hope you will join me by paying tribute to the WITs in your life by supporting NNPN’s Women in Theater campaign to raise $5000 before the end of March. (And if your gift is in honor of someone specific let us know so we can send them a thank you as well!!)

Nan Barnett
NNPN Executive Director