Toward a Feminist Theater

The first-ever anthology from celebrated playwright Kate Hamill
 
Bringing together seven critically acclaimed feminist adaptations of literary classics and one delightfully original new work, this collection demonstrates why Kate Hamill is one of the most electrifying and widely produced playwrights working today. Whether probing the power of toxic leaders (The Piper), revitalizing Jane Austen for the stage (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Emma), “cheerfully desecrating” Arthur Conan Doyle through a post-pandemic lens (Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson—Apt. 2B), reexamining an American classic’s gender roles (Little Women), or dramatizing the nineteenth-century classic of puritanical New England through the lens of an ostracized mother and daughter (The Scarlet Letter), Hamill’s work has transformed the theatrical landscape over the past decade.
 
An introduction from editor Kristin Leahey and an interview with Hamill frame this landmark anthology, with reflections on the current state of American drama, Hamill’s unique dramaturgical practice, and how the art form may move further and faster toward a feminist theater.

Kate Hamill is an actor and playwright. She was named 2017’s Playwright of the Year by the Wall Street Journal and has been one of the ten most-produced playwrights in the country from 2017 to 2023. She was co-named most produced playwright in the United States in the 2024–25 season. Her accolades include Drama League nominations, the 2023 Einhorn Mentorship Award, and Helen Hayes and Off-Broadway Alliance Awards.
Kristin Leahey is an assistant professor of dramatic literature and dramaturgy at Boston University and the associate artistic director of the Women’s Project Theater. She has been a dramaturg with theaters across the United States and internationally.