A B O U T U S
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Mission
The Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company (LAWSC) is a nonprofit organization which produces professional productions of Shakespeare's plays with an all-female ensemble. We provide opportunities for collaboration between multiracial, highly accomplished artists who are actors, producers, directors, choreographers, designers and educators. LAWSC contributes to a transformation of the perceptions of women's roles in our society by working to create a deeper, more powerful, unbounded view of women's potential. Our productions illuminate contemporary issues through a classical context, offering a unique political and social perspective. Our ongoing mission is to provide a creative forum for the exploration of violence, victimization, power, love, race, and gender issues, and to provide positive role models for women and girls.
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Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company began its producing history in 1993
with Romeo & Juliet at the 50-seat Hollywood Actor's Theater, funded by
individual donations. We then won grant support for our subsequent
productions, allowing us to rent slightly larger theaters and pay modest
stipends to our artists and staff, while remaining at core a
volunteer-based, grass-roots company with an enthusiastic and dedicated
ever-expanding audience.
Major Programs have included: Romeo and Juliet (1993); Othello (1994);
Hamlet (1995); Richard III (1995); Much Ado About Nothing (1996); Measure
for Measure (1997); Twelfth Night (2000), The Tempest (2002); The Merchant
of Venice (2005); As You Like It (2007); Othello (2008); Macbeth3
International Tour (2008); Wicked Wilde Shakespeare Festival (2010) -
Macbeth3, A Tyrant’s Tale, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Lovers and
Madmen.
We have also produced a series of lavish Gala Events, featuring the stellar
work of brilliant guest artists including Tina Packer, Kathy Bates, Rue McLanahan, Sharon
Gless, Lynn Redgrave, Susan Ruttan, Linda Hopkins, Gates McFadden, and Polly
Bergen.
Our Outreach Program is extensive, and has a long history of presenting many
lectures and demonstrations of our unique cross-gender Shakespearean
performances to over 30 University, High School, and Community Groups. We
employ a wide range of administrative and production-related student interns
from various universities including University of Southern California, UCLA,
Otis College of Design, Cal Arts, Boston University, Syracuse University and
other schools.
Major Funders
Sumner Redstone Charitable Foundation, The ARCO Foundation, California Arts
Council, California Community Foundation, City of Los Angeles Cultural
Affairs Department, City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Department, The
Flintridge Foundation, The Fund for the Feminist Majority, Los Angeles
County Arts Commission, National State & County Partnership, NEA, O’Donnell
& Schaffer, Peter Norton Foundation, Pfizer Corporation, Tresorelle
Foundation, & The Women’s Foundation.
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