The Hedgebrook’s 10th Annual Women Playwrights Festival featured

~ Naomi Iizuka - playwright; recipient of a Whiting Award; author of GHOSTWRITTEN

~ Ellen McLaughlin - playwright and actor, winner of the Susan Blackburn Prize; author of UNTITLED

~ Caridad Svich - playwright and translator; recipient of a Bunting Fellowship; author of LUCINDA CAVAL

~ Kathleen Tolan - playwright; winner of a McKnight Fellowship; author of CAPTIVITY NARRATIVE

Hedgebrook hosted its annual Open House on July 22, 2007 from 1-3 p.m.  Thank you for joining us in celebration of Hedgebrook’s 19 years!

In 2007 Alice Walker, Eve Ensler, Naomi Shihab Nye and Holly Morris join Gloria Steinem on the newly-formed Hedgebrook Creative Advisory Council.  As Hedgebrook enters its twentieth year the Creative Advisory Council will play an integral role in shaping Hedgebrook vision and practice of radical hospitality.

Eisa Davis’ Bulrusher had its world premiere at Urban Stages in March 2006. The New York Times said that the characters of "Bulrusher and Vera are drawn to each other emotionally and physically, and it is their moving scenes on the banks of the pebble-strewn river that feel utterly true."

"I do think that it is amazing that the Pulitzer jury nominated these three plays that were so far off the money-making radar," says Davis. "That actually is an inspiration to a lot of playwrights that I’ve been hearing from — especially writers of color and women writers — who are very excited that two women of color can have plays that are poetically-driven be considered on such a national level," referring to herself and Hudes.

Elliot, a Soldier’s Fugue by Quiara Alegría Hudes, had its world premiere produced by Page Seventy-Three Productions. Hudes’ play about three generations of Puerto Rican soldiers in Iraq, was inspired by members of her family. The New York Times called the play "that rare and rewarding thing: a theater work that succeeds on every level, while creating something new."

Regarding the Pulitzer citation, Hudes says, "It hit me pretty heavy because the play itself, it’s a story about my family," she says. Hudes is half Jewish and half Puerto Rican, though her parents separated, and she was mainly raised by her Puerto Rican mother and Puerto Rican stepfather. "That side of my family was so full of stories," she says.  Source: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/107482.html

Hedgebrook is pleased to welcome alumna Gitana Garofalo as its new Director of Alumnae Relations. Gitana, novelist and arts administrator, will coordinate outreach to the over 1,000 women writers who have been to Hedgebrook since its founding in 1988.  Look to hear from Gitana as she updates our database, coordinates alumnae gatherings in major cities and gets the word out about your work.

Please keep Gitana up-to-date on where you and what you’re doing by e-mailing her at gitanag@hedgebrook.org.