News Summary
Powerstories Theatre in Tampa marks its 25th anniversary with a festival to honor women’s voices in theater. Founded by Fran Powers, the company stages impactful stories highlighting women’s experiences. The anniversary season features productions like ‘Witch Hunt,’ ‘Ada and the Engine,’ and ‘Cadillac Crew.’ Additionally, the Voices of Women Theatre Festival will showcase original plays by women playwrights, inclusive of LGBTQ+ works, providing a platform for transformative storytelling.
Tampa, FL – Powerstories Theatre is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with innovative productions and an upcoming festival to honor women’s voices in theater. Founded by Fran Powers in 1998, the company has dedicated itself to staging the true stories of women and girls to inspire action and open minds and hearts worldwide.
The need for such a platform emerged when Powers, who has an MFA in Theatre and Education, left her role as executive director of the Tampa nonprofit Alpha House. After witnessing the power of storytelling while helping young mothers, she embarked on a 3,500-mile charity bike ride from Seattle to Washington, D.C., which served as both a personal challenge and a transformative experience. During this trek, Powers had an epiphany prompting her transition back to her first love—theatre.
In the years following its establishment, Powerstories began by hosting storytelling evenings that encouraged women to share their personal narratives. However, many participants were hesitant to perform more than once. This experience led Powers to change the approach of the theatre company, commissioning original plays focused on women’s themes and hiring local actresses from the Tampa Bay area. As a result, Powerstories has become a nomadic production company, following the closure of its small black box theatre.
Powerstories continues to provide engaging content that amplifies women’s voices through various productions. Upcoming performances include “Witch Hunt” by Liz Duffy Adams, which will run from July 11 to July 20 at Stageworks Theatre. The play is set ten years after the infamous Salem Witch Trials and features local actress Roxanne Fay in a key role. Other productions lined up for the anniversary season include “Ada and the Engine” by Lauren Gunderson, scheduled from September 12 to 21, and “Cadillac Crew” by Tori Sampson, which will be performed from November 6 to 16.
In addition to its theatrical productions, Powerstories also operates the Girlstories Leadership Theatre program, designed for middle school girls. This program aims to build confidence and self-awareness through the arts, and it earned the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award in 2010.
Another significant event in 2023 is the Voices of Women Theatre Festival, which will be held from March 27 to 30 at USF Theatre. This festival is set to spotlight original plays by women playwrights and is inclusive of LGBTQ+ works, introducing a new category for playwrights over 40. Festival events include staged readings and a playwriting workshop led by playwright Jenny Kokai. Ticket prices for individual events are set at $18, while an All-Access Festival Pass can be purchased for $49. Admission is free for USF students, faculty, and staff.
As Powerstories Theatre marks this significant milestone, it remains committed to providing a platform for transformative storytelling through its various productions and initiatives. This focus not only celebrates the diversity of women’s experiences but also emphasizes the importance of creative expression in inspiring social change.
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HERE Resources
Voices of Women Theatre Festival Launches in Tampa
Additional Resources
- St. Pete Catalyst
- 83 Degrees Media
- Watermark Online
- 83 Degrees Media
- WTSP
- Wikipedia: Theatre
- Google Search: Powerstories Theatre
- Google Scholar: Women Playwrights
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Theatre
- Google News: Women in Theatre
Author: STAFF HERE TAMPA WRITER
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