A Single Woman (play)
Encyclopedia
First drafted as a one-woman show by Nevada Shakespeare Company
founding Artistic Director, Jeanmarie Simpson
, A Single Woman, based on the life of first female Congressmember Jeannette Rankin
, developed into a "duet performance work" by the time it premiered at the Oats Park Art Center in Fallon, Nevada
on February 7, 2004.
The play subsequently toured internationally with hundreds of grassroots
performances before running at The Culture Project Off-Broadway
in the summer of 2005. The play closed at the Invisible Theatre in Tucson, Arizona on November 5, 2006.
. Many performances of the play have been fundraisers for individual branches and the national office of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
, in addition to hundreds of other peace and justice organizations including United Methodist Church
's Social Justice and Global Ministries, Jews for Peace, Planned Parenthood
, American Civil Liberties Union
, Veterans for Peace
, American Friends Service Committee
and many others. A Single Woman was also produced by the Tennessee Women's Theater Project as their inaugural production.
Cameron Crain, who created the role of 'Everyman' in the play, also directed the production that toured the United States. Simpson directed the production in New York, initially with Claudia Schneider and Les Misérables (musical)
veteran, Neal Mayer, in the roles. Midway through, Simpson stepped in and completed the run as Rankin.
Nevada Shakespeare Company
The Nevada Shakespeare Company is an activist theatre based in Reno, Nevada, near Nevada's border with California. It defines its mission to be to "meeting the needs of our uniquely challenging and diverse community...
founding Artistic Director, Jeanmarie Simpson
Jeanmarie Simpson
Jeanmarie Simpson is an American peace activist and theatre/film artist.- Early life :Simpson was born in Ray, Arizona. Her parents are Maria Luisa Jugo, a Venezuelan immigrant, and Donald Leroy Simpson, an American mining engineer. Jeanmarie Simpson was raised in rural Arizona...
, A Single Woman, based on the life of first female Congressmember Jeannette Rankin
Jeannette Rankin
Jeannette Pickering Rankin was the first woman in the US Congress. A Republican, she was elected statewide in Montana in 1916 and again in 1940. A lifelong pacifist, she voted against the entry of the United States into both World War I in 1917 and World War II in 1941, the only member of Congress...
, developed into a "duet performance work" by the time it premiered at the Oats Park Art Center in Fallon, Nevada
Fallon, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile . There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile...
on February 7, 2004.
The play subsequently toured internationally with hundreds of grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
performances before running at The Culture Project Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
in the summer of 2005. The play closed at the Invisible Theatre in Tucson, Arizona on November 5, 2006.
Artists
In addition to being a theatre artist, Simpson, the author and performer of the title role, is a peace activistPeace activist
This list of peace activists includes people who proactively advocate diplomatic, non-military resolution of political disputes, usually through nonviolent means.A peace activist is an activist of the peace movement.*Jane Addams*Martti Ahtisaari...
. Many performances of the play have been fundraisers for individual branches and the national office of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom was established in the United States in January 1915 as the Woman's Peace Party...
, in addition to hundreds of other peace and justice organizations including United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
's Social Justice and Global Ministries, Jews for Peace, Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
, American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
, Veterans for Peace
Veterans for Peace
Veterans For Peace is a United States organization founded in 1985. Made up of male and female US military veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and other conflicts, as well as peacetime veterans, the group works to promote alternatives to war.-Foundation:The...
, American Friends Service Committee
American Friends Service Committee
The American Friends Service Committee is a Religious Society of Friends affiliated organization which works for peace and social justice in the United States and around the world...
and many others. A Single Woman was also produced by the Tennessee Women's Theater Project as their inaugural production.
Cameron Crain, who created the role of 'Everyman' in the play, also directed the production that toured the United States. Simpson directed the production in New York, initially with Claudia Schneider and Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
veteran, Neal Mayer, in the roles. Midway through, Simpson stepped in and completed the run as Rankin.
See also
- Jeannette RankinJeannette RankinJeannette Pickering Rankin was the first woman in the US Congress. A Republican, she was elected statewide in Montana in 1916 and again in 1940. A lifelong pacifist, she voted against the entry of the United States into both World War I in 1917 and World War II in 1941, the only member of Congress...
- WILPF
- Jane AddamsJane AddamsJane Addams was a pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace...
- Raging GranniesRaging GranniesThe Raging Grannies are activist organizations in many cities and towns in Canada, the United States, and in other countries. They are social justice activists, all women old enough to be grandmothers, who dress up in clothes that mock stereotypes of older women, and sing songs at protests...
- Nevada Shakespeare CompanyNevada Shakespeare CompanyThe Nevada Shakespeare Company is an activist theatre based in Reno, Nevada, near Nevada's border with California. It defines its mission to be to "meeting the needs of our uniquely challenging and diverse community...
- Jeanmarie SimpsonJeanmarie SimpsonJeanmarie Simpson is an American peace activist and theatre/film artist.- Early life :Simpson was born in Ray, Arizona. Her parents are Maria Luisa Jugo, a Venezuelan immigrant, and Donald Leroy Simpson, an American mining engineer. Jeanmarie Simpson was raised in rural Arizona...
- A Single Woman (film)A Single Woman (film)A Single Woman is a 2009 film made by Nevada Shakespeare Company and Heroica Films. It was directed by Kamala Lopez and produced by Cameron Crain, Richard Shelgren and Kamala Lopez. The screenplay was by Jeanmarie Simpson based on her play with the same title.-Artists:The film stars Jeanmarie...