Women of Manhattan is a play written by John Patrick Shanley

John Patrick Shanley

John Patrick Shanley is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director. He also contributed articles on the performing arts to The New York Times among other publications.-Life and career:...

 and originally performed in 1986. It revolves around the lives of three women who are living in Manhattan

Manhattan

Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...

: one has recently split up with her boyfriend, one is married, and one is considered a "fag hag

Fag hag

Fag hag is a gay slang phrase referring to a woman who either associates mostly or exclusively with gay and bisexual men, or has gay and bisexual men as close friends. The phrase originated in gay male culture in the United States and was historically an insult. Some women who associate with gay...

" by the other two as she often unknowingly dates men who turn out to be homosexual. Robert Coe wrote "this play, while beautifully written and complete, feels a little weightless", while a critic reviewing a 1999 production of the play for SF Weekly

SF Weekly

SF Weekly is a free alternative weekly newspaper in San Francisco, California. The newspaper, distributed throughout the San Francisco Bay Area every Wednesday, is published by Village Voice Media, a 16-paper alt weekly newspaper chain that also includes the New York City Village Voice and the Los...

called it "an ordinary play, universal without being timeless".

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts recommends it for female monologues.