Deborah Leamy - "Donne Forti" at IUGTE Conference 2021

Whose stories get told on stage in the world of theatre? As a woman in the complex and historically problematic field of Musical Theatre, my tenure as a working professional in NYC was filled with the highest joys and the most crushing disappointments. But it was only after taking a sabbatical from show business altogether that I returned to the field of musical theatre somewhat changed, now as an educator, choreographer, and director. Given a new perspective, I could no longer deny the significant gender and racial disparity in my chosen field. Most notable was the gender disparity in leadership at various theatre companies and an overall disparity of those hired as choreographer/director on Broadway. Having just completed a 2-year MFA Graduate Program, my thesis project served as a qualitative analysis of two thriving arts organizations, led by a collective of women. It shined a spotlight on feminist practices, analyzing what the resultant outcomes are when the feminist principles of gender/racial equity, diversity, inclusion and community are embraced, nurtured and adhered to within dance and theatre companies. My presentation will showcase the myriad of quotes, data and images from my study as well as a viewing of the filmed theatrical dance piece that served as the second half of this project. The piece is a true embodiment of the study merging dance, music and spoken word, performed by four strong young women.