Who: Tennessee Women's Theater Project (TWTP) was founded by Maryanna Clarke, who has been active in Nashville theater for more than a dozen years. Educated in theater and entrepreneurship, she serves as the Artistic Director. Current board members: Maryanna Clarke; Wesley Paine, Director of Nashville's Parthenon; Suzanne Ashley; Corinne Ciocia, American Cancer Society; Chris Clarke, freelance copywriter and web marketing consultant.

What: "Giving voice to women through theater arts." TWTP is a professional, nonprofit theater company with a special focus on women. We seek to address the problems of gender inequity and gender discrimination through role parity for women as well as training and education in areas of professional theater that are currently male-dominated. We are committed to the highest artistic standards in professional theater. Moreover, because we believe that theater is a stakeholder in the community, we will work with other organizations to improve the lives of at-risk women in Middle Tennessee.

Why: Women comprise 52% of the population; women attend theater in even greater proportion. Yet, women are grossly underrepresented onstage, backstage and in theater management. Male characters tend to outnumber females, even in plays written by women. Offstage jobs in professional theater - from director to designer to stage manager - are predominantly held by men, and the management of professional theater is likewise male-dominated.

What it is NOT: TWTP is not “feminist theater,” or “women's issues theater.” It is not exclusive - it does not exclude men or the male perspective.

So what? “Men are [perceived as] universal; women are specific.” (Lisa Kron, New York State Council on the Arts Theatre Program, Report on the Status Of Women: A Limited Engagement?) TWTP strives to address this misperception - and correct it.