WP Theater

WP is the nation’s oldest and largest theater company dedicated to developing, producing and promoting the work of female-identified and trans theater artists at every stage of their careers. For the last 40 years, we have been honored to serve as leaders of a global movement towards gender parity, and the artists we have fostered have grown into to a robust and thriving community in theater and beyond.

Founded in 1978 by visionary producer Julia Miles as Women’s Project Theater, WP has earned renowned acclaim as a home for historically marginalized female-identified and trans theatermakers to hone their craft while becoming leaders, change-makers, and advocates in the industry.

As the premier launching pad for some of the most influential artists in the American theater, television, and film industries, our work has had a significant impact on the field at large. Nearly every successful female theater artist past and present has worked at WP, and to date we have produced more than 600 Mainstage productions and developmental projects.

This year, WP’s impact on the artistic landscape of New York and beyond was recognized with a $250,000 grant from The Pussycat Foundation as part of the pilot year of the BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle. As one of only five theaters in the country to receive this honor, designed to support women artistic directors in professional theaters across the United States, the award is a testament to our role as a driving cultural force. This opportunity will pave the way for the next phase of our organizational journey, allowing WP to lead the way as the preeminent incubator for the next generation of female artistic leaders.

In addition to reflecting on the ways in which WP has made a difference over the last four decades, we are also looking ahead to the future with an eye towards reaching even more artists and audiences, and expanding our racial, socioeconomic and gender diversity. We are grateful to our community for helping us evolve into the theater we are today, and we are excited for the growth the next 40 years will bring.