THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Our trip to London afforded the opportunity for League members to get to know each other better through our mutuality and love of theatre and to spend a few hours with our London counterparts, learning about their creative educational initiatives. We visited the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) one morning, followed by a lively panel discussion later that day at the Society of London Theatres where Rosemary Squire, the first woman president of SOLT hosted our group and the London theatre women. The panel was organized by Susan Whiddington of the Mousetrap Foundation and our London affiliate member, Jackie Elliman, and we were introduced to exciting work being done in professional training, the training of young marginalized students, and their work in prisons and with refugees. Look for Lenore DeKoven’s article about these programs in the next Roundup. Our thanks go to our hard-working Travel Committee: Lauren Scott, Dorothy Olim, and Mary Miko, who shepherded us through the mazes of travel with nary a complaint.

For those of you who are looking, our new website is ready for viewing. We hope you find it useful and that you will visit us often at www.theatrewomen.org to stay conversant with our programs and activities. You will be sent a password in a separate mailing, once we get the bios launched, which requires special access. The password will be provided for your use as long as you are a paid-up member. Therefore, the password will be changed periodically.

The future looks very bright for the League with the exciting exhibition: 100 Years of Women in Design: Costume, Lighting and Set Design, in association with the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. This groundbreaking event is being curated by our treasured Board member and celebrated costume designer, Carrie Robbins. Not too early to mark your calendars for November 19th. The exhibition will run through May 3rd, 2008 in the Library’s Oenslager Galleries.

Our February events are fast approaching, so be sure you note the Gypsy Robe event at the Library in honor of Black History Month which the League is happy to co-sponsor with Actors’ Equity on February 12th. Our Leadership Luncheon with Virginia Louloudes is at Sardi’s on February 22nd, so make reservations now if you wish to attend these events and extend invitations to friends and colleagues you would like to introduce to the League.

Cordially, Joan and Harriet