Fifteen, a photo essay

Inspired by What the Constitution Means to Me, we asked 15 photographers from around the country to photograph teenagers in their communities ranging in age from 13 to 20. Each photographer chose their own subject and submitted work reflective of their point of view. We then asked all the teens, “What do you imagine your life will be like in fifteen years?”

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Lear deBessonet, of Great Faith

When Lear deBessonet was ten years old, she made the decision to live for God. Now deBessonet is responsible for some of the largest and most inclusive theatre productions in NYC. On the horizon are big projects, including some that just might reshape theatre in America. Her faith has evolved, but it’s still a driving force behind her work. We take a look at Lear deBessonet’s faith and what it means to really, really believe.

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Days of Awe: Leigh Silverman and Broadway’s First All-Female Design Team, a photo essay

Director Leigh Silverman put together Broadway’s first all-female design team. Photographer Tess Mayer spent two afternoons with them at tech documenting these individuals in a room together doing their jobs at the pinnacle of American theatre. It is part of keeping an accurate record of what happened on Broadway in the fall of 2018, who made it happen, and of their work. 

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7 Women of Theatre History You Should Know: Part Five

We showcase seven more women who shaped the theatre landscape as we know it today. Some overcame gender or race discrimination but persevered at a time when the field was not welcoming. Some founded theatre companies, or created iconic design elements, or wrote pieces from a perspective not often shown on the Broadway stage. In this installment we introduce you to Alice Childress, Mary P. Burrill, Anne Caldwell, Maria Bjornson, Martha Morton, Valina Hasu Houston, and Gertrude Jeannette. 

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Bernadette Peters: Young and Cute, Forever and Never

Bernadette Peters turns 70 this week. Her name is synonymous with American musical theatre—and the moniker “young and cute forever.” How did that happen? And has she ever really gotten the respect she deserves? We take a romp through 1970s Los Angeles, ’80s New York, and the brain of a ’90s pre-teen to find out how Bernadette Peters became a woman not afraid to take up a lot of space.

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V-Day in TrumpLand: Exploring the Relevance of “The Vagina Monologues”

In recent years, many colleges have questioned the relevancy of “The Vagina Monologues,” but with the election of Donald Trump those conversations have shifted. We talk to Eve Ensler and college students in red states and swing states about their views on “The Vagina Monologues” and their experiences with the show in 2017.

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The Once and Future Leigh Silverman: a western

In 2006, Leigh Silverman became one of the youngest contemporary directors to make it to Broadway. Ten years, a Tony nomination, and countless shows later, Leigh is one of the busiest directors in town. But no one really knows what a director does, or how they do it, or what it all means. We went on an adventure with Leigh to try and find out.

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How Fashion Can Empower Women of Theatre

For our special post-Tonys feature we decided to focus on fashion and how it can be used to empower women of theatre. We collaborated with stylist Micaela Erlanger as she styled Laura Benanti for the Drama Desk Awards and Sutton Foster for the Tony Awards and got their thoughts of fashion and theatre. We also took a look at how fashion has been used as a cultural bridge and innovative tool to recruit new publicity and audiences.

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