I had the immense pleasure of attending the Lilly Awards last night in NYC. It was a night dedicated to honoring women in every aspect of theater. For a theater fanatic like me, it was a complete thrill. I LOVED every second of the evening. After bumping into one of the founders almost at the start, the phenomenal Theresa Rebeck, and being remembered by her after meeting her quite fleetingly last year through a friend, I felt right at home.
The Lillies were started in the Spring of 2010 as a way to honor the work of women in the American Theater, named after Lillian Helman, a pioneering American playwright who famously said “You need to write like the devil and act like one when necessary.
All people have the right to get their voices heard, but it’s harder for women. What a feeling to validate females as a collective to keep writing, producing, directing, agenting, composing. The Lillies supports every single thing recipients did to get to the point of being honored. The awards continue in the tradition of Hellman’s spirit and annually honor the work of women in the American Theater. Rebeck is joined by Marsha Norman and Julia Jordan in leading them up.
Rebeck kicked off the night discussing the dearth of women on Broadway right now. There are only 2 women writers part of broadway season – Marsha Norman and Jeanine Tesori. It seemed depressing for a second, but at the end of the 2 or 3 hours in which the awards were presented, the women’s achievements shone through any concerns. Rebeck also expressed enthusiasm for it when she said, “Next year we want to see all these chicks on Broadway!”
Over the next few hours, we celebrated the MOST amazing and inspiring women. Playwright Lorraine Hansberry was honored by the cast of the current critically acclaimed production of ‘Raisin in the Sun’, including Audra McDonald. We even heard from Billie Allen who starred in the first Broadway run of “Raisin” 55 years ago. and the keeper of the Hansberry Trust Joy Greshem spoke about promoting her legacy. We heard from Winnie Holzman, who is responsible for the book of the Tony Award-winning musical ‘Wicked”. Kristen Anderson-Lopez was honored, with intro’s by her husband, Robert Lopez, and Idina Menzel.
The full list of 2014 winners included Susan Bernfield, Johanna Day, Winnie Holzman, Joyce Ketay, Mary Mitchell Campbell, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Dominique Morrisseau, Kelli O’Hara, Jen Silverman, Jeanine Tesori and Liesl Tommy. The intro’s were dazzling. Lisa Kron serenaded Jeanine Tesori. Steven Pasqaule talked about his work with Kelli O’Hara. Tony Kushner spoke about working with agent Joyce Ketay, quite poetically.
When each recipient accepted her award, she spoke about what it’s like to be a woman in the theater industry. Here are some of my favorite quotes:
“I’m not going to talk about producing plays by women cause that’s easy – you just do it” Susan Bernfield
“If we don’t make space for women’s voices then we feel invisible.”- Dominique Morisseau
“In order to experience something, you have to give it.” – Winnie Holzman
“Women are inherently creative” – Johanna Day
“Play on the girls’ team!” – Marsha Norman
“The only path to being an “emerged” playwright is to have your work produced.” – Cusi Cram
“In my whole career, I did not know what it felt like to say the words of a woman.” – Kelli O’Hara
“When leaders tell the full story, women rise.” – Neena Beber
“The power of these awards comes from an universal truth. In order to experience something, you have to give it.” – Winnie Holzman
“I am here because of these incredible women who never got an award.” – Tony Kushner
These women have made such extraordinary contributions. Long may they continue to inspire us all.
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