Where-To-Go Wednesday - Women Making Theater in New York City

We received complimentary tickets to the New York Historical for review purposes. All opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Women Making Theater in New York City

Where: New York Historical

             170 Central Park W.

              New York, NY

Who: All ages

When: Through October 30, 2026

The current exhibit at the New York Historical, Women Making Theater in New York City, is divided into two sections. The first highlights pioneering women who were involved in theater long before it became socially acceptable. These include performers like Charlotte Saunders Cushman and Maude Adams; lyricist Rida Johnson Young; and Anita Bush. The latter was not only a woman but a Black woman who actually started her own theater company. 

The second section of the exhibit explores the surge of experimental theater that occurred in the 1960s.  and women's contributions to it. It covers the beginnings of La MaMa, a theater that is still very active today, as well as other female-centric groups of the time. These included a group calling themselves the Five Lesbian Brothers, which included Lisa Kron, who later won two Tony Awards for Best Book and Score for the musical Fun Home, and Spiderwoman Theater Company, the oldest continuously running women's theater group in the U.S. 

The exhibit includes posters, photographs, costumes, and more.  Items on display even includes the rental receipt for the original La Mama Theatre space. It's a small but informative exhibit that any true theater history fan won't want to miss. 

For more about Women Making Theater in New York City, the New York City Historical in general, or to purchase tickets to visit the museum, go to www.nyhistory.org/exhibitions/women-making-theatre-in-new-york-city

Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.

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