CURRENT PRODUCTION
The Mannequin
Written by Germaine de Staël.
Translated by Vivian Folkenflick.
at the CAPITOL HILL ARTS WORKSHOP
The French Rom/Com you didn’t know you needed!
Sophie’s father wants her to marry a ridiculous man—on the sole grounds that he’s from France. But not only does Sophie not love the gentleman, but he's on track to spend all her money and ruin them both! To get out of the marriage, Sophie has one option: to outwit her suitor and prove that he’d rather marry a mannequin than her. Written by French luminary Germaine de Staël, The Mannequin is an overlooked masterpiece, balancing issues of women's marital rights with outright silliness.
Madame de Staël wrote this play while exiled from France, an outspoken opponent to the tyranny of Napolean's regime. Her work as an activist, theorist, and writer had a lasting influence on European culture during the early 19th century, and yet we rarely see her work on stage. In the tradition of Lovers' Vows, Loveday Brooke, and Diana of Dobson's, We Happy Few is excited to bring work from another forgotten female playwright to the stage.
May 22-June 6
This script came to us thanks to the hard work that the team at Expand the Canon puts into reading and researching plays in order to advocate for gender equity in the classics. Expand the Canon uncovers and uplifts classic plays by women & underrepresented genders– and is a call to action to produce them.
SPECIAL EVENT FRIDAYS
OPENING NIGHT
MAY 22
Join us after the show for a champagne toast and snacks with the cast.
EXPAND THE CANON NIGHT
JUNE 5
Stick around for a post-show "salon-style" talkback with Mary Candler Lind from Expand the Canon, Kerry McGee (director) and Jess Singley (dramaturg). We'll be talking about our playwright and other neglected or overlooked female playwrights, and the work ETC is doing to bring them back to their proper place in the classical canon.
DIRECTOR
Kerry McGee
CHOREOGRAPHER
Debora Crabbe
FEATURING
Em German, Esteban Marmolejo-Suarez, Andrew Quilpa, & Gill Rydholm
DESIGN
Kenzi Wentela (Stage Management)
Jon Reynolds (Set)
Wendy Snow Walker (Costumes)
Mike Winch (Sound)
Jason Aufdem-Brinke (Lights)
Madi Wentela (Technical Assistant)
Jess Singley (Dramaturgy)
SPECIAL THANKS
Studio Theatre, Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, Arena Stage, Expand the Canon
From An Extraordinary Woman: Selected Writings of Germaine de Staël, by Germaine de Staël and translated by Vivian Folkenflik. Copyright © 1987 Columbia University Press. The Mannequin is presented by arrangement with Columbia University Press.