WomensWork Is Off to a Solid Start with a Sold-Out Limited Run of My Left Breast

Led by founder and creative director Lynne Collinson, the new women-forward theaterecollaborative WomensWork is off to a strong start with their inaugural production of Susan Miller’s autobiographical drama My Left Breast, playing to sold-out houses this weekend, Oct 12-13, 2018. WomensWork’s October limited run of My Left Breast marks the new group’s foray into the Rhode Island local theater scene in residency at The Artists’ Exchange, 50 Rolfe Street, Cranston.

Originally written and performed by Miller as a one-woman play in 1995, My Left Breast chronicles the playwright’s real-life experiences with breast cancer and her resulting mastectomy. In WomensWork’s current production, director Collinson received the playwright’s permission to instead have three well-known local actresses — MJ Daly, Joanne Fayan and Rae Mancini – share the main role. Collinson explains, “I wanted to use a trio of actors, not only to provide opportunities for more talented women, but also because the role of Susan is every woman, any woman. We all identify with her journey.”

The WomensWork is a new creative collective designed to provide theatrical opportunities for women – putting the focus firmly on staging materials that feature meaty roles for women over the age of 40.  She points out that producing My Left Breast as their inaugural show was a calculated choice, saying, “It’s the perfect vehicle to say: This is who we are; these are the kinds of stories we want to tell.”

Production elements are kept to a minimum in order to keep the spotlight on women-centric storytelling. The production is entirely female led — from the playwright to the producer to the production team to the actors. Collinson explains, “Our intent with WomensWork is not to start a theater, but to MAKE theater … we want mature women to be in the driver’s seat where their talent and expertise can be put to work to make great theater.”

In addition to Collinson, the founding members — or “Founding Mothers” — of the group, represent more than 350 years of combined experience in the theater, and many are familiar names in Rhode Island: Peggy Becker, Sharon Carpentier, Paula Faber, Joanne Fayan, Gayle Hanrahan, Rae Mancini, Margaret Melozzi, Dr. Juli Parker and Carol Schlink.

Next up for the group is a two-weekend run of another female-centered work by Obie Award-Winning playwright Susan Miller, 20^th Century Blues. Once again the group plans on keeping the production elements minimalist, in order to put spotlight on the storytelling. Telling the story of four women who meet once a year for a private photo shoot in order to chronicle their ever-changing (and aging) selves. When these private photographs threaten to go public, their relationships are tested as they deal with what lies ahead.

Follow the group on Facebook @/WomensWorkRI.