Stone Soup Theatre's Double (XX) Fest 2.0, “What’s She Building?” will be produced from April 19 – May 6, 2012 in the heart of Seattle, WA.

The purpose of XX Fest 2.0 is simple: to increase women's presence in the Seattle theatre scene. Women are prominent in Seattle's theatre, in certain aspects. There are female Artistic Directors of theatres around town, women directors, and phenomenal and well-known female actors. But there is still a gap. 

Other Seattle theatre companies have recently brought women to prominence onstage. We want to be a part of the movement to bring women to the forefront in American theatre, which we do with XX Fest.

Now in its second year, XX Fest 2.0 creates a place for women to strut their stuff. Our plays are written by women, directed by women, and produced by women. (But we still leave some parts for the men to play!)  Last year, the festival was met with good reviews and had some success. Included in the three weekends were plays ranging from 10-30 minutes, a 24-hour fest, staged readings, and a final “Best of the Fest” weekend. “Best of the Fest” provided an opportunity to see audience favorites for a second time.  

We want to include a stronger variety of performances, not solely limited to 10-minute plays. This year, the festival will also run for three weekends. In the following two weekends, participants and audience members will have the opportunities to experience a run of productions since each play is performed four times each weekend.   

With XX Fest 2.0, Stone Soup Theatre takes a stake in Seattle theatre. There have been other women-only theatre festivals in Seattle, including the Mae West Fest, which ran for a decade but is now missing from the community due to lack of funds. With XX Fest 2.0, we open up our quality theatre to adults.

We have a list of rewards prepared for those who donate, ranging from autographed swag to a bound production book of the scripts produced.

Video credits: Videography by Michael Montoure, Music by Kevin MacCleod

Photo credit: Photo by Armen Stein

Participants

Architects  (Producers)

• Katie Haster   
• Maureen Miko 

Bricklayers (Directors)

• Lenore Bensinger 
• Julianne Christie 
• Rachel Delmar 
• Zanne Gerard 
• Katie Haster 
• Katie Huffman  
• Karen Gath McClain 
• Kaytlin McIntyre 
• Courtney Meaker
• Glynis Mitchell 
• Rebecca Parker-O’Neil 
• Tina Polzin 
• Catherine Blake Smith
• Jessica Stepka 
• Norene Sterling 

Mortar  (Playwrights)

• Deanna Alisa Ableser   
• Machelle Allman  
• Megan Cohen 
• L.E. Grabowski-Cotton 
• Emily Kaye Lazzaro
• Kate McCamy 
• Nikala Merrigan 
• Susan Middaugh 
• Lindsay Joy Murphy 
• Catherine Noah 
• Evelyn Jean Pine 
• Kellie Powell 
• Margy Ragsdale 
• Susan Sher 
• Catherine Blake Smith 
• Britain Valenti 
• Persephone Vandegrift 
• Deborah Yarchun

Words from Participants

I think it's important to foster female playwrights. Traditionally it has been male dominated which is reflected in the number and quality of roles for women. By encouraging female playwrights or male playwrights to write strong roles for women we also change the way society views women. 
Tina Polzin