The Glaspell Project Opens SDSU Theatre Season
Two one-act plays by an early feminist address social justice themes.
The San Diego State University School of Theatre, Television, and Film opens its 2018 fall theatre season with “The Glaspell Project,” comprised of two one-act plays by Susan Glaspell, an early 20th century feminist and co-founder of Provincetown Players. Directed by faculty member Randy Reinholz, the production runs Friday, Sept. 28, through Sunday, Oct. 7, in SDSU’s Experimental Theatre.
The ensemble will perform “Trifles,” written in 1916 and inspired by a murder trial, and “Woman’s Honor,” a satirical comedy written in 1918. Both touch on social justice themes of misogyny and the objectification of women.
The School of Theatre, Television, and Film aspires to gender equity, and has pledged that half of each season’s productions will be written by female playwrights.
Finding an authentic voice
Reinholz appointed many women to creative decision-making positions for “The Glaspell Project,” in an effort to have the project driven by multiple female perspectives.
“It’s important to recognize that women, or any group, are not a group of homogenous people,” said Reinholz. “I am very familiar with working as a very close ally and advocate, but also as an outsider, facilitating the original authentic voice on stage.”
Jazmine Reynoso, a fourth-year theatre student and dramaturge for “The Glaspell Project,” compares the early 20th century women’s movement for suffrage with today’s #MeToo movement.
“The production is important, not just for SDSU, but also for all women,” said Reynoso. “During both of these times, women came together to fight for what’s right.”
Connecting with current social justice themes
The production provides the SDSU community with rich content for conversations regarding issues of gender parity and objectification. As a venue for the plays, the Experimental Theatre is an intimate setting, immersing the audience in the multiple perspectives of the characters onstage.
Faculty members from various departments across campus will bring their classes to performances and connect the content to their course curriculum. Community activist groups will also attend, bringing information on the resources they provide.
The SDSU Department of Women’s Studies has organized a panel discussion around a preview performance of “The Glaspell Project. Students will have the opportunity to hear faculty members and Reinholz analyze the plays in depth.
“It’s such a classic script, and I’m so excited that SDSU is performing it,” said Doreen Mattingly, chair of women’s studies. “The script resonates with so many themes we talk about today, especially the perspective of the oppressed.”
Ticket information
Performances for “The Glaspell Project” are scheduled for Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. in SDSU’s Experimental Theatre. Each one-act play is roughly 30 minutes long. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $17 for students, seniors, and military.
For tickets, directions, and parking information, visit theatre.sdsu.edu. For more information about the many other Arts Alive SDSU performances, concerts, and exhibitions, visit artsalive.sdsu.edu.
