Dorset Theatre Festival's Women Artists Writing Group Hosts Second Annual Retreat

Dorset Theatre Festival is committed to cultivating female voices onstage through its Women Artists Writing (WAW) Group, helmed by actors Heidi Armbruster and Mary Bacon. The WAW Group's second annual retreat is August 26-28, and a free public presentation will be held on Monday, August 28 at 7:30 p.m.

The presentation will feature 10 WAW retreat writers who will present 10-minute selections of their developing works, all in various stages of development. This event will be held in the Dorset Playhouse, located at 104 Cheney Rd, Dorset, VT. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is general admission, and no ticket is required.

The WAW Group public presentation will feature the works of Heidi Armbruster, Mary Bacon, Alexandra Beech, Michelle Beck, Carolyn Bauemler Bost, Maggie Bofill Diaz, Mathilde Dratwa, Donna Eis, Laura Gomez, and Elizabeth M. Kelly.

The WAW Group was founded in 2016 by Heidi Armbruster and Mary Bacon, two actors who formed the group out of a mutual desire to create support and space for their writing. As part of Dorset Theatre Festival's mission to support diversity and inclusion onstage, Artistic Director Dina Janis then lent the pair institutional support to host an annual retreat in Dorset.

Now, the WAW Group is a diverse group of mid-career female actresses and theater artists who are expanding their artistry through writing. The group's purpose is to meet the whole female theater artist where she is at as a writer: the group provides resources and support as she works to either discover her own voice, or works towards completing a writing project.

In addition to an annual Dorset Theatre Festival retreat, the group meets twice monthly at Primary Stages in New York City.

Heidi Armbruster is an NYC-based actress and playwright dedicated to creating new work and discovering new approaches to classical theater. Recent: "At the Old Place" (La Jolla Playhouse), "Man from Nebraska" (Second Stage), "Poor Behavior" (Primary Stages).

Mary Bacon is an actress working and living in New York City. Recent: "The Tribute Artist, Herrison, TX" (Primary Stages); "GIANT" (The Public Theatre); "Happy Birthday" (TACT), "The Scene" (Dorset Theatre Festival.

For more information on the Women Artists Writing Group, visit dorsettheatrefestival.org.