Theater News

Allison Janney to Serve as Honorary Chair of Women's Voices Theater Festival

Washington, D.C., joins 26 theaters to promote the work of female theater artists.

Allison Janney will be Honorary Chair of the 2018 Women's Voices Theater Festival.
Allison Janney will be honorary chair of the 2018 Women’s Voices Theater Festival.
(© David Gordon)

Two-time Tony Award nominee Allison Janney has been named honorary chair of the 2018 Women’s Voices Theater Festival in Washington, D.C., after serving on the festival’s Honorary Committee in 2015.

"I was humbled that the organizers of the inaugural Women’s Voices Theater Festival invited me to join the initial Honorary Committee and I’m happy to lend my support again," said Janney. "Theater nurtured my career — it’s where I came into my own as an actor, and of course, Washington is a very special place for me, because of my time on The West Wing. I’m very glad to be a part of this project, and proud to be helping the Festival advocate for women writing for the stage, new plays, and the sharing of diverse stories."

The Women’s Voices Theater Festival is a citywide collaboration among 26 theaters to elevate the work of women playwrights and cast a national spotlight on the issue of gender parity in American theater. It debuted in 2015 and is led by seven of Washington’s largest theaters: Arena Stage, Ford's Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Studio Theatre, Signature Theatre, Round House Theatre, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.

Janney has been seen on Broadway in Present Laughter, A View From the Bridge (Tony nomination), 9 to 5 (Tony nomination), and most recently, in last season's revival of Six Degrees of Separation. She is best known for portraying of White House Press Secretary C.J. Cregg on The West Wing, which earned her four Emmy Awards and four SAG Awards, and currently stars on the CBS comedy Mom. Her film credits include The Help, Juno, The Way, Way Back, American Beauty, Drop Dead Gorgeous, 10 Things I Hate About You, and many more.

For more information about the 2018 Women's Voices Theater Festival, click here.