Butch Visibility Project
Plays by Carolyn Gage that Center Butch Roles
A Brief Narrated Slide Show About the Project
"Stealing the Herd," Howlround: A Journal of the Theater Commons, August 5, 2012.
Plays About Historical Butches
Deb Wright as Charlotte Cushman
Amy Lowell: In Her Own Words
One-woman play about one of New England's most famous poets.
Babe: An Olympian Musical (Babe Didrikson)
Full-book musical about the "Greatest Woman Athlete of the Twentieth Century"
Brett Remembers
Two-woman adaptation about artist and companion to D.H. Lawrence in Taos
Calamity Jane Sends A Message to Her Daughter (Jane Cannary)
One-woman, one-act play about Calamity Jane
The Countess and the Lesbians (Esther Roper)
One-act play about one of the women supporting the Easter Rising in Dublin
Deep Haven (Sarah Orne Jewett)
Adaptation of the writings of famous 19th century New England novelist.
Gage as Calamity Jane
Easter Sunday (Marty Mann)
One-act play about the founder of the National Council on Alcoholism and one of the first women in AA.
Entr’acte (Eva LeGallienne)
One-act play about Broadway actress and producer
In McClintock's Corn (Barbara McClintock & Harriet Creighton)
Full-length play about the 50-year intimacy between geneticists Barbara McClintock and Harriet Creighton.
The Last Reading of Charlotte Cushman
One-woman show about the greatest actress of the English-speaking world in 19th century
Lighting Martha (Miki Kinsella)
A play about legendary lighting designer Jean Rosenthal and her partner.
Little Sister (Lozen)
One-act play that references a historical Two Spirit Chiricahua warrior.
Louisa May Incest
One-act play about Jo March of Little Women
One-act play about the founder of the National Council on Alcoholism and one of the first women in AA.
Entr’acte (Eva LeGallienne)
One-act play about Broadway actress and producer
In McClintock's Corn (Barbara McClintock & Harriet Creighton)
Full-length play about the 50-year intimacy between geneticists Barbara McClintock and Harriet Creighton.
The Last Reading of Charlotte Cushman
One-woman show about the greatest actress of the English-speaking world in 19th century
Lighting Martha (Miki Kinsella)
A play about legendary lighting designer Jean Rosenthal and her partner.
Little Sister (Lozen)
One-act play that references a historical Two Spirit Chiricahua warrior.
Louisa May Incest
One-act play about Jo March of Little Women
Barbara McClintock & Harriet Creighton
Miss Le Gallienne Announces the New Season (Eva Le Gallienne)
10-minute monologue, where Eva struggles with PTSD.
Planchette
Two gender-queer fourteen-year-olds with big secrets, 1879, Portsmouth. Referencing the Smuttynose murders, attempted murder of a lesbian couple.
Sappho in Love
Full-length comedy about the celebrated poet of Lesbos
The Second Coming of Joan of Arc
One-woman show about Joan of Arc
Stigmata (Benedetta Carlini)
Full-length drama about a lesbian nun of 16th-century Florence
The Parmachene Belle (Cornelia "Fly Rod" Crosby)
One-woman, one-act play about 19th-century fly-fisherwoman from Maine with crush on Annie Oakley.
10-minute monologue, where Eva struggles with PTSD.
Planchette
Two gender-queer fourteen-year-olds with big secrets, 1879, Portsmouth. Referencing the Smuttynose murders, attempted murder of a lesbian couple.
Sappho in Love
Full-length comedy about the celebrated poet of Lesbos
The Second Coming of Joan of Arc
One-woman show about Joan of Arc
Stigmata (Benedetta Carlini)
Full-length drama about a lesbian nun of 16th-century Florence
The Parmachene Belle (Cornelia "Fly Rod" Crosby)
One-woman, one-act play about 19th-century fly-fisherwoman from Maine with crush on Annie Oakley.
Non-Historical Plays with Leading Butch Characters
The Ugly Ducklings
The Amazon All-Stars
Small-cast musical about a lesbian softball team.
The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women
Audience-interactive play about a women's theatre company.
At Sea
Two old lesbian butches in their 80’s have escaped from a nursing home at night, stolen a sailboat, and are planning a double suicide out on the ocean.Two old lesbian butches in their 80’s have escaped from a nursing home at night, stolen a sailboat, and are planning a double suicide out on the ocean.
Bite My Thumb
Gender-bending one-act about two productions of Romeo and Juliet.
Black Eye
Butch tomgirl in trouble at school.
The Goddess Tour
Featuring an alcoholic butch mystery writer.
How to Write a Country-Western Song
Several butch musicians...
The Ladies’ Room
Young butch harassed for using a women's bathroom.
Little Sister
A one-act about a Native American lesbian couple.
The Obligatory Scene
Young butch in conflict with her partner over "lesbian bed death."
The P.E. Teacher
Butch PE teacher encountering racism and homophobia.
The Spindle
Butch tomgirl heroine attempts to save her girlfriend, Sleeping Beauty.
Thanatron
Butch housekeeper turns middle-class house upside down.
Ugly Ducklings
Featuring butch camp counselor and butch camper.
Small-cast musical about a lesbian softball team.
The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women
Audience-interactive play about a women's theatre company.
At Sea
Two old lesbian butches in their 80’s have escaped from a nursing home at night, stolen a sailboat, and are planning a double suicide out on the ocean.Two old lesbian butches in their 80’s have escaped from a nursing home at night, stolen a sailboat, and are planning a double suicide out on the ocean.
Bite My Thumb
Gender-bending one-act about two productions of Romeo and Juliet.
Black Eye
Butch tomgirl in trouble at school.
The Goddess Tour
Featuring an alcoholic butch mystery writer.
How to Write a Country-Western Song
Several butch musicians...
The Ladies’ Room
Young butch harassed for using a women's bathroom.
Little Sister
A one-act about a Native American lesbian couple.
The Obligatory Scene
Young butch in conflict with her partner over "lesbian bed death."
The P.E. Teacher
Butch PE teacher encountering racism and homophobia.
The Spindle
Butch tomgirl heroine attempts to save her girlfriend, Sleeping Beauty.
Thanatron
Butch housekeeper turns middle-class house upside down.
Ugly Ducklings
Featuring butch camp counselor and butch camper.
Musicals with Butch Leads
Ellis as Babe Didrikson
The Amazon All-Stars
Small-cast musical about a lesbian softball team.
Babe: An Olympian Musical
Full-chorus, full-book musical about butch athlete Babe Didrikson.
How to Write a Country-Western Song
Small-cast musical about lesbian musicians and recovery.
Small-cast musical about a lesbian softball team.
Babe: An Olympian Musical
Full-chorus, full-book musical about butch athlete Babe Didrikson.
How to Write a Country-Western Song
Small-cast musical about lesbian musicians and recovery.
Full-Length Comedies with Butch Leads
Thanatron
The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women
Interactive courtroom drama about a women's theatre company.
Sappho in Love
Greek comedy about Lesbos.
Thanatron
Comedy about a middle-class family turned upside down by the butch housekeeper.
Interactive courtroom drama about a women's theatre company.
Sappho in Love
Greek comedy about Lesbos.
Thanatron
Comedy about a middle-class family turned upside down by the butch housekeeper.
One-Acts with Butch Leads
Bite My Thumb
Bite My Thumb
Gender-bending one-act about two productions of Romeo and Juliet.
Black Eye
Butch tomgirl in trouble at school.
Brett Remembers
Two-woman adaptation about artist and companion to D.H. Lawrence in Taos
Calamity Jane Sends A Message to Her Daughter (Jane Cannary)
One-woman, one-act play about Calamity Jane
The Countess and the Lesbians (Esther Roper)
One-act play about one of the women supporting the Easter Rising in Dublin
Deep Haven (Sarah Orne Jewett)
Adaptation of the writings of famous 19th century New England novelist
Entr’acte (Eva LeGallienne)
One-act play about Broadway actress and producer
The Ladies’ Room
Young butch harassed for using a women's bathroom.
Louisa May Incest
One-act play about Jo March of Little Women
The Obligatory Scene
Young butch in conflict with her partner over "lesbian bed death."
The Parmachene Belle (Cornelia "Fly Rod" Crosby)
One-woman, one-act play about 19th-century fly-fisherwoman from Maine with crush on Annie Oakley.
The P.E. Teacher
Butch PE teacher encountering racism and homophobia.
Gender-bending one-act about two productions of Romeo and Juliet.
Black Eye
Butch tomgirl in trouble at school.
Brett Remembers
Two-woman adaptation about artist and companion to D.H. Lawrence in Taos
Calamity Jane Sends A Message to Her Daughter (Jane Cannary)
One-woman, one-act play about Calamity Jane
The Countess and the Lesbians (Esther Roper)
One-act play about one of the women supporting the Easter Rising in Dublin
Deep Haven (Sarah Orne Jewett)
Adaptation of the writings of famous 19th century New England novelist
Entr’acte (Eva LeGallienne)
One-act play about Broadway actress and producer
The Ladies’ Room
Young butch harassed for using a women's bathroom.
Louisa May Incest
One-act play about Jo March of Little Women
The Obligatory Scene
Young butch in conflict with her partner over "lesbian bed death."
The Parmachene Belle (Cornelia "Fly Rod" Crosby)
One-woman, one-act play about 19th-century fly-fisherwoman from Maine with crush on Annie Oakley.
The P.E. Teacher
Butch PE teacher encountering racism and homophobia.
Monologues and Scenes for Lesbian Actors
A book with an index of scenes and monologues with butch roles.
More Monologues and Scenes for Lesbian Actors
A second volume of scenes and monologues, many with butch roles.
Take Stage: How to Direct and Produce a Lesbian Play
Everything you need to know to put on a play with or for lesbians!
