PLANTING THE SEEDS
Red Hen Productions was founded in December of 1995 by Amanda Shaffer as a feminist theatre company dedicated to producing works by and about women. Collectively, a group of women decided that there was, indeed, a need for a women's theatre concerned about women's rights, abilities, and artistic visions. Theatre is a powerful format for expression of these concerns. A board of trustees was formed and agreed to work by consensus.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Red Hen Productions takes its name and inspiration from the much-told folk tale of the Little Red Hen. In the story the Red Hen finds a grain of wheat and decides to plant it. No one wants to help her with what she has decided to do, but she continues undeterred. She plants, harvests, reaps, mills, and bakes what she wants to eat. This name symbolizes the determination that Red Hen Productions has to create theatre that nourishes both the audience and the participants. But instead of one little Red Hen all by herself, we are many, working toward the same goals.

THE F-WORD
Feminism is a dangerous, or perhaps courageous, word in our world where labels are used to divide and ignite. We at Red Hen are interested in a feminism that is inclusive, not exclusive. While the members of the organization may debate and discuss the many different political, social, and academic definitions of the word feminist, as well as opinions about the feminist movement and its significance, we are all united by the desire to support and encourage the expression of feminist ideas through theatre.

TENDING THE WHEAT
Red Hen addresses the marginalization of women's theatre by making women's programming its sole focus, thereby increasing the number of jobs for women actors, playwrights, designers, directors, musicians, dancers, and poets. The long term goals include providing a venue for women artists to explore their work, demarginalizing lesbian and women's theatre, the inclusion of women from other circumstances (especially young girls) in theatre, and the encouragement and inclusion of men with feminist sensibilities. Red Hen operates with the conviction of working with cooperation, consensus and shared goals without manipulation and domination.

BAKING THE BREAD
Programming varies in different years, but consists of at least two productions a year: one festival of new plays, and one full production. Programming is chosen by the Artistic Director and the Voting Board, from plays and projects submitted and solicited. Plays and projects reflect feminist principals, address and define problems commonly encountered by women in theatre, initiate change, propose choices, and by all means demonstrate that feminists and lesbians have a sense of humor.

EXTENDING A HELPING HEN
Red Hen attempts to share its product with all women and girls by maintaining a sliding scale policy at the box office and offering blocks of tickets to neighborhood organizations. Through performance, women and girls can identify with feminist issues and recognize their own creative possibilities. This interaction with the community is offered through collaboration with women's social service agencies and with classes and workshops customized to meet the needs of each agency and its women and/or girls. Outreach tours have gone to Women's Workhouse, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Louise Stokes Library, Akron Community Center, Lakeland Community College, Oberlin, CASE Women's Center, John Carroll University, St. Vincent Quadrangle Housing Projects.

"HERSTORY"
Red Hen's past productions include: "Playing with Fire: Three Red-Hot Plays about Women," FemFest'96 (a staged reading festival of new feminist plays), "These Are My Sisters", "Cooking with Typhoid Mary", "Theodora: an Unauthorized Biography", FemFest '97, "Flygals", "Eight Impressions of a Lunatic," "Merchant of Venice", "Clue in The Old Birdbath", "Battered on Broadway", "Stop Kiss", "Waving Goodbye", "Rehearsing Cyrano", "The Last Nickel", "Gum" , "Cherchez Dave Robicheaux", "Commencing", "Body Outlaws", and "Crazy Ladies." Red Hen has also hosted a benefit performance of political satirist Barry Crimmins and participates regularly in the local AIDS Walk, Gay Pride, and Walk for Hunger.

WHO'S MINDING THE HEN HOUSE?
Red Hen was built by a feminist Board of Trustees consisting of a small voting group of women and an advisory board of women and men. The voting board and its officers are elected out of the base of voting and advisory boards. All board decisions are reached by consensus. In recognition of the current funding environment, Red Hen depends largely on individual donations, in-kind services, and the fundraising talents of its Board and volunteers. Past fundraising activities have included raffles, rent parties, Sunday brunches, artist salons, bake sales, ice cream socials, and other time-honored traditions used by women to raise money - not excluding just asking for it of course.