The 6th Annual Voices of Women Theatre Festival
March 5-9, 2026 will see the return of one of Tampa Bay’s most influential women’s storytelling events—Powerstories’ 6th Annual Voices of Women Theatre Festival, now hosted at the HCC Black Box Theatre in Ybor City. What started as a pandemic-era lifeline has evolved into an enduring celebration of women’s playwriting.
Fran Powers
founder and executive director:
“When the pandemic closed our doors, it opened a new chapter. We had no idea that being shuttered would give birth to a program that has now empowered hundreds of women playwrights to step forward and speak their truths. Six years strong, the Voices of Women Theatre Festival is more than a program—it is a movement, and we’re excited for the new plays we will bring to stage at HCC this March. It is proof that even in the hardest times, stories rise, voices matter, and women’s truths deserve to be celebrated. That is, and always will be, what Powerstories is all about.”
Jenny Kokai
playwright-in-residence, workshop instructor:
“It has been astonishing to read the submitted plays– from highly accomplished women playwrights nationally (and even a couple international) — which are so exciting and diverse in their topics and artistic styles. Many of the authors told us how much having a category for women writers over 40, which Powerstories might be the only playwriting competition in the US to have, mattered to them. To know that their experience and perspectives were not just included but sought after. Last year we had the privilege of meeting two fantastic (full-length) playwrights and helped them take their plays to the next level, and we cannot wait to do the same this year.”
Clareann Despain PhD
artistic director:
“We’re delighted to give playwrights what is sometimes their very first opportunity to get their piece in front of an audience. We know the response of early audiences is absolutely vital to new play development. There’s a particular joy in the collaboration of community members and artists focused on supporting a playwright in the development of her play. We know the Tampa community will enjoy and be inspired by our offerings this year.”
When the Covid-19 pandemic shuttered theaters in 2020, founder Fran Powers and her team sought new ways to keep theatre alive. Meeting on Zoom, they launched three playwriting initiatives: Voices of Truth, Voices of Youth, and Voices of Women. Conceived as a virtual gathering to maintain the connection between playwrights, actors, and audiences, these programs offered creative outlets during isolation. Of the three, Voices of Women resonated most deeply, providing a dedicated space for women to share their stories and continue to thrive well beyond the pandemic’s disruption.
This commitment to nurturing women’s voices remains at the heart of Powerstories Theatre’s annual offerings. Each year, the theatre offers playwriting programs like the Seek and Speak Your Powerstory Workshop, with the next six-week Zoom session starting January 13. They invite women to draw from personal experiences, giving them the opportunity to present their true story at the Voices of Women Theatre Festival.
The festival’s collaborative spirit is further enriched by playwright-in-residence Jenny Kokai, who leads festival workshops for both new and experienced writers, helping them refine their craft.
For the 2026 festival, audiences can look forward to two evenings featuring staged readings of a full-length play, with submissions open to women playwrights from across the United States. One night will specifically highlight a woman playwright over 40. The festival will dedicate two evenings to 10-minute short plays that are exclusively open to local women playwrights, providing a special platform for Tampa Bay’s creative women’s voices to shine. This variety provides playwrights with the invaluable experience of hearing their words performed before a live audience, an essential step in the creative process.
For over 25 years, Powers has emphasized the importance of magnifying women’s voices, and her vision continues to guide the festival’s mission. Artistic Director Clareann Despain curates a program that celebrates the diversity, strength, and complexity of women’s lives. Together with their team, they have built a festival where women’s plays are not only performed but also uplifted and honored.
The need for this work is clear. Representation in American theater remains starkly unequal; studies show that fewer than 30% of plays produced in the U.S. are written by women, with particularly few roles for women over 40. These statistics highlight the ongoing struggle for visibility and inclusion on stage—especially for older women, who are often completely erased. In a time when women’s voices are being marginalized in history and politics, the stage becomes more than a space for entertainment, it becomes a platform for resistance and change.
Women possess unique perspectives and experiences that bring nuance, humor, and emotional depth to storytelling. Their narratives are not interchangeable; they demand authenticity and lived experience. When women write, direct, and perform their own stories, they bring to lifetime viewpoints that have too often been dismissed. The festival ensures these perspectives are given the space they deserve.
Theatre has always served as an uncensored looking glass to society, showing its triumphs, struggles, and contradictions. When women are left out, the reflection is incomplete. The Voices of Women Theatre Festival seeks to correct this imbalance, offering audiences a fuller and more honest view of the world. Audiences gain the opportunity to see themselves, their mothers, daughters, and grandmothers represented with dignity and power.
As the festival celebrates its sixth anniversary, the vital role of sponsors has never been more pronounced. With massive reductions in national and federal arts funding, sponsorship is not simply a means of sustaining the festival, it is a powerful investment in a future where women’s voices are never silenced or overlooked.
By supporting the Voices of Women Theatre Festival, sponsors champion diversity, equity, and the transformative power of live theater. Their involvement goes beyond funding—it affirms women’s rightful place on stage and helps ensure future generations see their stories reflected in art. Sponsors play a vital role in advancing representation and inspiring transformation through women’s original works.
Looking ahead to March 2026, the Voices of Women Theatre Festival promises to once again honor Women’s History Month by amplifying voices too often ignored, reminding us that when women speak, the world changes.
Learn more about Powerstories 2026 Voices of Women Theatre Festival at powerstories.com/VOW-2026. •
