The series, produced by Newsday theatre critic Linda Winer, focuses on women in all disciplines of the theatre: performer, director, playwright, designer and producer. Tony Award winner Chita Rivera will be the first to discuss her legendary career in the theatre.

In a statement Winer said, "In our politically-aware times, it might seem odd to create a series solely around women in theatre. After so many years, shouldn't the category have withered away and become irrelevant? But at the same time, the New York State Council on the Arts released a three-year study last year about women's status in theatre and revealed that with some exceptions — principally, Susan Stroman and Julie Taymor were cited — advancement has stalled or even deteriorated. Although women submit about half of all the works available to artistic directors, only 16 percent of produced plays are by women and 17 percent have female directors — down from 21 percent and 23 percent, respectively, since the previous year. That said, the series was a rare and wonderful opportunity to speak with the brightest theatre talents and to help them open up about their careers, their work, their politics and their feelings about their profession."

Presented by The League of Professional Theatre Women, Women in Theatre II will be seen throughout the spring on Fridays at 10:30 AM and 3:30 and 8:30 PM and Sundays at 12 noon on CUNY-TV, Channel 75. For more information visit www.cuny.tv.

The complete viewing schedule follows:
March 12/14, 2004 - Chita Rivera (Performer)
March 19/21 - Julie Taymor (Director/Designer)
March 26/28 - Ruby Dee (Performer)
April 2/4 - Jennifer Tipton (Lighting Designer)
April 9/11 - Marian Seldes (Performer)
April 16/18 - Libby Appel (Artistic Director, Oregon Shakespeare Festival)
April 23/25 - Wendy Wasserstein (Playwright)
April 30/May 2 - Isabelle Stevenson (Board Chair, American Theatre Wing)
May 7/9 - Graciela Daniele (Director/Choreographer)
May 14/16 - Kate Valk (Performer, the Wooster Group)
May 21/23 - Carey Perloff (Artistic Director, American Conservatory Theatre)
May 28/30 - Kathleen Chalfant (Performer)
June 4/6 - Susan Stroman (Director/Choreographer)