Perfect Women

by Emma Goldman-Sherman

FULL LENGTH Jane Chambers Award 1997 In Perfect Women, Rosie starts a youtube channel for her birthday to document the stuff that happens, and a lot happens! This is a romp through early adolescence with lesbian longings, Barbie comes to life and runs off with a stone butch biker chick who used to be Pygmalion's Galatea, you know, just like your own teen years... From body image issues to acceptance -- is it...

FULL LENGTH Jane Chambers Award 1997 In Perfect Women, Rosie starts a youtube channel for her birthday to document the stuff that happens, and a lot happens! This is a romp through early adolescence with lesbian longings, Barbie comes to life and runs off with a stone butch biker chick who used to be Pygmalion's Galatea, you know, just like your own teen years... From body image issues to acceptance -- is it possible?

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Perfect Women

Recommended by

  • Melissa Bell: Perfect Women

    This romp of teenage longing, confusion, searching, questioning and discovery is spot on and brought me back emotionally to my own crazy teen years of wonder and experimentation. I had so much fun reading this play and it would be even more fun to see, to produce or to perform in! You got young people in your troupe? Do it! Fantastic!

    This romp of teenage longing, confusion, searching, questioning and discovery is spot on and brought me back emotionally to my own crazy teen years of wonder and experimentation. I had so much fun reading this play and it would be even more fun to see, to produce or to perform in! You got young people in your troupe? Do it! Fantastic!

  • John Mabey: Perfect Women

    What an exciting theatrical adventure! The structure and pacing of PERFECT WOMEN was thoroughly engaging and the story captivating. Emma Goldman-Sherman masterfully explores young queer identity and gender roles in a fantastical way while grounding the play in realistic explorations of self-esteem and self-harm. Throughout the play is a core theme of how we see ourselves in relation to being seen by the world, and learning to love those parts in ourselves that remain undiscovered.

    What an exciting theatrical adventure! The structure and pacing of PERFECT WOMEN was thoroughly engaging and the story captivating. Emma Goldman-Sherman masterfully explores young queer identity and gender roles in a fantastical way while grounding the play in realistic explorations of self-esteem and self-harm. Throughout the play is a core theme of how we see ourselves in relation to being seen by the world, and learning to love those parts in ourselves that remain undiscovered.

  • Nick Malakhow: Perfect Women

    This funny, highly theatrical piece combines adventure, satire, farce, the absurd, and queer coming-of-age in a chaotically cohesive aesthetic whole! Emma Goldman-Sherman examines the ways the patriarchy attempts to shape and control women and femme identifying folks using classical allusion and pop culture in a savvy and subversive manner. The exploration of the roots of violence against and hatred towards women and towards the self for women is comprehensive and engaging for teen and adult audiences alike; I loved how this piece managed to capture the gravity of these issues while leaving us...

    This funny, highly theatrical piece combines adventure, satire, farce, the absurd, and queer coming-of-age in a chaotically cohesive aesthetic whole! Emma Goldman-Sherman examines the ways the patriarchy attempts to shape and control women and femme identifying folks using classical allusion and pop culture in a savvy and subversive manner. The exploration of the roots of violence against and hatred towards women and towards the self for women is comprehensive and engaging for teen and adult audiences alike; I loved how this piece managed to capture the gravity of these issues while leaving us with hope and humor.

View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

There are other roles including a chorus of kids, 2 guards at the museum, and various others who can be doubled to make for a cast of 6 or a cast as large as you want. But the doubling listed in the character list is for dramaturgical purposes - those roles can't be split up. ALSO the play could be done by an all male or GNC or whatever kind of cast in drag or not - it's super-flex!
  • ROSIE
    Character Age
    12
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Questioning
  • KATIE/MONA
    Character Age
    12 and timeless
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • BARBIE
    BARBIE is BARBIE - the doll.
    Character Age
    19
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • RICK/PYGMALION/THIEF
    RICK is the boy who likes ROSIE. PYGMALION is a sculptor. THIEF is Rosie's invention.
    Character Age
    12 and timeless
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • STATUE/ROX
    STATUE is carved onstage by PYGMALION (to be female) but when ZHE frees herself from the stone (with the master's tools) ZHE is able to rename herself and ZHE becomes ROX, a stone butch gender-non-conforming person. Loves BARBIE. Tough. Wears leather, drives a Harley.
    Character Age
    Timeless
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    gender non-conforming
  • DA VINCI
    DA VINCI as in Leonardo with a funny Italian Accent!
    Character Age
    Timeless
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Any
  • JO-ELLEN
    Character Age
    ANY
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization ATHE, honored, in the student division, with the Jane Chambers Award, Chicago, IL, Year 1997
  • Type Workshop, Organization WordBridge, Cathy Sawyer directed, Year 1996
  • Type Workshop, Organization University of Iowa, Theatre B, directed by Christine Young, dramaturg Keisha Ector Kogan, Year 1995
  • Type Reading, Organization New Dramatists class with Fiona Templeton, Year 1995
  • Type Residency, Organization The Millay Art Colony, Year 1995
  • Type Residency, Organization Ragdale Foundation, Year 1995

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Theatre Conspiracy at DCAC in Washington D.C., Year 1999
  • Type Professional, Organization All Out Arts, Inc. at Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, NYC, Year 1998
  • Type University, Organization Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL, directed Cathy Sanderlin, Year 1997
  • Type Workshop, Organization Greenbriar Valley Theatre, West Virginia directed by Devon McCann Preston, Year 1997

Awards

  • Jane Chambers
    ATHE, student division
    Winner
    1997