Hampton Theatre Company Launches Women in Theatre Initiative With Larissa FastHorse’s "The Thanksgiving Play"

The Hampton Theatre Company is opening its 2025–26 season with more than just a play — it’s launching a bold new initiative to elevate women’s voices on stage. Thanks to a grant from a private charitable foundation, the company has introduced the Jane Stanton “Celebrating Women in Theatre Project,” a three-season commitment to producing works written and directed by women.

“This initiative is about more than programming — it’s about equity and opportunity,” said HTC President Rosemary Cline. “We’re excited to bring audiences dynamic work from female playwrights and directors whose voices need to be heard.”

The project begins October 16 to November 2 at the Quogue Community Hall with Larissa FastHorse’s sharp-witted satire “The Thanksgiving Play,” directed by Mary Powers. The comedy follows a group of well-meaning educators attempting to stage an inclusive Thanksgiving pageant, only to unravel in spectacularly misguided ways.

FastHorse, a citizen of the Sicangu Lakota Nation, made history as the first female Indigenous playwright to be produced on Broadway with this play. National critics have hailed it as both hilarious and insightful, with The New York Times calling it “an uproarious comedy that also serves as a much-needed critique of American holiday traditions.”

For Hampton Theatre Company, opening the season with “The Thanksgiving Play” is intentional. While the company has produced plays by women in the past, the last three seasons have not included a female playwright — a gap reflected across the East End, where only one out of 11 productions in 2024 was written by a woman.

Performances run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., with an additional Saturday matinee on November 1. Two post-show talkbacks — scheduled for October 24 and 31 — will feature the director, cast, and guest panelists in conversation about the play’s themes and the role of women in contemporary theater.

With “The Thanksgiving Play,” Hampton Theatre Company is not only opening its season with laughter and cultural critique, but also signaling a long-term commitment to representation and opportunity on stage.

Tickets are $40 for adults, $36 for seniors, $25 for students, and $30 for veterans and Native Americans, available at hamptontheatre.org, or by calling 631-653-8955.