This summer, women are taking center stage at Shakespeare Dallas with two plays, The Merry Wives of Windsor and Alice in Wonderland, that focus on women’s curiosity, wit, and journey of self-discovery.

Women in the Spotlight

In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Falstaff attempts to seduce two women, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page, but they outsmart him and turn the tables. Alice in Wonderland features a young girl who falls down a rabbit hole and enters a world where she must navigate absurd authority figures and discover her own strength.

Both plays are directed by women, with Jenni Stewart directing The Merry Wives of Windsor and Natalie Young making her directorial debut with Alice in Wonderland. Stewart and Young discuss the joy of directing and the common themes between the two plays, including women navigating worlds that underestimate them and reclaiming agency through imagination and wit.

Directors’ Insights

Stewart and Young talk about their experiences as directors and the importance of collaboration and community in theater. They also discuss the ways in which the women in their respective plays are smart, resourceful, and determined to create their own paths in life.

The Merry Wives of Windsor runs from June 12 to July 19, and Alice in Wonderland runs from June 19 to July 17 at the Samuell-Grand Amphitheater in Dallas.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.