Expand the Canon amplifies and advocates for the voices of women and gender-expansive writers whose works have always belonged in the classic theatrical canon. To create a legacy of inclusive storytelling, we seek out and curate excellent underrepresented work in order to reflect a more complete, representative, and accurate history. We empower artists and work alongside partnering theaters, advocacy groups, and educational institutions to bring these plays to the stage and into curricula.

Working in conversation with academics, literary managers, dramaturgs, estates, translators, and librarians, we search the stacks—both the physical and digital—for classic plays by women and gender expansive writers. Their research team maintains an ever-growing database of 9000+ titles, stretching as far back as the 10th century, and from every continent except Antarctica (but we’re still holding out hope).

Their reading committee reads several hundred of these plays each year, scoring based on quality of language, relevance, strength of plot and characters, producibility, and if they themselves would be excited to celebrate the play as a classic. 

From there, their curators select a number of plays to add to the public list, and to share widely with theatermakers, educators, and readers. Their goal is to ensure more of these titles are known, translated, produced, and celebrated—now and into the future.

Many of the plays and playwrights on the official ETC List were appreciated in their time, but have since been excluded from the classic canon. By demanding space for these works alongside Shakespeare, Pinter, Chekhov, and Ibsen, we create a culture that celebrates the contributions of women and gender-expansive writers throughout history. Elevating these plays sends a clear message: diverse voices in theatrical storytelling have always existed—and these works are every bit as worthy of production, reverence, and study as the classics we already know and love. 

Arts Programming & Community Building:Through Literary Salons and readings, ETC offers a space for folks passionate about the ETC mission and  theater classics to connect and share their interests, as well as an opportunity to experience the work of contemporary artists. Additionally, ETC partners with theater companies across the country to facilitate the production of ETC Selected Plays, to bring these classics to the stage, once again. 

Education- Expand The Canon, as an advocacy organization, provides educational resources regarding the playwrights and plays on the ETC list, as well as ways to expand the canon in your community. The ETC podcast, newsletter, and Official List curate works by women and gender expansive writers going back centuries, and offers a path for artists and theater lovers to incorporate these works into their artistic practices, classrooms, personal libraries and beyond.