Lysistrata Director | Co-adaptor | Choreographer

With Pembroke Player's version of Lysistrata, we didn’t want to simply revive an ancient play—we wanted to reclaim it. This production is a reimagining, not just in setting but in intention. Set in the 1960s, during the height of the Vietnam War, our version draws a direct line from ancient Athens to an era of civil unrest and rising voices—especially women’s voices—that demanded to be heard. As we find ourselves once again in a time of social upheaval and urgent calls for change, this play feels more relevant than ever.

This adaptation of the script was developed in collaboration and written by Meagan Mulgrew, whose shared vision helped shape a version of Lysistrata that speaks directly to modern audiences while honoring the original’s wit and urgency. Together, we aimed to create a story by women and about women with community at its core.

This story is ultimately about power. Who holds it? What does it look like? And what happens when women come together to use their voices, influence and their bodies to make change happen? Leadership and strength can take many forms. It’s not always loud or forceful—sometimes it’s quiet, collective, strategic. And the communities around us help one another discover the strength we may not yet see in ourselves. When that individual power is realized and brought together, it creates a community that cannot be stopped.

I'm so incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for all of the people who have helped me discover my strengths and potential throughout this journey. Our hope is that audiences leave reflecting on the strength we hold as individuals—and the even greater strength we find in each other.

“What power we have, we must use it.”

— Madalene Steichen