"Julia Jordan's Mission: Achieving Gender Parity in Theater"

Julia Jordan, co-founder of the Lilly Awards, has stepped down as executive director to focus on her own playwriting career after years of advocating for gender parity in theater. She started the Lillys in 2010 to honor women in theater and has since expanded its initiatives to include tracking theatrical production statistics by gender and race, an artist residency program with child care, and the Lorraine Hansberry Initiative. With gender parity for playwrights achieved, Jordan is now working on her own projects, including a family drama and a musical with British singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé.