Theater collective receives $12,000 grant for new production

LEAVENWORTH — Dangerous Women, a women's history and arts collaborative based in Leavenworth, has secured a $12,000 matching grant from Icicle Fund to support the development of an original theater production.

The two-year funding, awarded on March 24, will allow the collective to create a new show exploring humanity's relationship with the natural world, scheduled to premiere in 2026.

"Two year funding gives us security to work behind the scenes this year to create. We will debut a new show in 2026," said Rhona Baron, Dangerous Women's Creative Director and Producer.

According to Baron, the production, tentatively titled "Force of Nature," will emphasize "pageantry and entertainment value" while featuring portrayals of women from the history of science, chronicles of natural history, and reflections on diverse belief systems regarding Earth stewardship.

"Our working title is Force of Nature, with an emphasis on pageantry and entertainment value. Once again, we are collaborating across cultures and art forms, along with welcoming new partners," Baron said.

The collective is receiving advisory support from Wenatchee River Salmon Fest, Chelan Douglas Land Trust, and Sustainable NCW on science and community perspectives.

A decision on additional funding from ArtsWA, a state agency that has supported Dangerous Women since 2018, remains pending. The state arts agency is currently withholding grant notifications for fiscal year 2026.

"We are in an unusual situation. We are withholding FY26 grant notifications until we receive clear instructions from state and federal funders on the status of our funding," said Ashley Marshall, Administrative Assistant for the Grants to Organizations program at ArtsWA.

Since 2016, Dangerous Women has staged four original productions at Snowy Owl Theater. Their most recent work, "Unsettled," ran for three seasons and featured Indigenous, Latina, Caucasian, and African American perspectives on the settling of North Central Washington.

Michelle Tiegel, Program Officer for Icicle Fund, expressed enthusiasm for the collective's future work, stating, "Icicle Fund is excited to see what Dangerous Women does next!"

The organization welcomes participation from interested women and men in Washington State and beyond. More information is available at dangerous-women.org.