Lyricist and writer Amanda Green was elected council president of the Dramatists Guild of America, becoming the first woman to lead the trade association in its 100-year history.
Green, who wrote the lyrics and co-composed “Hands On A Hardbody” and updated the book and lyrics for the revival of “Kiss Me, Kate,” among other projects, succeeds outgoing president Doug Wright. She will serve with the newly elected Branden Jacobs-Jenkins as vice president, Kristoffer Diaz as secretary and Christine Toy Johnson as treasurer.
The Dramatists Guild of America is the national trade association of theater writers including playwrights, composers, lyricists and librettists. Green, who started in the role on March 18, will serve a two-year term.
Green and the new officers have set a goal of examining and alerting others to the systemic biases in the industry, as well as within the guild. This has been an ongoing objective within the guild. In October 2020, Tina Fallon, executive director for Creative Affairs, stepped down from her role to create an opening for a new BIPOC leader.
“As we endeavor to move forward from the challenges of the past year, both as an organization and as an essential part of the industry, we aim to refresh the ways in which we communicate member to member, within the Council, with staff and with the industry at large, so that we can best understand the work that lies ahead and tackle it in proactive and productive ways,” the officers wrote in a statement.
