Girls Who Direct

Inspiring teen girls to be tomorrow’s leaders through the power of performing arts

An initiative of AhHa!Broadway · Launching 2027 in New York City

GIRLS WHO DIRECT Pitch Deck 11-26 Download

The gap starts early

Far too many girls in underserved communities are denied access to role models, mentorship, and real-world leadership and creative opportunities that can unlock their full potential.

Only 1 in 3 theatre and film/TV productions is directed by a woman.
Only 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women.
Fewer than 30% of C-suite leadership roles are held by women.
Only 1 to 3% of U.S. venture capital funding goes to women.
Fewer than 30% of U.S. schools offer meaningful theatre-related education.

Why it matters

The performing arts are a powerful training ground for leadership. They teach courage, empathy, adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving, the skills that shape successful leaders in any field.

Empower a girl with vision, confidence, collaboration, and communication, and you shape a leader, not just for the stage, but for the world.

Our mission

To empower diverse teen girls with the leadership, communication, and creative vision skills that will inspire them to become tomorrow’s storytellers, innovators, and executives, through the transformative power of, and natural attraction to, the performing arts.

The program: a 10-week academy workshop

Girls Who Direct is a free, comprehensive, in-person, academy-style weekend workshop led by women leaders in performing arts and business. It culminates in a live performance directed by each participant.

New York City pilot, 2027 · 20 participants · Ages 12-17 · Free for selected girls
(3 NYC pilots planned)

Who is selected? Schools nominate girls who demonstrate:

Leadership potential
Creative ambition
Socioeconomic need or limited access
Diversity of background and experience

How it works. Participants will:

Learn from a robust team of female theatre directors and business leaders
Receive hands-on mentorship and creative coaching
Actually direct a scene performed by their peers
Build community, confidence, and leadership presence
Present their work in a final live showcase performance

Ten core skills, connected to real-world leadership

Each skill connects theatre craft to real-world leadership.

Creative Vision: Knowing the story you want to tell and how to convey it.
Leadership: Motivating and inspiring a cast and crew.
Communication: Articulating your vision and giving clear direction.
Problem-Solving: Finding creative solutions when challenges arise.
Organization and Project Management: Planning carefully so everything is ready by opening night.
Technical Knowledge: Understanding lighting, sound, costume, and set design well enough to work with specialists.
Storytelling and Interpretation: Shaping pacing, character, and emotional beats into a compelling narrative.
Adaptability and Flexibility: Staying open to change and new ideas.
Teamwork and Delegation: Working with and empowering others.
Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Understanding the people you lead.

The experience

Every participant will:

Direct a live scene and present to an audience
Gain professional mentorship and portfolio-worthy experience
Earn a certificate of achievement
Join a growing network of empowered young women

Continuing the cycle of leadership: Two standout participants will be invited to return as mentors in future cohorts.

Broader impact

Creates early pathways to leadership for underrepresented girls
Provides access to professional networks and female role models
Bridges arts and business leadership education
Builds confidence, collaboration, and career readiness

Achievable. Scalable. Sustainable.

Our city-by-city expansion model needs just one committed local champion, whether a business, philanthropist, grantor, foundation, or entrepreneur who shares the vision, plus ten women leaders, five from business and five from performing arts. Each new city builds on the last, making nationwide growth achievable, scalable, and sustainable.

The trajectory

Phase 1: New York City pilot (Q1 2027)
Phase 2: 3 more pilot cities (Q2 2027)
Phase 3: Expansion to 12 more U.S. cities (Q3-Q4 2027)
Phase 4: Expansion to 35 more U.S. cities (2027-2028)
Phase 5: A national network of Girls Who Direct alumni and mentors (2028-2029)

The goal at full scale: 50 U.S. cities and 1,000 future women leaders in business and media in two years, reaching hundreds of schools and communities, with one proven, replicable model.

The result is an ecosystem where girls lead on stage and screen, in boardrooms, and beyond.

How you can help

$30,000 launches and implements a full NYC pilot, which becomes the model for expansion. Each additional city pilot is also $30,000. Full expansion to 50 cities is a $1.7M investment.

How we allocate funds:

Instructor and mentor compensation
Space rental, production costs, operations, and administration
Materials, costumes, and technical needs
Marketing, program awareness, and outreach to schools
Participant transportation, food, and water
Showcase event production

Nominate. Support. Believe.

About AhHa!Broadway

AhHa!Broadway is a women-led, New York City-based creative education 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has bridged performing arts and personal growth for more than six years. Our team of experienced artists and educators, music and theatre professionals, and business mentors is dedicated to enabling access to performing arts education and inspiring future leaders through the arts.

We’ve built a broad network of high-level professionals who serve as mentors, and partnerships with organizations such as Queens Center for Progress and several New York government offices and schools. Our successful initiatives include 1,000 Kids, The Kindness Project, and an annual summer musical theatre camp.

Help us launch the first generation of Girls Who Direct

Together, we can change the story, and who gets to tell it.

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