When Jennifer Warwick and Janet Stambolian started Girls Nite Out Productions 16 years ago, the community theater company aimed its work at the people who make up the majority of theatergoers: women. Because of the company’s emphasis on plays written and directed by, and with major roles for, women, Stambolian said, “our audience always knew they were going to see themselves onstage.”
Last week, the cofounders announced they were closing the curtain on Girls Nite Out after many popular productions and a steady venue at the Black Box at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center in Burlington, and with money in the bank. “I’m very sad about it,” Warwick said. “It’s the end of an era, and we had a niche.”
“We had 15 great years,” Stambolian said, “but our set designer wanted to retire. Our volunteers were looking to do other things.” Warwick added that it was growing harder to find good material.
Warwick will stay busy serving on the board of Lyric Theatre. She produced the South Burlington company’s most recent show, Disney’s Frozen, at the Flynn last weekend.
During a joint interview, Stambolian said she’s not sure what’s next, which prompted a gentle tease from Warwick: “You always want to be onstage.” Stambolian admitted that she’ll be on the lookout for play auditions.
Warwick, 58, and Stambolian, 77, are both actors who had crossed paths but not worked together before founding Girls Nite Out. In 2011, when they were discussing roles they’d like to play someday, Warwick nominated Steel Magnolias. As they jumped in and produced the play, whose cast is all women, they decided to create a theater company anchored by strong women’s roles.
The audience and actors of Shelburne Players overlap with those involved with Girls Nite Out. According to Su Reid-St. John, a director and actor at Shelburne Players and its current board president, the companies “share an enthusiasm for creating opportunities for community theater.”
There’s nothing competitive about it. “I loved that they seemed dedicated to providing really meaty roles for women, which can be difficult to find,” Reid-St. John said, noting that Girls Nite Out nurtured area talent, including producing several plays by local playwright Carole Vasta Folley.
Focusing on women didn’t limit participation or show choices. “The magic was that everyone felt welcome,” Stambolian said. “Girls Nite Out always needed a few good men,” Warwick added.
That inclusive atmosphere drew a loyal following. “I think all the shows I’ve been to there were sold out,” Reid-St. John said. “And the audience was always appreciative.”
Comedies were king at Girls Nite Out. Stambolian loves physical comedy. “Hearing people laugh, usually at my expense, has been an elixir for my soul,” she said. Warwick looked for ways to mix it up with occasional musical revues.
In 2013, the company staged Nora Ephron’s Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Warwick turned the show into a fashion event, tying it in with Fashion Week, displaying couture gowns in the lobby, partnering with Dress for Success and staging a fashion show with local models.
“We went all over town borrowing and buying mannequins,” she recalled. “It was an event and our turning point.”
Reid-St. John sees Girls Nite Out’s absence as a loss. “There are so many talented actors in the area that having a lot of opportunities for them is a beautiful thing.” She noted that the value of community theater is giving people a chance to step out of their regular lives and collaborate. “The more, the better.”
Warwick and Stambolian are planning a celebratory fundraiser for October. Featuring video highlights from past productions and live musical performances, it will also recognize artists, supporters and community members who helped shape and sustain Girls Nite Out. Proceeds will fund a new bequest for Lyric Theatre to support access to Lyric shows for people who otherwise couldn’t afford theater tickets.
“That GNO is still thinking about how they can contribute to the community speaks volumes about them,” Reid-St. John said.
“Theater is so important,” Warwick said, “and if our legacy can be to keep it going — that’s worth everything.” ➆
Related
This article appears in April 15 • 2026.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
