22nd Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival Set

MARCH 26-29, 2015

“SOLO, BUT NOT ALONE”

          The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival (LAWTF) marks 22 years of producing close to 500 extraordinary multicultural and multidisciplinary solo performers from around the globe.

          The longest-running annual solo festival for women in Los Angeles, LAWTF will return March 26-29, 2015 to the Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Avenue, Venice, CA 90291.

          The Champagne Gala and Awards Ceremony on March 26, 2015 will be held in honor of exceptional women who have made laudable contributions in theatre. Following the reception at 7:00 p.m., the festivities continue at 8:00 p.m. with the presentation of the Integrity, Eternity, Rainbow, Maverick and Infinity Awards to distinguished women. (The Honorees will be announced in a separate release.)

          The theme of the program on March 26 is “IN TRIBUTE TO PHENOMENAL WOMEN.”The evening will be hosted by Hattie Winston (Becker) and Ted Lange (The Love Boat). Entertainment for the evening of Thursday, March 26, 2015 will include:

          Ingrid Graham: “Pearls.” An excerpted solo dance accompanied by live music. This piece explores themes of truth, vulnerability and strength in relationships. Original music performed by Melissa Sharee.

          Jovelyn Richards: “Sweet Baby.” 1865. The end of the Civil War, in the aftermath of its devastation, and Maw Maw comes upon a door lying in a field that offers an answer to her question after a life of enslavement, “Free. What dat mean to me now?”

          Clarinda Ross: “From My Grandmother’s Grandmother Unto Me.”  This excerpted storytelling piece chronicles the joys and sorrows of five generations of Appalachian women.

Friday, March 27, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. Theme: “RISING ABOVE”

          Megan Dolan: “SNACK!” A humorous and sobering look at being a child of divorce that results in emotional eating, and the challenges of parenting your kids and yourself---simultaneously.

          Cheryl Rae : “RIDE:A Life With Tobacco." This is a non-linear poetic storytelling about Tobacco- the relief, the happiness and the hold.

          Sharrell D. Luckett: “Young, Gifted and Fat.”  Once 100 pounds heavier, Sharrell serves up interesting insights about her emotional struggle to adjust to life after her major weight loss.

Saturday, March 28,  2015 at 2:00 p.m. Theme: “MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS”

          Karen A. Clark: “The Women.” In this encore excerpt, through music, poetry and storytelling, Karen A. reflects on the women in her family, particularly her mother, who provided a “wow” factor.

          Rachae Thomas: “Pieces of Cara.” Through music and spoken word, a young biracial woman takes an amusing look at her unorthodox single parent mother in this storytelling piece.

          Anu Yadav: “Meena’s Dream.” This one-woman play excerpt takes an empowering look at a young girl who wrestles with her deepest fears, while still dreaming of a world where everyone, including her mother, can have enough.

          Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. Theme: “GLOBALLY SPEAKING”

          Davina Cole: “All the Colours.”  One woman’s turbulent journey from Africa to the U.K. explores family, civil war and upheaval.

          Stacie Chaiken: “What She Left.”  A young Jewish woman in wartime Warsaw with a fierce will to survive did what she had to do.

          Ingrid Griffith: “Demerara Gold.”  From the voice of a seven-year-old in Guyana, this young girl is left in the clutches of her grandmothers when her parents suddenly get visas to America and leave their children behind.

          Juliette Jeffers: “Pan Gyul.”  A Trinidadian girl in the 1950s who loves to play the steel pan drums deals with the fact that playing the drums was only meant exclusively for men at that time.

         

Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Theme: “MOVEMENTS, MATCHMAKERS AND MERMAIDS”

          Aizzah Fatima: “Dirty Paki Lingerie.”  Sex, religion and politics collide when Pakistani-American Muslim women air their dirty laundry.

          Kyla Garcia: “The Mermaid Who Learned How to Fly..” Part personal story and part fairy tale, this storytelling piece is a deep exploration of what happens when we allow romantic love to be the ground we stand on, rather than exploring our dreams instead.

          Maria G. Martinez: “For My Cause Your Spirit Will Speak.” A middle-aged Latina/Chicana/Mexicana woman reflects on her journey through the Chicana Movement of the 60s that includes her commitment to the struggle, sexism, and the honorable activism of raising a child.

          Katie Wong (dancer), Raissa Simpson (choreographer): “Study on a Butterfly.”  A metaphoric solo dance piece questions how we relate to the internal struggles of living with pain and depression, when our outward appearance projects contradictory images of health and well-being.

         

Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Theme: “DEFINING MOMENTS”

          Deborah Dutilh: “Into the Panther’s Cage.” This story chronicles how one woman’s dream state envisions what comes to pass.

          Stephanie Ann Johnson: “Every 21 Days: Cancer, Yoga and Me.” At once funny and poignant, a woman’s victorious health bout ultimately changes her life through personal remembrance, spirituality and yoga.

          Marsha Etell: “Big Butt Girls and Other Fantasies/The Remix.” Through music, dance and a sense of humor as healing elements, this woman gets through the unexpected by not taking herself and life so seriously.

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      The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival was founded by Executive Producer Adilah Barnes and Miriam Reed. The Festival is an annual event unique among American cultural institutions and should not be missed.

      Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival is a non-profit organization. This year’s annual organizational supporters include the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, City National Bank, Department of Cultural Affairs City of Los Angeles, City of Culver City, and Adilah Barnes Productions.

      Admission to the Gala is $50 or two tickets for $90 (includes light fare and Champagne). For the other programs, ticket prices this year include general admission single show tickets at $20 in advance, or $25 at the door. Students, seniors, and groups of ten or more, $18. Children 12 and under, $10.

      Reservations: (818) 760-0408. Online reservations will be available at http://www.lawtf.org . To join and follow LAWTF on Facebook and Twitter, click on their links at http://www.lawtf.corg