Sssh! Do You Hear Her?

Whether on stage or sitting in front of a computer, whether oral or written, the female voice is powerful, insightful full of humor, wisdom, sorrow and joy. That is why during the month of November, LAWTF is recognizing both the performing artist and the aspiring author as we celebrate the voice of women.

Celebrating the oral...

LAWTF sends a big shout out to 2010 LAWTF Festival performer Ingez Rameau who is presenting her solo performance "BURN" at the United Solo Theatre Festival in New York. "BURN", a one-woman play, based on true events, is a searing portrait of a journey to personal freedom and transcendence; the coming-of-age of a little girl locked in a desperate struggle with her mother for sanity and love in post-WWII German Displaced Person's Camps. Living amidst the rubble of lost souls and perverted civility, "BURN" is a looking glass of shame, a beacon of love and courage - forcing our eyes to see, our hearts to feel and forgive.

Written and performed by Ingez Rameau, directed by Michael Phillip and produced by Ingez and LAWTF Board member Lynne Conner-Smith, "BURN" is going from Hollywood to Broadway, for one night only on November 10, 2011 at 9:00 p.m., in the United Solo Theatre Festival at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, New York City.

The 2nd Annual United Solo, the world's largest solo theatre festival, presents a lineup of seventy-seven local and international productions invited to perform at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in New York City between October 20 - November 20, 2011.

Visit www.ingezrameau.com for historical footage and press clippings documenting Ingez's journey.

 _____________________________________

Celebrating the written…

November is National Novel Writing Month (also known as NaNoWriMo) an annual internet-based creative writing project which challenges participants to write 50,000 words of a new novel between November 1 and November 30. Started in July 1999 with just 21 participants, the event now attracts over 200,000 people - writing a total of over 2.8 billion words. 

Participants must first register on the project's website (http://www.nanowrimo.org), where they can post profiles and information about their novels, including synopsis and excerpts. Word counts are validated on the site, with writers submitting a copy of their novel for automatic counting. Municipal leaders and regional forums help connect local writers with one another for holding writing events and to provide encouragement.

________________________________________

The Writer's Well Literary Retreat for Women is another opportunity for aspiring writers to let their voices spring forward and have their works critiqued in a week-long retreat with LAWTF Executive Director and Board President, Adilah Barnes. Located in Sharpsburg, Georgia, The Writers' Retreat offers a peaceful and scenic safe haven for female writers who want to activate their literary voices. Located on a sprawling southern property of 1.8 acres in Sharpsburg, this serene and private place provides the perfect natural setting for serious writers to create without distraction. Georgia pines, oaks and maple trees embrace the retreat, fashioning a woodsy serene environment for writers to walk, breathe and write.

The Writer’s Well is part of the Writer’s Retreat network at www.writersretreat.com. It is the largest and most influential network of residential retreats in the Western world, specializing in helping writing mentors and retreat operators implement, promote, and support residential retreats for writers - regardless of the literary genre in which they work. Thus, poets, novelists, science fiction writers, essayists, journalists, book reviewers, short story writers and "self-helpers," are equally welcomed at the residential retreats.

"The Writer's Well is very close to my heart. Writing is my first love. I feel strongly about offering a space for writers to hone their craft and move their literary projects further. The Writer's Well allows that. I get the satisfaction of knowing I provide a space that allows writers’ works to be developed. I enjoy goal-setting with my writers for their stay when they first arrive. I also provide a critique of 15 pages of their sample writings so that they are able to gain valuable feedback on where their writing is and they may aspire to.”

Adilah Barnes

__________________________________________________________________________

The Writer's Well Literary Retreat for Women in Sharpsburg, GA is accepting entries from women writers for its Third Annual Literary Contest, WRITING FROM THE WELL. Writers may submit a two page double-spaced writing sample that can be from the genres of memoir, autobiography, short stories, novels, or poetry.

Submissions must include a cover letter, writing resume (if available), and a list of three references. The winner of this literary contest will win a one week stay at The Writer's Well during 2012. Please visit the Writer's Retreat at www.writersretreat.com (Georgia location) for more details on this very serene, woodsy and beautiful property. 

Submissions must be received by December 31, 2011 at

The Writer's Well

c/o Adilah Barnes

P.O. Box 363

Sharpsburg, GA 30277

For more information, call (770) 254-9888. 

Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival Joined the Bookworms at the West Hollywood Book Fair

On Sunday, October 2^nd, the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival joined the bookworms at the West Hollywood Book Fair.  The West Hollywood Book Fair, which took place at the West Hollywood Park and brand new West Hollywood Library, hosted over 300 authors and artists, 12 stages, 125 exhibitors and 25,000 guests!  It was a gorgeous day, and a beautiful location, right across from the Pacific Design Center.

LAWTF was located at Booth B4, right behind a huge mural by street artist Kenny Scharf (see photo). Volunteers and staff held down the LAWTF booth from 10am-6pm where we were able to inform passersby about the Festival and how to become involved. A huge thanks to our board members: Lynne Conner and Kate Purnell and volunteers:  Renee Balboa and all her fraternity members at Cal State Los Angeles and Tanya White!  Other theatre organizations that were represented at the Book Fair included the Pasadena Playhouse and the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights. 

LAWTF was thrilled to return to the West Hollywood Book Fair! This year, for the first time, we performed indoors at the brand new West Hollywood Library and presented Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival: On the Road! It was an afternoon of performances brought-to-life by past Festival artists. 

Barbara Cole

Bonnie Weiss

Performers included; Barbara Cole, Lindsay Halladay, Juliette Marshall, and Bonnie Weiss.  Barbara Cole performed an excerpt from Surviving Chrysalis, a hilarious one-woman-show, which explores key turning points in a woman’s life – from becoming a new mom to losing a soul mate. Lindsay Halladay, AKA The Lindz, an engaging and electric performance poet, performed selections from her show, WASP.   Juliette Marshall, joined by Mitch Kaplan and Denise Fraser, a captivating cabaret artist, performed a new an excerpt from her fast-paced cabaret style musical/comedy, Shift Happens.  And Bonnie Weiss, the vibrant 76-year-old modern dancer, performed Great Rock of Inner Seeking, a piece that was inspired by sculptor Isamu Noguchi.

LAWTF looks forward to returning the West Hollywood Book Fair next year!

Juliette Marshall

Lindsay Halladay

For more information on the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival or to become a volunteer please visit www.lawtf.com or call 818-760-0408!

Mixing It Up With LAWTF!

The LOS ANGELES WOMEN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL hosted its first SUMMER MEMBERSHIP MIXER on August 16th, 2011 at the ECLECTIC COMPANY THEATRE. It was a night filled with mingling and networking, fabulous performances by past Festival performers, and a cornucopia of raffle prizes, ranging from tickets to several shows at the Eclectic Company Theatre to a week stay at Adilah Barnes’ WRITER’S WELL, a literary retreat for women in Sharpsburg, GA.

The event was hosted by the amazing Florence LaRue, who gave a quick overview of the Festival and its programming, including its workshops and year-round events. Following her introduction, Niki Blumberg, LAWTF’s Membership Coordinator, gave an presentation on the benefits of an LAWTF membership and a further overview of the Festival. Ms. LaRue then introduced our four performers for the night.

Kicking off the night with 74-year old Bonnie Weiss with her dance piece, Great Rock of Inner Seeking, set to poetry and music. Karen A. Clark followed with her song, Passing Through My Ghetto, which she started off by explaining the inspiration to her song. In her piece about midlife, Surviving Chrysalis, Barbara Cole told a story about her forbidden interest in a Trader Joe’s cashier. Finishing up the night, Juliette Marshall performed the newest part of her cabaret show Shift Happens, in which her online dating adventures don’t end up like she expected.

One benefit of attending the Summer Membership Mixer was the exclusive two-for-one membership offer. Several of our audience members took full advantage of this opportunity and did their part to support the Festival. The night was an overall success!

We would like to thank the Eclectic Company Theatre and Niki Blumberg for allowing us to use their intimate space for our event and for providing us with raffle prizes, Sarah Zitin for offering one-hour massage raffle prize, and Adilah Barnes for offering a one-week stay at the Writer’s Well as another prize. Thank you to Ms. Florence LaRue who hosted the Mixer.

The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival needs you! If you would like to become part of the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, please visit the Support Us page on this blog, or on our website (www.lawtf.com) to find out about our different membership levels and other ways you can support the Festival. If you mention that you are one of our readers, you can also get a two-for-one membership! Call us at 818-760-0408 or email us at lawtfspotlight@yahoo.com to become a member!

Gustavo Garcia
Administrative Intern to the Executive Producer

LAWTF Needs You!

Are you a fan of the Festival? Would you like to support the Festival? Become a Member!

We will be hosting a Summer Membership Mixer on August 16th, 2011 from 7-9pm at the Eclectic Company Theatre, 5312 Laurel Canyon Theatre, North Hollywood, CA 91607.

Join us for performances by past Festival performers:

actor Barbara Cole (Surviving Chrysalis)
cabaret artist Juliette Marshall (Shift Happens)
and dancer Bonnie Weiss (Great Rock of Inner Seeking)

We will be offering a 2-for-1 deal on all membership levels, so make sure to come and get a great deal!

Becoming a member of the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival not only benefits the Festival, but it comes with special member benefits. These include:

Corporate Sponsorship
Levels available upon request.

Producers’ Circle ($1,000)
(2) VIP tickets to Champagne GALA
(2) Festival Passes to all events
Full page Business Ad in Program
Admission to additional Annual Events
Acknowledgement in LAWTF newsletter
Listing in Festival program
Attendance at VIP Membership Mixers

Directors’ Circle ($500)
(4) VIP tickets to GALA
(2) Festival Passes to all events
Acknowledgement in LAWTF newsletter
Listing in Festival Program
Attendance at VIP Membership Mixers

Playwright’s Circle ($250)
(2) Festival Passes to Annual Festival
Acknowledgement in LAWTF newsletter
Listing in Festival Program
Attendance at VIP Membership Mixers

Cast & Crew ($100)
(4) tickets to Festival performances
Acknowledgement in LAWTF newsletter
Listing in Festival Program
Attendance at VIP Membership Mixers

Circle of Contributors ($50)
Acknowledgement in LAWTF newsletter
Listing in Festival Program
Attendance at VIP Membership Mixers

If you would like to become a member but cannot come to the Membership Mixer, please contact the LAWTF office at (818) 760-0408 or email us at lawtfspotlight@yahoo.com.

See you on August 16th!

SAVE THE DATE! LAWTF is participating in the West Hollywood Book Fair, Oct. 2nd, 2011!

Join the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival as we take part in the West Hollywood Book Fair! We will be exhibiting performers from our past festivals, as well as offering free workshops.

Stay tuned for LAWTF's performer line-up!

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011, 10am-6pm
West Hollywood Library and Park
647 N. San Vicente Blvd.

West Hollywood, CA 90069

Admission is FREE!

For more information on the West Hollywood Book Fair, visit www.westhollywoodbookfair.org

TAKING PRIDE Weekend Events A Great Success!

The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival (LAWTF) strives to provide a voice to those who have been silenced, not only on the basis of gender and race, but on the basis of sexuality as well.

Last weekend, LAWTF hosted TAKING PRIDE!, a two-day event celebrating PRIDE Month in the City of West Hollywood. The first event took place on Friday, June 24th at Plummer Park. Instructor Terrie Silverman’s IDENTITY AS AN ACT OF COURAGE writing workshop attracted 23 participants from all walks of life, including some of her former students, a former LAWTF performer, former Board member, and our technical director - all there to write!

The theme of the workshop was home and how it shapes the identity of all of us. Through several writing exercises, participants gave voice to their many personal stories. All were given the opportunity to share their memories, and most did.  Inspired by the end of the workshop, some said they were going to continue to expand on the material they came up with within the workshop.

Workshop participants discuss their writing exercises with one another.
Photo Credit: Niki Blumberg

Many of them expressed that they had never had an environment in which they could think about their identities in this context and appreciated the opportunity. One of the participants in particular stated that it was a type of therapy for him and it was the first time he was able to analyze and write about having served in Vietnam, though he had addressed that life-altering experience in therapy.

Hosts R. Sky Palkowitz and Terrie Silverman
 

On Saturday, June 25th at Kings Road Park, we presented performances by past performers that dealt with the concepts of pride and identity, hosted by R. Sky Palkowitz and Terrie Silverman. The performers included Laura James, Teresa Willis, Cece Antoinette, and Lindsay Halladay.

Laura James (Ms. Furr and Ms. Skeene) | Photo Credit: Joanne Tolner

Laura James’ use of Gertrude Stein's language (a la Dr. Seuss's repetition) and the manipulation of that picture frame in MS. FURR AND MS. SKEENE were amazing. The performance explored the relationship of a lesbian couple in a less tolerant time in history.

Teresa Willis (Eenie Meanie) | Photo Credit: Joanne Tolner

Teresa Willis’ truth-based excerpt from her theatre piece EENIE MEANIE made the audience look at bigotry, love and homophobia was sobering, moving and courageous all at once.

Cece Antoinette (Watermelon: Get It While It's Hot!!!) | Photo Credit: Joanne Tolner

Cece Antoinette, in an excerpt of her show "WATERMELON: GET IT WHILE IT'S HOT!!!" played "Jody, the backdoor man." Her performance was funny and engaging as she used the audience as a part of her show.

Lindsay Halladay | Photo Credit: Joanne Tolner

And last of our performers, but certainly not least, Lindsay Halladay shared her heartfelt socially-conscious poetry that made us all think and that resonated in our souls once again.

TAKING PRIDE could have not have been made possible without a grant from the City of West Hollywood. We thank them for everything they did for us to make these events happen! They were a great success!

Below are quotes from some of our audience members and performers:

“Happy to help and be a part of this.  Was so moved by the performances.  So much talent.” - Joanne Tolner, photographer.

“It was an awesome afternoon of "identity" and pride. Lifetime moments of love and planning crystallized before a lush green waterfall.” - Cece Antoinette, performer

“What a writing/life experience I had today. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you again!” - Jo’ Sei Ikeda, writing workshop participant

"I wish more people from the City… would have been there to witness such fine performances.  Those of us who were in attendance left overjoyed." - Prentis Bonds, City of West Hollywood

“Congrats on an amazing afternoon of theatre, community, and fierce voices.” - Terrie Silverman, writing workshop instructor and host.

Without doubt, LAWTF's two-day offerings touched and transported those who were a part of us!

Welcome to the Launch of Our New Blog: Festival 2011, Upcoming "Taking Pride" Events, and Volunteer Opportunities!

“Had William Shakespeare experienced the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, the Bard might have amended that line in Hamlet to be: ‘Creativity, thy name is woman.’ ” ----Ed Rampell, Hollywood Progressive

On the evening of March 24th of this year, 2011, the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival celebrated its 18th year as the oldest annual solo festival for women in Los Angeles with a Champagne GALA and Awards Ceremony at the Electric Lodge in Venice, California.  Awards were accepted by four exceptional women: Suzanna Guzman (Maverick Award), Velina Hasu Houston (Rainbow Award), Charmaine Jefferson (Integrity Award) and Joan Benedict Steiger (Eternity Award) for their outstanding contributions in theatre, along with touching performances by that evening’s hosts, honorary Co-Chairs, Florence LaRue (The 5th Dimension) and Hattie Winston (Becker).  The Festival continued through Sunday, March 27th playing to sold out crowds both at the Electric Lodge and the Ivy Substation in Culver City, home of The Actors Gang.

Karen A. Clark (Determined) | Photo Credit: R. Sky Palkowitz

Co-founder and Executive Producer of the Los Angeles Women’s Festival (LAWTF), Adilah Barnes, was happy and proud to announce that “this year’s Festival was in many ways our most successful year to date. I said that last year but we surpassed that milestone this year! We packed six out of seven of our programs which is no small feat in this economy. Many of the audience members returned to more than one program to enjoy a new set of talented artists on stage sharing their extraordinary journey.”

Performers this year represented a wide range of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds telling moving, funny and sometimes shocking stories of courage, identity, survival and empowerment.  Solo performer and New Yorker, Monica Hunken, arrived on a bicycle to share her story of how a random catering job at a royal wedding party turned into an opportunity to explore the Arab world in Blondie of Arabia.  British-based actor Gael LeCornec brought audiences to their feet with her portrayal of the turbulent life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo in Frida Kahlo: Viva La Vida!

Monica Hunken (Blondie of Arabia) | Photo Credit: R. Sky Palkowitz

 Producer and comedian Lydia Nicole told a sober and funny story of a young woman’s life growing up in Spanish Harlem as the daughter of a prostitute and a pimp in Growing up Papi. “I loved how the evening was buzzing with excitement and how the audience was so committed to us.  The audience really fueled my work – they were a part of my performance.”

What began in 1993 as a passionate group of women solo artists with the mission of supporting each other has resulted in producing over 400 diverse solo artists of excellence from around the globe at the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival that takes place every year in March.  In keeping with our mission of utilizing theatre to educate, enlighten and empower, LAWTF has expanded outreach programming throughout the year to touch the lives of over 3000 youth in schools, involving senior citizens throughout Los Angeles county in our Wisdom Wednesdays writing workshops, bestowing over 50 theatre awards to women artists and crossing mediums to reach television audiences globally through our cable show.

Thanks to a generous grant made possible by the City of West Hollywood, LAWTF is pleased to join with the City of West Hollywood on Friday, June 24th from 2pm-4pm at Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, for “Identity as an Act of Courage” a writing workshop facilitated by writer/performer Terrie Silverman. “Whether you’re native or a transplant, this workshop will explore home and how it has changed or impacted your identity.” 

The festivities continue on Saturday, June 25th for Taking Pride! At Kings Road Park; 1000 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood from 4pm-6pm for performances by LAWTF artists: Laura James, Ingrid Graham, Teresa Willis, and Lindsay Halladay AKA “The Lindz”.  Taking Pride! will be hosted by LAWTF Board of Directors member and avant-garde multimedia performance artist, R. Sky Palkowitz. For more information on these events and LAWTF, please go to our webpage at www.lawtf.com

Both of the above upcoming events are FREE to the public and all are welcome!

As we continue on this magical and rewarding journey, we look forward to hearing from each of you. We welcome knowing what resonates for you in our upcoming posts at www.lawtf-blog.blogspot.com as we share upcoming events with you and introduce you to the artists, staff, interns and volunteers that comprise the LAWTF family. If you would like to join our family, please click here to volunteer.

Welcome to the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival!