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!