"FROM THE BEST OF THE FEST' Weekend Spotlight #3: February 21st - 23rd, 2014

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, February 21 - 23, 2014

Kim Coles: “Oh! But Wait, There’s More”

This zany and at times irreverent solo show chronicles the ebb and flow of Kim’s show biz career with titillating inside Hollywood anecdotes and personal stories from her amazing world.

Please Join Us!

WHO: Produced by Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival and the California Performing Arts Centre at Fremont Centre Theatre (FCT)

WHAT: “From the Best of the Fest.” A selection of the finest performances by female solo performing artists from the first 20 years of the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival (LAWTF)

WHERE: Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave. (at El Centro), South Pasadena, CA 91030. Ample free parking behind theatre.

WHEN: February 6 - February 23, 2014. Thurs.- Sat. at 8:00, Sun. at 3:00.

ADMISSION: $20 with advance reservation, $25 at the door. Students, seniors and groups of twelve or more, $15.

RESERVATIONS: (866) 811-4111 (toll-free).

ONLINE TICKETING: www.fremontcentretheatre.com

We Hope to See You There!

"FROM THE BEST OF THE FEST' Weekend Spotlight #2: February 13th - 16th, 2014

The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival

in association with

The Fremont Centre Theatre

is proud to present

“FROM THE BEST OF THE FEST”

SUPERLATIVE SOLO PERFORMANCES

February 6^th – 23^rd, 2014

As a kick-off to the 21st Annual Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival in March, the Fremont Centre Theatre will co-produce a dynamic roster of powerful encore solo performances by artists from years past. LAWTF would like to highlight our diverse line-up of benefit performers beginning with the second weekend below:

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Vanessa Adams-Harris: “Who Will Sing for Lena?”

  

This poignant theatre piece chronicles the true story of the first and only woman to be executed in the state of Georgia. 

Friday, February 4, 2014

Juliette Jeffers: “ChocolateMatch.com”

"ChocolateMatch.com" chronicles a woman's roller coaster journey  with men through online dating.

Amy Milano: “Dancing With Crazies”

  

"Dancing with Crazies" is a wild tale about one woman's search for love and a place to call home. Raised by a very unconventional family, often living in a van and being passed around to her relatives she finds the one thing that grounds her...dance. Her dancing takes her half way around the world where she meets a colorful cast of characters that help guide her on the journey. Comedian Amy Milano shares her heart and makes everyone laugh along the way.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Barbara Cole: “Surviving Chrysalis”

To help her deal with the very real mid-life crisis she is surprised to find  herself in, Barbara Cole conjures up three diverse and delightful characters for guidance. There is Joy, the liberated drummer who refuses to live a fearful life; Mildread, the judgmental and gritty sister-in-law who proves there is life after tremendous loss; and finally, there is the lovable neighbor Tiffany, with an odd mix of faith and infidelity, who shows us that dreams really can come true.

Kiha S. Lee: “The Red Ribbon”

 

Kiha S. Lee's performance of "The Red Ribbon" deals with the realities of human nature. It reflects a woman's experiences as a female, and as an Asian, living in a culturally-diverse society.

Karen A. Clark: “The Women”

"My mother provided the 'WOW! Factor' in my life. She was Laura Petrie and Dorothy Dandridge rolled into one. She was independent, fierce, sexy and smart. But as fun as she was, Ora Christine was a strict disciplinarian. I got into more trouble with my mother in 7th grade than any other time in my life! But the summer following was another one of our special family reunions, and the honored tradition of bread making day! Bread making at our family reunions healed all wounds and cleared up all misunderstandings! These women, my mother and her sisters were essential to our line. 'Bread's out!', the unifying cry."

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Chrystee Pharris: “In Search of O”

  

A play about waiting until marriage at 27 to have sex and the fantasy vs. reality of that experience. What do you do after age 30...after reading every book...asking all the experts...and you still have not found your “O”?!

Cece Antoinette: “Watermelon: Git It While Its Hot”

This coming of age and rites of passage journey looks at one women’s life growing up Black, female and spiritual in Dallas, Texas.

Please, Join us!

WHO: Produced by Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival and the California Performing Arts Centre at Fremont Centre Theatre (FCT)

WHAT: “From the Best of the Fest.” A selection of the finest performances by female solo performing artists from the first 20 years of the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival (LAWTF)

WHERE: Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave. (at El Centro), South Pasadena, CA 91030. Ample free parking behind theatre.

WHEN: February 6 - February 23, 2014. Thurs.- Sat. at 8:00, Sun. at 3:00.

ADMISSION: $20 with advance reservation, $25 at the door. Students, seniors and groups of twelve or more, $15.

RESERVATIONS: (866) 811-4111 (toll-free).

ONLINE TICKETING: www.fremontcentretheatre.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION: (818) 760-0408

We hope to see you there!

"FROM THE BEST OF THE FEST' Weekend Spotlight #1: February 6th - 9th, 2014

The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival

in association with

The Fremont Centre Theatre

is proud to present

“FROM THE BEST OF THE FEST”

SUPERLATIVE SOLO PERFORMANCES

February 6^th – 23^rd, 2014

As a kick-off to the 21st Annual Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival in March, the Fremont Centre Theatre will co-produce a dynamic roster of powerful encore solo performances by artists from years past. LAWTF would like to highlight our diverse line-up of benefit performers beginning with the first weekend below:

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Sariyah Idan: “Homeless in Homeland”

"Homeless in Homeland" is a solo show with a documentary hip-hop theatre aesthetic and is based on a trip Sariyah Idan took to Israel and Palestine. Combining poetry, dance, and character monologue, Idan conveys a young Jewish-American woman's struggle to understand her identity and the meaning of home through the lens of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Idan's portrayal of 17 vibrant, diverse Americans, Palestinians, and Israelis, uncovers a new Middle East of grief, daily struggle, and humor.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Brenda Adelman: “My Brooklyn Hamlet”

"My Brooklyn Hamlet" is based on Adelman's life growing up in Brooklyn with a Jewish 'wanna be Italian' father who taught her how to drive a Caddy at six and how to shoot a gun at ten. Her bohemian artist mother read Shakespeare to her as a bedtime story and took her traveling with her all over the world. This is Adelman's tour de force and true life story about love, family, murder, betrayal and the power of forgiveness.

Ingrid Graham: “The Passage”

"The Passage" is a dance performance that explores one woman's journey to self-acceptance through gratitude and meditation.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Ingrid Graham: “The Passage”

See Above.

Ada Luz Pla: “Tracing My Lineage: A Story of a Puerto Rican Spitfire”

Ada Luz Pla's autobiographical piece, "Tracing My Lineage: A Story of a Puerto Rican Spitfire" pays homage to the many women who raised her in Puerto Rico and later in the South Bronx projects, where 15 of her family members shared a small three-bedroom apartment. In the piece, Pla plays herself, her mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a Puerto Rican wise.

Paulina Sahagun: “Nahuatl- Now What?”

"Nahuatl-Now What?" explores the question "Where do I belong?" as Sahagun straddles two worlds through the crossed wires of a high-tech Aztec in gringolandia. From the Mercado in Guadalajara to bad hair days in L.A., there is only one question. Does she know how to make tortillas?

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Clarinda Ross: “Spit Like a Big Girl”

Inspired by the discovery of her father's journals after his untimely death, Clarinda Ross takes us on a humorous journey through the backroads of her Southern childhood. She's examines the colorful personalities of her college professor parents, and the many people she meets on her way to adulthood.

Ross' parents and grandparents give her an appreciation for the simple things in life. Most importantly, the play expresses how well her parents' lessons have served her as the mother of a disabled child. In "Spit Like a big Girl," Ross becomes a "big girl" a Southern Mama "big" enough to allow her own special daughter to leave home and become a "big girl" in her own right. 

Please, Join us!

WHO: Produced by Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival and the California Performing Arts Centre at Fremont Centre Theatre (FCT)

WHAT: “From the Best of the Fest.” A selection of the finest performances by female solo performing artists from the first 20 years of the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival (LAWTF)

WHERE: Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave. (at El Centro), South Pasadena, CA 91030. Ample free parking behind theatre.

WHEN: February 6 - February 23, 2014. Thurs.- Sat. at 8:00, Sun. at 3:00.

ADMISSION: $20 with advance reservation, $25 at the door. Students, seniors and groups of twelve or more, $15.

RESERVATIONS: (866) 811-4111 (toll-free).

ONLINE TICKETING: www.fremontcentretheatre.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION: (818) 760-0408

We hope to see you there!

"FROM THE BEST OF THE FEST"

The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival

in association with

The Fremont Centre Theatre

is proud to present

"FROM THE BEST OF THE FEST"

  

Kim Coles (Oh, But Wait, There's More!)

 Chrystee Pharris, (In Search of O) 

  Kiha S. Lee, (The Red Ribbon)

 Clarinda Ross, (Spit Like a Big Girl)

  

WHO: Produced by Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festivaland the California Performing Arts Centre at Fremont Centre Theatre (FCT) 

WHAT: "FROM THE BEST OF THE FEST" A selection of the finest performances by female solo performing artists from the first 20 years of the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival (LAWTF)

WHERE: Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave. (at El Centro), South Pasadena, CA 91030. Ample free parking behind theatre.

WHEN: February 6 - February 23, 2014. Thursdays - Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 3:00pm.

ADMISSION: $20 with advance reservation, $25 at the door. Students, seniors and groups of twelve or more, $15.

RESERVATIONS: (866) 811-4111 (toll-free).

ONLINE TICKETING: www.fremontcentretheatre.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 818-760-0408

            As a kick-off  to the 21st Annual Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival in March, the Fremont Centre Theatre will co-produce a diverse roster of powerful encore performances by artists from years past.

            For two decades now, the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival has presented outstanding female solo performing artists from around the world. At Fremont Centre Theatre for three weekends only, audiences old and new will have a chance to see some of the Festival's best performances.

Juliette Jeffers, ChocolateMatch.com

Here is a roster of the performances:

Weekend #1: February 6 - 9, 2014. Theme: "Resilience"

Thursday, February 6, 2014

SARIYAH IDAN ("Homeless in Homeland")

A young Jewish-American woman's struggle to understand her identity and the meaning of home through the lens of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Friday, February 7, 2014

BRENDA ADELMAN ("My Brooklyn Hamlet")

Brenda Adelman's tour de force personal story about what's possible when you forgive the unforgivable.

INGRID GRAHAM ("The Passage") (5-7)

This dance explores one woman's journey to self-acceptance through gratitude and meditation. 

Saturday, February 8, 2014

INGRID GRAHAM ("The Passage")

See above.

ADA LUZ PLA ("Tracing My Lineage: A Story of a Puerto Rican Spitfire") 

A proud Puerto Rican woman shares the colorful array of Latin women in her life in this excerpted storytelling piece.

PAULINA SAHAGUN ("Nahuatl-Now What?") 

From the Mercado in Guadalajara to bad hair days in LA, there is only one question: Does she know how to make tortillas?

Sunday, February 9, 2014

CLARINDA ROSS (Spit Like a Big Girl)

This piece looks back on what a daughter learned from her college professor parents during her coming of age South, as well as her experience being the mother of a special needs child.

Weekend #2: February 13 - 16, 2014. Theme: "Love, Identity and Giving Voice"

Thursday, February, 13, 2014

VANESSA ADAMS-HARRIS (Who Will Sing For Lena?)

This poignant theatre piece chronicles the true story of the first and only woman to be executed in the state of Georgia.

Friday, February 14, 2014 (VALENTINE'S DAY)

JULIETTE JEFFERS (ChocolateMatch.com)

A woman shares her roller coaster journey with men as she explores online dating.

AMY MILANO (Dancing With Crazies)

One woman's search for love and a place to call home.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

BARBARA COLE (Surviving Chrysalis)

One woman reconciles aging, motherhood, and career with her journey toward self-actualization.

KIHA S. LEE (The Red Ribbon)

The work deals with the realities of human nature. It reflects a woman's experiences as a female, as an Asian living in a culturally-diverse society.

KAREN A. CLARK (The Women) 

Karen A., through music, poetry and storytelling reflects on the women in her family, and particularly her mother who provided a "wow" factor.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

CHRYSTEE PHARRIS (In Search of O)

Storyteller Chrystee Pharris asks the question: What do you do at the age of 32 after reading every book, asking all the experts, and you still haven't found your O?"

CECE ANTOINETTE (Watermelon: Git It While Its Hot)

This coming of age and rites of passage journey looks at one woman's life growing up Black, female and spiritual in Dallas, Texas

Weekend #3: February 21 - 23, 2014. Theme: "Still Standing"

KIM COLES (Oh, But Wait, There's More!)

This zany and at times irreverent solo show chronicles the ebb and flow of Kim's show biz career with titillating inside Hollywood anecdotes and personal stories from her amazing world. (Ms. Coles is well-known as a TV star, with series regular roles on "Living Single," "In Living Color," "The Geena Davis Show," and much more.)

Special added FREE event: "Meet and Greet the Artists" on Saturday, February 1 at 3:00 p.m. Hear the inspirations behind their one-person shows. Meet them over coffee and cookies and ask them questions in this kick-off to the February events.

The 21st Annual Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival will take place at the Electric Lodge in Venice beginning March 27, 2014. For more information on the Festival, please call (818) 760-0408.

We hope to see you there!

  

Brenda Adelman, My Brooklyn Hamlet

Well Wishes This Holiday Season From LAWTF

The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival

would like to wish you and yours a very Happy Holidays! 

We would like to Thank You for the continued support of our non-profit arts organization and hope that you will continue to join us in 2014 for all of our exciting programming coming up in the new year. Please check in with us via updates on our website at www.lawtf.org for scheduling and announcements of all future LAWTF programs.

Best wishes for the Holidays and of course, wishing you magic and miracles for the New Year!

Onward & Upward,
The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival Team

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Adilah Barnes, President

Karen A. Clark, Secretary

Shyla La'Sha, Managing Producer

R Sky Palkowitz, Treasurer

Shanae Sharon, Festival Director

Elizabeth Wu, Screening Panel 

OFFICE STAFF

Alana Duvernay, Marketing and Development Consultant

Monica Moran, Office Manager

Support LAWTF While Shopping for the Holidays!

Did you know that you can support the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival while you shop at your local Ralph's or Food4Less?

    

LAWTF is a part of the Ralph's and Food4Less Community Contribution Program which was designed to "make your fundraising the easiest in town" by simply using your Ralph's rewards Card or by entering our phone number, 818-760-0408, at the register.

 

Please visit the Ralph's Community Contribution site to get more information and to register your Rewards Card.  

Grocery shopping is something we all do, and this way of contributing requires no monetary giving on your part.

So make sure to use these cards while shopping to receive your savings and help out LAWTF at the same time! 

Thank you for your continued support of the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival!

Happy Holidays! 

THE FIRST ANNUAL SOLO PERFORMER EMPOWERMENT DAY!

LAWTF’S FIRST ANNUAL EMPOWERMENT DAY A RESOUNDING SUCCESS!

On Saturday, November 16, 2013 the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival partnered with the Fremont Centre Theatre located at 1000 Fremont Place, South Pasadena, CA 91030 for this first annual event of workshops and panels geared toward solo artists and those wishing to cultivate a solo career. Close to 20 workshop co-facilitators, moderators and panelists joined this all-day educational event to share their knowledge and expertise from the solo world.

This may very well have been the first of its kind offering in the Los Angeles area.

Workshops were facilitated by director/writing instructor Debra DeLiso, director/actor Iona Morris, and director/performance coach Terrie Silverman (Creating a  Solo Show); producer/actor Adilah Barnes and actor/artist Vanessa Adams-Harris (Hitting the Road with Your Solo Show); actor/publicist Lynne Conner and producer/actor Elizabeth Wu (How to Submit a Winning Package for a Solo Festival); and publicists Lynne Conner and Philip Sokoloff (Flying Solo: Marketing a Solo Show.)

Panels included moderator actor/director Barbara Roberts and panelists producer/actor Adilah Barnes, playwright/actor Michael Philip Edwards, actor/union activist Clarinda Ross and producer/director Yetta Young (Nuts And Bolts Of The Business); moderator actor/filmmaker Joyce Guy and panelists producer/director Karen Aschenbach, actor/director Starletta DuPois, publicist/consultant Allison Queen, producer/director Shanae Sharon and director/performance coach Terrie Silverman (Teamwork Makes the Dream Work); and moderator producer/actor Adilah Barnes and panelists actor/artist Vanessa Adams-Harris, vocalist/actor Mzuri Moyo, artistic director/actor Lissa Reynolds, and dancer/choreographer Tracy Silver (Working Women: Crafting a Solo Show.)

This exciting event was also covered all-day by press and received considerable positive feedback that can be viewed at www.lawtf.org. A few comments have been included here:

 “I'm so glad it's successful! I was quite inspired by everyone and the whole event! Such an empowering and inspiring day.” - Lissa Reynolds, Artistic Director of Fremont Centre Theatre/Panelist

“..very successful! …well-attended, good participation…wonderful feedback… well- structured and organized…venue was cozy…It just FELT good!...I enjoyed it.” - Elizabeth Wu, LAWTF Board member/Co-Facilitator

“Thank you, Adilah…what a journey…I love you, you have taught me so much about running a successful business for 20 years...unending drive and passion for the Festival has been truly inspirational. To have a powerful woman in your life that motivates you and sets a fine example is a testament… May you continue to soar and set the bar high for each of us…it has been an honor… added…to my experience as a publicist…and more...” - Lynne Conner, LAWTF Advisory Board/Co-Facilitator

“HUGE CONGRATS ON THE SOLO-EMPOWERMENT DAY

WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF WOMEN - both the participants & the panelists…such generosity of spirit and passion.” - Terrie Silverman, Co-Facilitor/Panelist

“Empowerment Day was very 'empowering in so many ways.'  We accomplished a great deal…folks…were very pleased with…shared information, warmth and… expertise.  Brava and here's to next year.” - Barbara Roberts, Moderator

"Adilah thank you again for such a powerful, necessary workshop… your love for things beautiful is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!" - Starletta DuPois, Panelist

“Wow….thank you for an amazing Empowerment Day!!!

Just fantastic. I loved being there and meeting new people and listening to the speakers. It was a huge success.” - Dina Morrone, Solo Performer/Attendee

“Everything worked out well… It was a wonderful experience for a photographer. …actresses are always fun to photograph even just sitting at a table talking…insights they shared have application for any field of the arts…uplifting for me too! Thanks for inviting me--and for the lovely goodie bag!” - Martha Benedict, Photographer

For those of you solo artists who missed this year, based on the glimpse you are getting from the quotes above, you must join us next year!