Past Projects

LOS ANGELES WOMEN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL

26TH  ANNUAL FESTIVAL

“I, WOMAN ”

MARCH 22-24, 2019

Director
Denise Dowse 

 

CHAMPAGNE GALA AND AWARDS CEREMONY

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2019

7PM

“IN TRIBUTE TO”

Hosted By

Starletta DuPois (The Notebook)

Kym Whitley (Young and Hungry)

PERFORMERS:

VANNIA IBARGUEN (“Yma”)

This dance excerpt celebrates Yma Sumac, the only Peruvian woman bestowed with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

JULI KIM (“Haliagmoo” (Noble Man’s Dance)

This male dance represents the carefree lifestyle of the “Royal Blood” wealthy class in Ancient Korea.

VICKILYN REYNOLDS (“Hattie McDaniel…What I Need You to Know!”)

This excerpt of the musical play gives a glimpse of the first African American to receive an Oscar in Hollywood.

 

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 23 RD
3 PM

“AGAINST ALL ODDS”

Hosted By

Dawn Didawick (Erin Brockovich)

Rosie Lee Hooks (Knock Me a Kiss)

 

PERFORMERS:
SANDY BROWN (Oh, Yes She Did!)

History comes alive as Sandy Brown performs excerpts as legendary Black women Angela Davis and Shirley Chisholm, who changed the course of social justice in America forever.

PAM LEVIN (“Modern Motherhood: This Sh*t Just Got Real”)

This comedic personal story gives an honest perspective of the hardest job in the world, PARENTING!

VICKI SUMMERS (“Bella, An Immigrant’s Tale!”)

Paying homage to her Jewish immigrant grandmother from Russia, Vicki follows one woman’s journey to America.

HEATHER KELLER (“Chemo Barbie”)

A breast cancer diagnosis forces one woman to confront such issues as mortality, body image, relationships, fertility and mental health.

 

SATURDAY, MARCH, 23 RD
8 PM

“ONE VOICE, MANY  STORIES”

Hosted By

Karen A. Clark (The Women)

Roger Guenvere Smith (Queen Sugar)

PERFORMERS:

LAURA BIAGI (“The Breath of Self-Love”)

This piece explores longing and belonging of an immigrant woman living in Chicago.

MONIQUE DEBOSE (“Mulatto Math”)

A biracial little girl’s journey to womanhood explores her uprooted confidence and vulnerability in a story centered around family, race and identity.

LANESSA LONG (“Nobody’s Really Helped Me”)

Filled with spicy, fluid piano riffs and slick character-filled vocals, this comedic excerpt shines light on identity, amidst angst.

SARAH ROSE REYNOLDS (“Squirrell!!!)

“Squirre!!!” follows a quirky, nutty, girl as she fearlessly confronts her battles with ADHD, while facing the unbearable challenges of adulthood, LGBTQ issues and suicidal ideations.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 24TH
3 PM

“FAMILY. FOOD AND FREEDOM”

Hosted By

Margaret Avery (The Color Purple)

Jude Narita (Coming Into Passion/Song for a Sansei)

PERFORMERS:

DEBRIANNA MANSINI (“The Meatball Chronicles”)
As the dough is kneaded and the sauce thickened in Italian recipes, so too is the complexity of childhood, family and relationships in this culinary journey.

CANDACE NICHOLAS-LIPPMAN (“A Rose Called Candace”)
This unvarnished story of family, faith, fear and freedom is a testament to one woman finding truth and transformation along the way.

JULIA VALLY (“Mal Coupé”)
A young girl grows up with a dream of becoming a prima ballerina but is unable to reach the standard of perfection that the classical aesthetic demands, causing her to spiral downward.

 

 

SUNDAY, MARCH 24TH

7 PM
“RISE UP!”

Hosted By

Fay Hauser-Price (Producer/Director/Writer/Actor)

Kat Kramer (TURNOVER)

 

PERFORMERS:

DELINA BROOKS (“Seeds of Peace”)

This thought-provoking dance piece gives voice to how a young man’s death breathes new life into a mother, community and society shattered by gun violence.

JACQUELYN BROWN-BENEFIELD (“Be Empowered”)

The deeply expressed songs “I Am Enough” and “Rise Up” speak words of empowerment and encouragement.

ADA CHENG (“Loving Across Borders”)

An intense personal journey, this piece weaves tales of breaking rules and broken hearts across gender-based boundaries.

KAMAKSHI HART (“Wild at Hart”)

This is a brave story of transformation and triumph from the ravages of trauma, depression and abusive relationships.

JULI KIM (For Those Who Dream)

This dance is a tribute to beauty in the midst of finding resiliency in the human spirit.

LA WOMEN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL 2019!