The LA Women's Theater Festival Offers a Thrilling Lineup

The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival (LAWTF) marks 23 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 24-27 at the Electric Lodge.

The Champagne Gala and Awards Ceremony on March 24, will be held in honor of exceptional women who have made laudable contributions in theatre. Following the reception at 7 p.m., the festivities continue at 8 p.m. with the presentation of the Integrity, Eternity, Rainbow, Maverick and Infinity Awards to distinguished women.

The theme of the Opening Night Program on March 24 is A Toast to Greatness. The evening will be hosted by Starletta DuPois ("The Notebook," "Big Momma's House").

Thursday, March 24:

"Study on a Butterfly." From San Francisco-based choreographer Raissa Simpson, this dance piece showcases points of transformation amidst limitations of movement. From sources of her struggle with degenerative joint disease, Raisssa Simpson draws on her experience to develop metamorphic movement.

Eloise Laws. A member of a distinguished jazz family, award-winning international vocalist Eloise Laws will celebrate women through song.

Friday, March 25

"Fathers and Daughters."
Co-hosts: Joyce Guy ("How to Get Away With Murder") and Lula Washington (Lula Washington Dance Company) Alina Cenal in "Words From a Cuban Father." Alina's strong presence of her father guides through her landscape of being yanked from her native Cuba as a child to America and her yearning to be returned to music, mambo, carnival, revolution and Fidel Castro.

"What's Wrong With a Mouse?" with Vicki Dello Joio. Coming from Oakland, Joio chronicles her journey of healing a rift with her father during his last days. He had disowned her for being queer 20 years earlier.

"Michael's Daughter," featuring Ciera Payton. One woman's paper trail relationship with her incarcerated father.
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Saturday, March 26 3 p.m.

"Culturally Speaking," with co-hosts: Iona Morris ("The Soul Man") and Adleane Hunter (Director/Producer)
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"The Hair War," featuring Andreea Kindryd. Shirley Temple curls to dreadlocks, 50 years of battling mental shackles, and driving my�mother crazy is the focus of this storytelling piece that comes to us from Australia.

"The Italian in Me." Featuring Dina Morrone in Dina shares her Italian/Canadian family upbringing, as well as her roller coaster ride to her ancestral Italy.

"The Bark and the Tree," featuring Vivian Nesbitt. Set in Ireland and coming here from New Mexico, this personal story of connection and transformation bends time and space to discover the true legacy of Vivian's legendary ancestor, the poet Eva of the Nation.

Saturday, March 26 8 p.m.

"Identity Revealed." Co-hosts Rosie Lee Hooks ("Sweet Honey in the Rock") and Eloise Laws (award-winning vocalist)

"Inside the Whale," featuring Aurora Lagattuta. This multi-media piece of dance, poetry, song and video projections from San Diego explores a fantastical journey of a woman swallowed by a whale, learning how to live in her own skin.

"Dancing With Crazies" featuring Amy Milano. This is one woman's search for a place to call home after being uprooted from place to place as a child.

"Journey This" featuring Cheray O'Neal. This piece follows one's path from despair to healing. After the death of her last living relative, Journey is left with a choice- suffer or forgive.
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Sunday, March 27 3 p.m.

"Striving for Balance" with hosts: Ingrid Graham (Dancer/ Choreographer/ Producer) and Sky Palkowitz ("Calling America: Don't Hang Up")

"The Climate Monologues" featuring Sharon Abreu. Through interviews across the country and with original songs, this piece from Washington brings to life the voices of those who speak on climate change and energy and how it has personally affected them.

"Beautiful, Terrifying Love" featuring Debra De Liso. A personal, poetic whirlwind of Debra De Liso's dangerously true stories that she comically navigates from a nightmarish childhood, Hollywood horror film career, and a traumatic motherhood with her beautiful, talented and bi-polar daughter.

"Food" featuring Rhonda Khan. A rhythmic tale from New York of one woman's addiction to food amidst societal pressures to be thin.� Family, therapists, healers and gurus weigh in and diagnose her as she spits her truth about weight loss, gain, and healing.
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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. The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival is a non-profit organization made possible this year in part by the City of West Hollywood, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Department of Cultural Affairs of Los Angeles, City National Bank, City of Culver City, KPFK 90.7 and Adilah Barnes Productions.