Company of Fools to Stage Three Pop-Up Monologues This Winter

As part of the Sun Valley Center's BIG IDEA, Role Play, which explores how we understand gender today - Company of Fools (COF) has commissioned three dynamic performance monologues that will have "pop-up" performances at various undisclosed places from December 11, 2015 through February 11, 2016.

Look for performances before, during or after Center events like the exhibition opening or gallery walks, lectures, or readings, or at other programs that are part of Role Play. A spoken-word piece written by Russell Simone Wilson, entitled Daughter tells of a young woman's hope to empower her future daughter with the tools to navigate world that often attempts to rob women of self-ownership. Luna, written by Irene Ziegler, captures a female wolf's riff on the benefits of mating for life -- or not. Homily, written by Bo Wilson, relates a pastor's desire for his congregation to search their souls on judgment as it pertains to transgender individuals. You never know which monologue will...pop-up!

"Company of Fools has enjoyed a rich history of commissioning new theatrical works in its 20 years and the Gender Project Monologues are no exception." Core Company Artist, Denise Simone, said, "Each of these three pieces, written by extraordinary artists help to nudge our understanding of gender just a bit further. We can not wait to share these pieces with our community."

The pieces will be performed by John Glenn (Homily), Denise Simone (Luna) and Aly Wepplo (Daughter). Russell Simone Wilson, the writer for Daughter, will also perform her piece at various schools as well as discussing the process of writing a spoken-word piece on gender.

Biographies, Writers:

Russell Wilson (Daughter) has been a lover of storytelling since her beginnings. Like many bookworms, she grew up writing. Putting pen to paper was a love she couldn't quite shake and in 2015 she graduated from Hollins University with a degree in Creative Writing. She has been published in two literary journals, The Album and Cargoes and was a runner-up for the Gertrude Claytor Poetry Prize in 2014. Not only has she held tight to her passion for writing, but also to her passion for theatre. She has navigated the non-profit theatre world both onstage and off since she was a kiddo and the magic only seems to grow. A few of her favorite roles include, Echo in Eleemosynary, Lauren in Circle Mirror Transformation, and Mitzi in Mitzi's Abortion. She couldn't be more excited about this project, as it combines her two deepest loves. The thing about art, the beautiful thing about art, is its ability to challenge our own dear hearts and perspectives in a safe, supportive space. She hopes this experience will be no different.

Bo Wilson (Homily) has called Richmond, Virginia his home since fourth grade, with time away at Virginia Tech and later at the National Theatre Institute. He makes his living primarily as a writer, creating stage plays and scripts for training films. His film clients include the FBI, Dupont, the US Navy, the Defense Intelligence Analysts, and numerous others, covering topics ranging from workplace safety to cyber warfare to terrorist interdiction. Among his plays are last summer's The Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Trinity Victory Church (a smash hit at Va-Rep's Hanover Tavern) and The Boatwright, which won two national awards and premiered at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre in Michigan last year . Both plays have been published by the Dramatic Publishing Company. He also authored Richmond Shakespeare's very successful production of Mister Dickens' Christmas Carol which Richmonders saw over the 2014 holidays. As a director, his productions include True West, Shining City (winner, RTCC Best Director,) The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (winner, RTCC Best Play), God of Carnage (winner, RTCC Best Ensemble) and The Beauty Queen of Lenaane, and the recent Angels in America: Millenium Approaches which received rave reviews and played to sold out houses at Richmond Triangle Players. Bo is also a professional voice talent with several hundred radio and TV ads to his credit, for products ranging from Sylvan Learning Centers to Mohatma Rice to the Fallout video game series. Bo's better half is the lovely Jan Guarino, who, along with his children Nora and Zach, add romantic comedy, drama, and surrealism to his life.

Irene Ziegler (Luna) lives in Richmond, VA and is an author, actor, and playwright. She has published two works of fiction, Rules of the Lake, and Ashes to Water. Her one-woman show, based on Rules of the Lake, won the Mary Roberts Rinehart Award for Drama. She is also the proud recipient of the Theresa Pollak Prize for Excellence in the Arts. She is the co-editor of six volumes of monologues for actors called The Ultimate Audition series. Her plays have been produced in Boston, New York, Luxembourg, and numerous theatres in Virginia. Hailey theatre-goers may remember her as Mrs. Graves in last year's production of Enchanted April. She is also a recurring character in the television series, The Road Road.

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