Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival Opens March 22

The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival (LAWTF) marks 26 years of producing well over 500 extraordinary multicultural and multidisciplinary solo performers from around the globe.

The longest-running Annual Solo Festival for women in Los Angeles, LAWTF will take place March 22- March 24, 2019 at Theatre 68, 5112 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601. The overall theme of the Festival will be I, Woman and the theme of the Opening Night GALA will be In Tribute To.

The Champagne GALA and Awards Ceremony will take place on March 22, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. and will be directed by Denise Dowse (Imposters) and hosted by Starletta DuPois (The Notebook) and Kym Whitley (Young and Hungry). The event will honor five women of exceptional achievement and contribution to the world of theatre (Eternity Awardee- Jenifer Lewis; Integrity Awardee- Leslie Ishii; Maverick Awardee- Sandra Tsing Loh; Rainbow Awardee- Whitney Weston; and posthumously, Infinity Awardee- Carol Channing. . There will be special live performances in addition to the awards presentation. Performers include:

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

Juli Kim in For Those Who Dream. This dance is a tribute to beauty in the midst of finding resiliency in the human spirit.

Vickilyn Reynolds in Hattie McDaniel.... What I Want 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 at 3:00 p.m. Theme: Against All Odds. Hosts: Dawn Didawick (Erin Brockovich) and Rosie Lee Hooks (The Bodyguard).

Pam Levin in Modern Motherhood: This S**t Just Got Real. This comedic personal story gives an honest perspective of the hardest job in the world, PARENTING!

Vicki Summers in Bella, An Immigrant's Tale. Paying homage to her Jewish immigrant grandmother from Russia, Vicki follows one woman's journey to America.

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

Sandy Brown in Oh, Yes She Did! History comes alive as Sandy Brown performs excerpts as legendary Black women Harriet Tubman and Shirley Chisholm, who changed the course of social justice in America forever.

Saturday, March 23 at 8:00 p.m. Theme: One Voice, Many Stories. Hosts: Karen A. Clark (The Women) and Roger Guenveur Smith (Queen Sugar).

Laura Biagi in The Breath of Self-Love. This piece explores longing and belonging of an immigrant living in Chicago.

Monique Debose in 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 in 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 in Squirrel!!! This piece follows a quirky, nutty girl as she fearlessly confromts her battles with ADHD while facing the unbearable challenges of adulthood, LGBTQ issues and suicidal ideations.

Sunday, March 24 at 3:00 p.m. Theme: Family, Food and Freedom. Hosts: Margaret Avery (The Color Purple) and Jude Narita (Coming into Passion/ Song for a Sansei).

Debrianna Mansini in 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 in 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 in 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 24 at 7:00 p.m. Theme: Rise Up! Hosts: Fay Hauser-Price (Producer/ Director/ Writer/ Actor) and Kat Kramer (Turnover).

Delina Patrice Brooks in 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 in Be Empowered. The deeply expressed songs I Am Enough and Rise Up speak words of encouragement and empowerment.

Ada Cheng in Loving Across Borders. An intense personal journey, this piece weaves tales of breaking rules and broken hearts across gender-based boundaries.

Kamakshi Hart in Wild at Hart. This is a brave story of transformation and triumph from the ravages of trauma, depression and abusive relationships.

Juli Kim in Haliagmoo (Noble Man's Dance). This male dance represents the carefree lifestyle of the "Royal Blood" wealthy class in Ancient Korea.

Founded by Executive Producer Adilah Barnes and Miriam Reed, the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival is an annual event unique among Los Angeles cultural institutions and should not be missed as LAWTF celebrates its 26TH Anniversary.

The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival is a non-profit organization. The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival organization is supported this year in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles; City of West Hollywood; Los Angeles County Arts Commission; City National Bank; City of Culver City in association with Sony Entertainment; KPFK 90.7 ; Union Bank; and Adilah Barnes Productions.

Admission to the Gala is $50 or two tickets for $90 (includes reception and Champagne). For the other programs, ticket prices this year include general admission single show tickets at $25.00 in advance or $30.00 at the door. A VIP all-access pass for the entire weekend is available for $150. Reservations: (818) 760-0408 or go to http://www.lawtf.org To join and follow LAWTF on Facebook and Twitter, click on their links at http://www.lawtf.org

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