Act Like A GRRRL Fundraiser Set for Darkhorse 4/17-18

During this year's Super Bowl, a compelling ad campaign asked 100 million viewers across the nation to consider, "What does it mean to do something like a girl?"

Run like a girl. Throw like a girl. Fight like a girl.

Every example revealed one startling reality: "like a girl" was never a good thing.

Act Like a GRRRL is Actors Bridge's autobiographical writing and performance program in which teenage girls write about their lives and transform their thoughts into public performance.

"We've spent the last decade exploding the box that traps young women into a constricted and destructive definition of what it means to be a girl in our society and empowering them with the tools to live bold, authentic lives," says Vali Forrister, producing artistic director for Actor's Bridge and founder of Act Like a GRRRL.

"We have invited a high-profile collection of musicians, actors, writers and cultural observers to define what it means to them to do life 'like a GRRRL.'"

For two nights only, on April 17 and 18, they will speak, sing, dance, and shape-shift their stories to life as part of GRRRLS NIGHT OUT: an all-star fundraising performance for GRRRL scholarships, to be held at the Darkhorse Theater, 4610 Charlotte Avenue in Nashville.

Directed by Forrister and Actors Bridge company liaison Rachel, the cast includes Kim Bretton, Amanda Card, Wendi Dalby, Caroline Davis, Michele Flynn, Cassie Hamilton, Cynthia Harris, Gabrielle Saliba, Annie Sellick, Tasneem Grace Tewogbola, Abby White and Alicia Williams.

Performances are slated for Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. Advance general admission tickets are $20 and are available at http://grrrls-night-out.eventbrite.com. General Admission at the door is $25. Cash, check and credit cards accepted.

About Actors Bridge Ensemble: For the last 19 years, Actors Bridge has been a force on Nashville's cultural landscape. As an actor training program, we have worked with over 3,500 students who have gone on to perform on local, regional and national stages as well as film and television. There are few local productions that do not include a performer in some way influenced by Actors Bridge training. As a professional theatre company, our mission is to tell the stories that impact our community by producing provocative and socially relevant theatre, creating new theatrical works, showcasing emotionally authentic ensemble acting and fostering a nurturing environment for theatre artists at any stage in their professional development to take creative risks. We have produced over 80 plays, including 14 world premieres and 45 Nashville premieres. Some notable Nashville premieres include THE LARAMIE PROJECT, THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, NEVER THE SINNER, MARISOL, NEXT FALL, BLACKBIRD and 100 SAINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW. The company is led by co-founder Vali Forrister. For more information: actorsbridge.org

About Act Like a GRRRL: Act Like a GRRRL (ALAG) is an autobiographical writing and performance program that inspires teenage girls to develop self-identity, articulate values and gain public voice while working with female mentors and peers from diverse backgrounds. Created in 2005 by Actors Bridge Artistic Director and women/girls' advocate, Vali Forrister, ALAG empowers teenage girls to explode the box in which our society can limit them. At the moment our culture is asking girls to "sit down and shut up," ALAG invites them to "stand up and speak out," developing the self-confidence and leadership skills to live more empowered lives. To date, 100 percent of our graduates have gone to college. There is no reported truancy, unwanted pregnancy or drug abuse among participants. For more information: actorsbridge.org/act-like-a-grrrl-nashville/

The Act Like a GRRRL summer session runs June 13-26, 2015. Performances are June 25 and 26 at the Belmont Black Box Theater, where Actors Bridge is a professional theater in residence. Tuition is $1250. Some need-based scholarships are available.

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