1812 Productions Presents JillineFest in Support of The Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program

1812 Productions is pleased to begin its 20th anniversary season with JillineFest, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program. JillineFest is a week-long showcase of original works by female solo artists who are past residents of the Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program. JillineFest will also feature opening and closing cabaret events starring many artists who were both friends and stage-partners of Ms. Ringle.

The Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program was established in 2005 after the passing of Philadelphia theatre sensation, and self-proclaimed "six foot redhead amazon from hell whom all men desire," Jilline Ringle. Ms. Ringle was a mainstay in early 1812 Productions shows including Michael Ogborn's musical Box Office of the Damned, Always a Lady, which she co-created and performed with 1812 co-founder Jennifer Childs, and her original cabaret Mondo Mangia. Best known for her original solo works, Ms. Ringle combined traditional cabaret with a theatrical and comedic flair all her own to create solo events full of intelligence, laughter, and heart. It was through her solo work that she was able to fully develop her own unique artistic voice. Jilline was beloved by many communities and had several artistic homes including City Theatre in Pittsburgh where her cabarets ran for many seasons, the Chalfonte Hotel in Cape May, New Jersey where she premiered all of her work, and Philadelphia where she worked often at the Arden Theatre Company and 1812 Productions, receiving four Barrymore Award nominations for her work.

"Jilline donated money and countless hours to theater companies she loved and causes she cared about, singing at fundraisers and offering her time, talent (and sometimes the dress off her back!) as auction prizes," Jennifer Childs says of Ms. Ringle's altruism. "She was a mentor for young performers and students, teaching them about the business, coaching them on auditions and making them dinner or buying them lunch when money was tight. It is in this spirit of generosity that The Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program was established. Prior to her passing, Jilline talked about wanting to give other artists the opportunity to do what she had done-find her artistic voice by creating her own solo work. The Jilline Program provides grants and residency opportunities for female artists to develop and produce their own solo work."

JillineFest will commence with Cabaret Night, a musical showcase hosted by Mary Martello and featuring performances by Sarah Gafgen, Amorika Amoroso, Jen Fellman, and Tara Tagliaferro. Following Cabaret Night, Jessica Bedford takes the stage for a performance of her work Pretty, a hilarious journey into the subculture of beauty pageants and the American obsession with appearance. The third evening of JillineFest features a double bill of Hallie Martenson's Monkeysong about the magic, heartache, and ineffability of the quest for enlightenment, and Tracie Higgins' joyful memory play, Growing Up Normoyle, about her larger-than-life father. Next, Caroline Dooner and her ukulele move between the present and the future, looking for perspective on an unfolding life in her ever-evolving play with music Possible Memoir Titles. The final featured artist of JillineFest is Mary Carpenter whose work The New & Improved Stages of Grief has played to sold out houses at both the Philadelphia and Capital Fringe Festivals. Inspired by the passing of a brother and two friends within a short time span, The New & Improved Stages of Grief unveils the story behind the trauma-a hysterical accounting of food, etiquette, escapism, and a lesson in how to really let God know what you think.

On the process of creating solo work, Ms. Carpenter says, "Most acts of creativity are not done in a room of one's own while looking pensively at Walden pond as you are inspired by a muse of fire. Most writing, conceptualizing and execution are done in stolen moments at the crack of dawn before the kids get up, or after they go to bed and the dishes have been ignored, or scrawled on the back of receipts between jobs when inspiration inconveniently strikes. So, the luxury that The Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program provides artists is sublime. To be given a week of concentrated time and resources to feed an idea, play with its possibilities and find its voice is an extraordinary gift."

Following this week of performances, 1812 Productions will present a special cocktail fundraiser, La Dolce Ringle, hosted and curated by celebrated writer and composer Michael Ogborn. Mr. Ogborn was a friend of and frequent collaborator with with Ms. Ringle and has assembled a line-up of fellow friends and collaborators to perform selections from Ms. Ringle's original works including La Dolce Vita, Shut Up and Kiss Me, Come Fly with Me, and the audience favorite Mondo Mangia. Performers at La Dolce Ringle include Ricky Paul, Scott Greer, Jennifer Childs, Tracie Higgins, and Jennie Treeger Bowen.

Michael Norris, a founding member of the advisory committee of The Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program, notes, "Ten years is a good milestone to pause for a moment and shine a spotlight on the impact that Jilline has had in this community since her untimely passing. The Solo Performance Program has assisted more than 20 artists, and we hope to continue this support for years to come. That's why JillineFest is so important. We want the next generation of audiences and supporters to know about Jilline and all the great work that's been done in her memory so the program continues to help even more artists find their voices and hone their craft." Ms. Carpenter adds, "I'm not sure if The New & Improved Stages of Grief would ever have happened without this amazing program. The Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program and 1812 Productions' dedication to fostering the work of artists practices the best of what theatre can be: the selfless pursuit of many applying their specific talents to reveal the truth of the story that needs to be told. I am humbled by their generosity and inspired by their belief in the art of the possible."

JillineFest will run from Monday, July 11th thru Friday, July 15th at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Street, in Center City. All performances are at 7:30pm and tickets to all performances are $20. Additionally, Festival passes are available for $50 and guarantee entry to any of the week's performances, with the exception of La Dolce Ringle.

The La Dolce Ringle cocktail fundraiser will we held on Saturday, July 16th at The Residencies at The Ritz-Carlton, 1414 South Penn Square, in Center City. The event will begin at 7:00 and tickets are available for $100 or $500.

All proceeds from JillineFest and La Dolce Ringle will go directly to The Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program, enabling 1812 Productions to continue do the work that Ms. Ringle wanted to do-help other women find their voices, as she did, through solo performance.

JillineFest welcomes its event sponsor Independence Foundation.
*** JillineFest Schedule and Details

Monday, July 11th at 7:30
Cabaret Night
hosted by Mary Martello
featuring performances by Mary Martello, Sarah Gafgen,
Amorika Amoroso, Jen Fellman, and Tara Tagliaferro

Tuesday, July 12th at 7:30
Pretty
created and performed by Jessica Bedford

Wednesday, July 13th at 7:30
Monkeysong
created and performed by Hallie Martenson
and
Growing Up Normoyle
created and performed by Tracie Higgins

Thursday, July 14th at 7:30
Possible Memoir Titles
created and performed by Caroline Dooner

Friday, July 15th at 7:30
The New & Improved Stages of Grief
created and performed by Mary Carpenter

All performances, Monday thru Friday, will take place at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Street.
Tickets to all performances are $20 each, or $50 for a pass to attend any performance.

Saturday, July 16th at 7:00
La Dolce Ringle
A cocktail fundraiser hosted by Michael Ogborn
featuring performances by Michael Ogborn, Ricky Paul, Scott Greer,
Jennifer Childs, Tracie Higgins, and Jennie Treeger Bowen

La Dolce Ringle will take place at The Residencies at The Ritz-Carlton, 1414 South Penn Square.
Tickets are available at two levels of support, $100 and $500.

Tickets to all events can be purchased at:
www.1812productions.org
215-592-9560
1812 Productions Administrative Office
2329 S. 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148

1812 Productions & The Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program missions
Now beginning its 20th season, 1812 Productions, the country's only all-comedy theatre company, is dedicated to creating theatrical works of comedy and comedic works of theater that explore and celebrate our sense of community, our history, and our humanity.

The Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program is dedicated to supporting the creation, development, and production of work by female solo artists across a variety of disciplines-theater, performance art, and cabaret.

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