The Salon Series promotes women's leadership in the Chicago theatre community and provides a unique network for theatre artists to share in their artistic diversity.

March Salon:  March 11, 2007 AT 3PM @ Artist in Residence Building (6165 N. Winthrop) Performance by AuqaMoon in honor of Women's History Month
AquaMoon and friends, featuring scenes from Aqua Beats and Moon Verses Volume I and Volume II ~ Brotha...Wassup Sun?
Live music by Molly Sue Africa and performances by Rebecca Cotter, Shanara Fornett, veronica precious bohanan and byron samuel.
AquaMoon is the writing, performance and artistic team of camil.williams and veronica precious bohanan.  The duo helps to bridge the gap between the streets, hip hop feminism, performance activism and academia.  They uphold their motto of 'Dismantling the Culture of Silence' in their choreopoems*  Aqua Beats and Moon Verses Volume I and Volume II ~ Brotha...Wassup Sun? In Volume I, the team tackles such thought provoking issues as motherless and fatherless daugthers, sexual assault and substance abuse survival, Black womyn in hip hop, female activism, womyn's health, and sistahood.  In Volume II, the team asks, Who and what are Black men through the loving eyes of Black womyn?
(*combines dance, poetry, and music into a theatrical stage production)

November Salon:  November 7, 2006 @ Artist in Residence Building (6165 N. Winthrop) Performance of scenes by Eric Frederickson featuring women in conflict.  Featuring Stacie Barra, Angela Bonacasa, Katie Carey Govier, Toby Minor and Elizabeth A. Styles.

February Salon: February 8, 2005 @ Bailiwick Arts Center Reading of Ophelia Thinks Harder by Jean Betts, directed by Angela Bonacasa.  Featuring Jessica Dunne, Jocelyn Fultz, Katie Carey Govier, Chris Julun, Brigitte Lehmkuhl, Neil B. Massey, Andey Collins, Francesca Peppiatt, Elizabeth A. Styles and John Tovar.  Produced in association with Stockyards Theatre Project.

April Salon: April 12, 2005 @ Bailiwick Arts Center Readings of short plays dealing with social politics.  Featuring Angela Bonacasa, Eric Frederickson, Katie Carey Govier, Neil B. Massey and Elizabeth A. Styles.  Produced in association with Stockyards Theatre Project.

June Salon: June 14, 2005 @ Theater Building Chicago Reading of Vox Pandora by Bilal Dardai, directed by Dana Januszyk.  Featuring Alexandra Bennett, David Dastmalchian, Robyn Moler, Brandon Ray, Erica Reid & Erin Shelton.  Produced in association with Camenae Ensemble Theatre Company.

September Salon: September 13, 2005 @ The Side Studio A workshop reading of Sara Keely McGuire's poetic play Hotel California, directed by Alison Dornheggen.  Featuring Dawn Alden, Ezekiel Brown, Dave Dasmulchian, Jenni Fontana, Katie Carey Govier, Alyse Kittner & Erik Schnitger.  Produced in association with Stockyards Theatre Project. 

September Salon: September 9, 2003 @ Bailiwick Arts Center Staged reading of Love Me Slender by Vanessa Brooks, directed by Jenniffer Thusing.  Featuring Angela Bullard, Patrice Egleston, Katie Carey Govier, Lori Howard, Kara Lashmet, Adrienne Smith & Pamela Upsher.  Produced in association with Stockyards Theatre Project.

November Salon: November 11, 2003 @ Bailiwick Arts Center All-female workshop reading of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part One, adapted and directed by Katie Carey Govier with fights coordinated by Dawn "Sam" Alden, stage managed by Jenniffer Thusing.  Featuring Dawn Alden, Anita Chandwaney, Alison Dornheggen, Sara Hoyer, Brenda Kelly, Brigitte Lehmkuhl, Marika Mashburn, Pat Parks, Francesca Peppiatt, Stephanie Repin and Elizabeth Styles. Produced in association with Stockyards Theatre Project.

January Salon: January 13, 2004 @ Teatro Luna  Staged reading of The Sins of Sor Juana by Karen Zacarias, directed by Jenniffer Thusing.  Featuring Faith Carandang, Anita Chandwaney, Ginger Leopoldo, Gil Oliva, Steve Ratcliff, Dan Riley & Elizabeth Styles.  Produced in association with Stockyards Theatre Project.

March Salon: March 9, 2004 @ Storefront Theater Staged reading of No Sense Saying Goodnight, an adaptation of Dorothy Parker's short stories adapted and directed by Jenniffer Thusing.  Featuring Amy Barber, Faith Carandang, Anita Chandwaney, Marcus Fittanto, Shawn Goudie, Katie Carey Govier, Tiffany Lawson, Gil Oliva, Francesca Peppiatt, Steve Ratcliff, Daniel Riley, Adrienne Smith and Elizabeth Styles.  Produced in association with Stockyards Theatre Project. 

May Salon: May 11 2004 @ Metropolis Coffee Company Staged readings of four original short works by female playwrights: White Elephant by Lisa Konoplisky, directed by Laura Hooper and featuring Mary Jo Bolduc, Tom Carlson, Marie Hennebery, Andy Kirtland, Kimberly Nicole & Carolyn Wright Sour Plums by Jill Elaine Hughes, directed by LaRonika Thomas and featuring Mary Johnson & Carol Stein My Sister Underground by Jewel Seehaus-Fisher, directed by Melissa Young and featuring Kevin Grubb, Jennifer Marschand & Sara Sevigney The Importance of Being by Vicki Righettini, directed by Gillian Gibson and featuring Mary Jo Bolduc & Lori Howard

The Enrichment Workshop Series is designed to inspire the mind, body and spirit of theatre artists.  

Meeting with Martha Richards, Executive Director of The Fund for Women Artists
Sunday, April 29, 2007 from 12noon-2pm @Orange on Harrison (77 W. Harrison, Chicago)
Gather with Martha Richards and your colleagues for an informal discussion about the needs of Chicago women in theatre.
The Fund for Women Artists is focused on the belief that women artists have the power to change the way women are perceived in society.  We want to make sure that artists have full access to the financial and other resources they need to do this crucial work

Monologue Masterclass
Saturday, April 14, 2007 from 11am-2pm @Artist-in-Residence Bldng (6165 N. Winthrop, Chicago) taught by Angela Bonacasa, SAFD Preparing for your next audition?  Do you want to brush the dust off  a previous monologue, or start working on a new one?  In this  workshop, we will work your piece from the ground up-we'll explore  vocal life, objectives, tactics, and fine tune your  connection to  the character.  You'll continue to grow as an artist, and feel more  prepared and confident, an important part of any audition.

Unarmed Combat Workshop Sunday, April 17, 2005 from 1-3:30pm @Chicago Wushu Guan (4430 N. Western Ave, Chicago) taught by Angela Bonacasa, SAFD Learn (or review) basic unarmed combat technique...then participate in a mass battle!    

BEAT THE STREETS--ACTIVE RESISTANCE August 29, 2004 from 12:30-3:30pm @Sheil Park (3505 N. Southport) taught by 4th degree blackbelt Patricia Charatin (owner of Charatin's White Wolf Kenpo Karate School) The second in a quarterly series on violence prevention sponsored by Babes With Blades, with additional support provided by the Women's Theatre Alliance, the workshop teaches simple, practical techniques designed to help attendees confront, disarm, and escape an attacker. Several assistants will be on hand to serve as targets, giving attendees the opportunity to practice their new moves at full speed in a safe, non-threatening environment. While designed specifically for women, the content is also applicable to men.  

In Boca Lupo ("Into the Mouth of the Wolf") OR "WRITE LIKE A PIRATE!"   Sunday, September 19, 2004 from 12-3pm @Majestic Midway Theater (5722 W. 63rd St., Chicago) taught by Marki Shalloe, author of Bald Grace, Pirate Queen "I had a director, a 75 year old Italian woman, who started every play with 'In boca lupo'...'Into the mouth of the wolf'. That's what she felt you were doing - or should be doing - whenever you go onstage, entering the wolf's mouth." Many playwrights get diverted by self doubt, by feedback, by 'what will get produced', and on and on. But the only thing you need is a good story and the discipline and focus to tell it.  

Laban and Viewpoints Workshop Saturday, October 9, 2004 from 2-5pm @Glade Memorial Hall 2640 W. Altgeld (at Talman), Chicago taught by Ellyzabeth Adler of Project Danztheatre Company This three-hour workshop will be an overview of Laban and Viewpoints, beginning with basic skills and moving toward a comparison and contrast of the two philosophies. We will focus on freeing the body and listening to physical impulses.

The New Play Festival showcases the work of female playwrights.

2008 New Play Festival:
Ten Minute Play Fest
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 7:30pm at Theatre Building Chicago
"Prudence in Peril" by Kim Z. Dale, directed by Dan Foss
"Tiny" by Liza Lentini, directed by Margaret Lebron
"Incubation Period" by Trina Kakacek, directed by Tiffany Smith
"Hot Dog MFA" by Martyna Majok, directed by Margaret Lebron
"A Boat at Sea" by Emily Schwartz, directed by Hannah Kushnik
"The Equestrian" by Chelsea Marcantel, directed by Drew Dir

2007 New Play Festival
A Game of Mah Jong by Nancy Ewing
Free Radicals by Brenda Kilianski
The Ocean is Not Eldora by Allyson Hunter
Out of Proportion by Gabrielle Johansen
America's Most Wanted by Amy Hartman
ARS ARMATORIA by Grace Fishman


ONE PAGE PLAY-OFF
Congrats also to the WINNERS of the One Page Play-Off: First Place went to Liz Hoffman for "Existential Crisis of Office Supplies"; Second Place went to Chelsea M. Marcantel for "Happy"; Third Place went to Barbara Lopez for "Responsibility"; the Artistic Merit Award went to Rob Biesenbach for "Northern Lights." Each winner received gift bags filled with goodies from our sponsors: Arabesque Dance Studio, Babes With Blades, Barbara's Bookstore, Camenae Ensemble Theatre Co., Cosi, Kiehl's, Metropolis Coffee, Pizza Capris, Thousand Waves Spa & Women & Children First

A hot evening of cool original plays… maybe including one by (Your Name Here)!
Presented by Women’s Theatre Alliance and the New Play Development Workshop

It’s JUST $5.00, and the money goes to us.  We’re a worthy non-profit cause.  And if we get enough, we just might share.  If yours is one of FIFTEEN chosen, it will be read script in hand, by a group of very talented actors, provided with ideas and a bit of blocking by a very talented director.

PARTICIPATE TO WIN PRIZES!!! 
The audience will choose THREE WINNERS who get fantastic prizes from our sponsors!

The Fine Print:
WANT TO SUBMIT A PLAY??
•    WRITE A PLAY that’s one to three pages in length, with five characters or less
•    Create a separate cover sheet with all of your contact information (name, phone, e-mail and the title of your play)
•    MAKE COPIES OF YOUR PLAY (as many as we’d need to perform it: the number of characters in your play, plus one for the director)
•    SUBMIT IT TO US!! 
Just attend any of our New Play Development Workshop readings, June 17th, 18th, 19th, 24th or 25th, at 7:30 p.m., at the Theatre Building.  Pay $5 admission, and you can give your copies and cover sheet to our ticket seller.  Then just sit back and enjoy that night’s performance of an original play from this year’s workshop!

THEN WHAT?
•    SHOW UP TUESDAY, JUNE 26th, by 7:30 p.m.
Attend our event to see if your play is one of FIFTEEN STAGED, or the ONE DRAWN RANDOMLY for impromptu performance as the finale to our evening!!
(if you paid $5 to submit a script on a previous night, you get in for free!!)
•    BRING FRIENDS!!!
(the more friends, the more biased audience support for you in voting, which means more chances you’ll get a prize!!) 

WANT TO SUBMIT A PLAY, BUT YOU’RE MALE?
NO PROBLEM!!  We know men.  We like men.  If you like the idea of submitting your work to us, we like the idea of having your work!! 

WHAT IF YOU CAN ONLY ATTEND 6/26?!
NO PROBLEM!!  Show up the evening of Tuesday, June 26th, pay a $5 admission, hand your copies and cover sheet to the ticket seller, and hope that your play is the ONE CHOSEN RANDOMLY as the finale to our evening.

16th Annual Actors' Scene Showcase Tuesday November 11, 2008 at 7:30pm at Theatre Building Chicago:
A COUPLA WHITE CHICKS SITTING AROUND TALKING by John Ford Noonan (Jen Usellis and Sandy Shea)
LONG TIME SINCE YESTERDAY by P.J. Gibson (Jessica L. East and Ina Houston)
MEASURE FOR MEASURE by William Shakespeare (Eric Damon Smith and Christina Hall)
MELANCHOLY PLAY by Sara Ruhl (Megan Gotz and Susan Myburgh)
MERGE by Neil LaBute (Alex Polcyn and Sara Greeenfield)
PARALLEL LIVES by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy (Kelly Addis and Kim Boler)
PICNIC by William Inge (Page Deulin and Bob Ross)
PILLOWMAN by Martin McDonagh (Kevin Crowley and Walter Briggs)
RUBY WILDER  by Brooke Allen (Neal Starbird and Julie Cowden)
WONDER OF THE WORLD by David Lindsey-Abaire (Liz Frederico and Stephen Lydic) 
Runner-up scenes: 
MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP by Charles Ludlam (Jackie Intres and May Lee Lockhart)
SURE THING by David Ives (Brenda E. Kelly and Gregory Larson)

15th Annual Actors' Scene Showcase  Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 7:30pm at Theatre Building Chicago:
DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by John Patrick Shanley  (Anna Carini and Howie Johnson)
DEARBORN HEIGHTS by Cassandra Medley  (Andi Earles and Elise Harrington) 
DON'T MAKE ME GO by Stephen Louis Grush  (Laura Rook and Brandon Miller) 
DOUBT by John Patrick Shanley  (Donna Steele and Amy Steele)  
THE INTERROGATION by Murphy Guyer  (Courtney Berne and Kevin D'Ambrosio)
LOS ANGELES by Julian Sheppard  (Lindsey Pearlman and Matt Devine) 
PERFECT by Mary Gallagher  (Dee Bolos and Kelli Strickland) 
POISON by Elliot Hayes   (Dennis Frymire and Veronica Lynn) 
THE RAFT by Kristin Leigh Robinson  (Kevin Gladish and Jessica Childs) 
SAVAGE IN LIMBO by John Patrick Shanley  (Dana Delorenzo and Carrie Bruno)   
Runner-up scenes:
LOUISA MAY INCEST by Carolyn Gage  (Summer Widhalm and Carin Silkaitis)
LETTER by Stephen Louis Grush  (Abigail Misko and Caitlin McGlone)