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.
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 CenterReading 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 CenterReadingsof short plays dealing with social politics. Featuring AngelaBonacasa, Eric Frederickson, Katie Carey Govier, Neil B. Massey and Elizabeth A. Styles. Produced in association with StockyardsTheatre Project. June Salon: June 14, 2005 @ Theater Building Chicago Reading of Vox Pandora by Bilal Dardai, directed by Dana Januszyk. Featuring AlexandraBennett, David Dastmalchian, Robyn Moler, Brandon Ray, Erica Reid &Erin Shelton. Produced in association with Camenae Ensemble TheatreCompany. September Salon: September 13, 2005 @ The Side StudioA 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 TheatreProject. September Salon: September 9, 2003 @ Bailiwick Arts CenterStaged reading of Love Me Slender by VanessaBrooks, 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 CenterAll-female workshop reading of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part One,adapted and directed by Katie Carey Govier with fights coordinated byDawn "Sam" Alden, stage managed by Jenniffer Thusing. Featuring Dawn Alden, Anita Chandwaney, Alison Dornheggen, Sara Hoyer, BrendaKelly, 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 byKaren Zacarias, directed by Jenniffer Thusing. Featuring FaithCarandang, 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 TheaterStaged reading of No Sense Saying Goodnight,an adaptation of Dorothy Parker's short stories adapted and directed byJenniffer 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 CompanyStaged readings of four original short works by female playwrights: White Elephant by Lisa Konoplisky, directed by Laura Hooper and featuring Mary JoBolduc, 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 Seriesis designed to inspire the mind, body and spirit of theatre artists.
WTA Monologue Workout Wednesday, May 27th from 7:30-9:30pm @ The Side Project (1439 W. Jarvis) facilitated by Brenda E. Kelly. The monologue is what opens the door to newacting opportunities for most of us, and there's nothing more challenging than performing a brand new monologue for an audience the first time -- and that first time tends to be for an auditor-- Even MORE nervewracking! Well, no more! If you can stand up in front ofyour peers and rock the house, you can do it for anyone. The Monologue Workout will give you a chance toperform it AND get some general guided, written feedback from theaudience through our Monologue Feedback Form. Even if you don't have a monologue readyto go, still come out to support your fellow actors, provide them witha little feedback, and do a little networking. FREE for members, $5.00 for non-members, Men welcome both to perform/attend.
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. 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 previousmonologue, 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. Severalassistants will be on hand to serve as targets, giving attendees theopportunity 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 contrastof 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.
2011 New Play Festival: "Space and Time – The Continuum of YOUR work" took place Wednesday, June 22, 2011 @ 7:30pm at The Viaduct
Featured exerpts from:
Shifted by Barb Lhota, directed by Dan Foss
A Fool to Your King by Nancy Ewing, directed by Alison Dornheggen
Faithfully by Tanise Aida Robnette, directed by Elana Elyce
Reckoning by Jenny Seidelman, directed by Jennifer Olson
All are Welcome by Anna Carini, directed by Brea Hayes
2010 New Play Festival: "Off the Back Burner"
Candy Store by Jenni Lamb: Monday, June 14th Valerie Maureen Vaccarro has just been re-elected to her third term as town president, and as she faces federal investigation she pulls out all the stops to prove her innocence to the world. Inspired by Betty Loren-Maltese, former town president of Cicero, this play takes a close look into what makes some of our Illinois politicians tick.
Heat Run by Kate Bailey: Tuesday, June 15th One woman, 6 men, and one big secret. What happens when the animal world comes crashing down on the human one?
The Unburnt House by Kalena Victoria Dickerson: Wednesday, June 16th Where once stood an average town, now sits remnants from a tragic fire--piles of rubble, soot, ash-- and one completely intact house. One year later, the house remains inhabited by a bizarre family of survivors whose secluded world is interrupted by a man looking for a site for a science laboratory and a woman in search of the apocalypse. As this group of people stands on what seems to be the End of the Earth, they contemplate what brought them there – Magic? Science? Fate?- and if any of these things will help them heal.
Wish Lists by Elizabeth A. Dawson: Tuesday, June 22nd Did you ever wonder what your life was worth? I never did--I thought I knew. A lifetime of misconceptions about your place in the world can fall away in one conversation.
3/22/72 by Charles Kouri: Wednesday, June 23rd 3/22/72 is a full-length play with music about six women in Chicago on the first/only/last day that women were equal as they discover that the one sure way to change the world is by helping each other.
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
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 agroup of very talented actors, provided with ideas and a bit ofblocking 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: thenumber 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 ourticket seller. Then just sit back and enjoy that night’s performanceof 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 ONEDRAWN 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 ofsubmitting 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, andhope that your play is the ONE CHOSEN RANDOMLY as the finale to our evening.
19th Annual Actors' Scene ShowcaseWednesday, December 7 at 7:30pm @ Stage 773
ELEMENO PEA by Molly Smith Meltzer (Abigail Vega and Rosie Moan)
MELANCHOLY PLAY by Sarah Ruhl (Jennifer Roehm and Johnny Kyle Cook)
PROOF by David Auburn (Callie Stephens and Meghan Lewis)
RABBIT HOLE by David Lindsay-Abaire (Courtney Blomquist and Christina Gorman)
ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD by Tom Stoppard (Kristi Forsch and Sasha Kostyrko)
THE SHAPE OF THINGS by Neil LaBute (Mary-Kate Arnold and Les Rorick)
SHE'S FABULOUS by Jack Neary (June Entwisle Miller and Debra Criche Mell)
TIGERS BE STILL by Kim Rosenstock (Hannah Gomez and Cassandra Clingon)
UNMERCIFUL GOOD FORTUNE by Edward Sanchez (Maritza Cabrera and Rinska Carrasco)
YELLOWMAN by Dael Orlandersmith (Deanna K. Reed and J. Israel Greene)
Runners-Up
THE BREAK OF NOON by Neil LaBute (Carolyn Braver and Julian Stacey)
RABBIT HOLE by David Lindsay-Abaire (Andrea Lattanzio and Molly Bierman)
18th Annual Actors' Scene ShowcaseWednesday, December 8 at 7:30pm @ Stage 773
DOG SEES GOD by Bert V. Royal (Ilana Plen and Ariel Dumas)
THE EXERCISE by Lewis John Carlino (Rachel Morgan and Jordy Williams)
HAPPY MUG by Elizabeth Dewberry (Katherine Glavin and Catherine Hermes)
THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE by Mark Schultz (Kelli Walker and Stephanie Sullivan)
ITALIAN AMERICAN RECONCILIATION by John Patrick Shanley (Katie Keenan and Neil O'Callaghan)
LATE: A COWBOY SONG by Sarah Ruhl (Jacqueline Davies and Greta Weber)
THE O'CONNER GIRLS by Katie Forgette (Suzanne Nyhan and Debbie Roberts)
THE SHADOW BOX by Michael Christofer (Patricia Tinsley and Paul Tinsley)
STOP KISS by Dianna Son (Georgette Verdin and Logan Black)
UNCLE VANYA by Anton Chekhov (Samantha Church and Courtney Berne)
Runner-up Scenes: BLACKBIRD by David Harrower (Cassandra Cushman and David Schaplowski) REASONS TO BE PRETTY by Neil LaBute (Meghan Logue and Johnny Kyle Cook
17th Annual Actors' Scene Showcase: Weds, Novermber 4, 2009 at 7:30pm @ Theatre Building Chicago.
Featuring:
BIRD IN THE HAND by Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas, performed by Hannah Tuber and Courtney Payne A DOLL’S HOUSE by Henrik Ibsen, performed by Ginger Lee McDermott and Joël Vining DUNKIN' AMERIKA by Kathryn Walat, performed by Robyn Starkey and Jessica Marking THE GOOD NEGRO by Tracey Wilson, performed by Veronda G. Carey and Le'Mil L. Eiland THE HOUSE OF YES by Wendy MacLeod, performed by Renee Callahan and Cate Freedman IMAGINING BRAD by Peter Hedges, performed by Shanna Shrum and Kimberly Chelf PIZZA MAN by Darlene Craviotto, performed by Holly Beaudry and Christina Piazza RABBIT HOLE #1 by David Lindsey-Abaire, performed by Sommer Austin and Victoria Bucknell RABBIT HOLE #2 by David Lindsey-Abaire, performed by Heather Bodie and Patrick Kenney SHE CALLS UP THE SUN by Addae Moon, performed by Tiffany Yvonne Cox and Austin Talley
Runner-Up Scenes: FITTING ROOMS by Susan Cinoman, performed by Ariel Trocino and Stephanie Brown HURLYBURLY by David Rabe, performed by Natalie DiCristofano and Jared Nell
16th Annual Actors' Scene ShowcaseTues, November 11, 2008 at 7:30pm at Theatre Building Chicago
A COUPLA WHITE CHICKS SITTING AROUND TALKING by John Ford Noonan performed by Jen Usellis and Sandy Shea
LONG TIME SINCE YESTERDAY by P.J. Gibson performed by Jessica L. East and Ina Houston
MEASURE FOR MEASURE by William Shakespeare performed by Eric Damon Smith and Christina Hall
MELANCHOLY PLAY by Sara Ruhl performed by Megan Gotz and Susan Myburgh
MERGE by Neil LaBute performed by Alex Polcyn and Sara Greeenfield
PARALLEL LIVES by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy performed by Kelly Addis and Kim Boler
PICNIC by William Inge performed by Page Deulin and Bob Ross
PILLOWMAN by Martin McDonagh performed by Kevin Crowley and Walter Briggs
RUBY WILDER by Brooke Allen performed by Neal Starbird and Julie Cowden
WONDER OF THE WORLD by David Lindsey-Abaire performed by Liz Frederico and Stephen Lydic
Runner-up scenes: MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP by Charles Ludlam, performed by Jackie Intres and May Lee Lockhart
SURE THING by David Ives, performed by Brenda E. Kelly and Gregory Larson
15th Annual Actors' Scene ShowcaseTuesday, 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)
