FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Adilah Barnes
Since 1993, The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival (LAWTF) has come
to be known for its reputation for presenting multicultural solo artists of
excellence from around the globe. Approximately 400 performers of diverse
disciplines including theatre, dance, storytelling, performance art, performance
poetry, stand-up, and music have been presented.
LAWTF has also established a name for itself since 2005 by its outreach
arts programming in the Los Angeles Unified School District . LAWTF currently
partners with other non-profits that include Creative Kids, Enrichment Works in
the San Fernando Valley , and Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS)
and Belmont High School in Los Angeles .
On June 7th at 2:00pm , LAWTF will present Los Angeles Women’s Theatre
Festival: In the Schools located in Council District 13’s Belmont High School
at 1575 West 2nd Street in Los Angeles . This presentation will take place for
Los Angeles High School of the Arts students who are housed at Belmont High
School . This arts academy pilot program has been in existence since 1997 and
has done remarkable artistic work with inner city high school students.
Esther Soliman, lead teacher and soon to be Principal of this pilot
program, had this to say about the value of LAWTF’s upcoming school
performances by Festival 2007 performers Vanessa Adams-Harris (Who Will Sing for
Lena?), Ruth Featherstone (vocalist), Erika Green (Wookin’ Pa Nub), Karla
Menjibar (In the Middle) and Lan Tran (Tales of a Lockpicking Child): “It is
extremely exciting to have a Festival of and about women. This is a great
opportunity for our students, especially our female students, to have performing
arts role models that are out there doing it.” Funding is made possible in
part by a grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs.
On Wednesday, June 20th at 7:00pm , LAWTF will present Teen Telebration:
Telling Our Stories, solo writings from students of Gay and Lesbian Adolescent
Social Services (GLASS) at Plummer Park located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard
in West Hollywood . LAWTF teaching artist Joyce Lee, who has worked with these
youth over 12 weeks to create this public presentation said, “I love working
with the students at GLASS because they do not spare the truth…their honesty
makes their creative expression compelling.” Funding for this program has been
made possible in part by the City of West Hollywood . Admission is free.
LAWTF has now served over 1000 students and over 40 Creative Kids’
elementary schools since Fall of 2005. LAWTF Board member and Managing Director
of Creative Kids Lynda Reichbach expressed, “Our students are excited about
their theatrical experiences that LAWTF’s teaching artists have brought to
Creative Kids.” Elementary and secondary schools currently being served this
semester in the San Fernando Valley are Calabash, Calvert, Hamlin, Kester,
Lorne, Newcastle , and Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies (SOCES). Classes
conclude with student presentations on June 15th. LAWTF
began its partnership with Enrichment Works in 2006. Enrichment Works was
founded in 1999 to take professional performers into the public schools.
Co-Founder and Executive Director Abraham Tetenbaum feels, “LAWTF’s
sequential arts instruction complements our theatrical assembles and other
programs with excellence and professionalism.” For more information on the Los Angeles Women’s
Theatre Festival’s many programs please call (818) 760-0408 or visit the
website at www.lawtf.com. |
