Performance art is a special form of theatre that combines the disciplines of art, dance, drama, and spoken word. A variety of performances, dealing specifically with women’s views and issues, will be presented at the 18th Anniversary Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival (LAWTF) March 24 to March 27 at the Electric Lodge in Venice.
The performers at LAWTF represent a cross-section of ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds and come from all over the world and from many parts of the U.S. This year’s theme is “Coming of Age.”
On Thursday, March 24, the festival will begin at 7 p.m. with a champagne gala and awards ceremony, featuring awards for women of achievement in different aspects of the arts. This year’s honorees are Joan Benedict Steiger (Eternity Award); Charmaine Jefferson (Integrity Award); Suzanne Guzman (Maverick Award); and Velina Hasu Houston (Rainbow Award).
Hosts for the gala will be Hattie Winston (from the TV series Becker) and Florence LaRue of the Fifth Dimension. Following the awards will be performances by dancer Ingrid Graham, actor Monica Hunken, and trapeze artist Tia Matza.
Subsequent shows will be at 8 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday. Hosts for the shows include Tanna Frederick, Sy Richardson, Freda Payne, and Bertila Damas.
Admission to the Gala is $40, or two tickets for $75 (includes light fare and champagne). For the other programs, ticket prices this year include Festival VIP passes for all six shows at $125; and general admission single show tickets at $20 in advance, or $25 at the door. The Electric Lodge is located at 1416 Electric Avenue, Venice. Reservations: 818.760.0408. Online reservations will be available at lawtf.com
Contact Lynne Bronstein
lynne@smmirror.com