LOS ANGELES WOMEN'S THEATRE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 33 YEARS!

A Multi-Cultural Festival of Solo Artists

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    • 2026 LAWTF Festival
      • 2026 Awardees
        • Carmen de Lavallade, Infinity Award
        • Diane Ladd, Infinity Award
        • Andi Chapman, Integrity Award
        • TL Forsberg, Rainbow Award
        • Vannia Ibarguen, Maverick Award
        • Yvonne Farrow, Eternity Award
      • 2026 Performers
        • Sarai Hicks
        • Sona Lewis
        • Christina Linhardt
        • Clarinda Ross
        • Victoria Boateng
        • Alice Cutler
        • Lynne Jassem
        • Michelle Perdue
        • Meagan Harris
        • Marissa Mahoney
        • Micia Mosely
        • Gio Quezada
        • Tangie Ambrose
        • Ada Cheng
        • Fay Hauser-Price
        • Vicki Dello Joio
        • Karin Trachtenberg
        • Rheagan Wallace
        • Barbara Brownell
        • Jovelyn Richards
        • Mandy Willams
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Celebration!

2024 Festival Ticket Prices

Empowering Voices Of Solo Female Performers For 31 Years.

VIP PASS – $150 (to all programs)     |     GALA – $100 (pair), $60 (single ticket)
At the Door Purchase – $30     |     Early Bird Purchase – $25

Stay tuned for more information on LAWTF's 2025 Annual Festival that will take place March 27-March 30

lawomenstheatrefestival

🎭 Amplifying Women’s Voices in Theatre Since 1993
✨ Empowerment • Legacy • Community
🎟 33rd Annual Festival • March 2026 • LA
This month, we proudly celebrate Asian American an This month, we proudly celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and honor the vibrant voices, stories, artistry, and cultural contributions of AAPI communities. ✨ At the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, we believe storytelling has the power to build bridges, inspire empathy, and strengthen community—and AAPI artists continue to shape and transform the cultural landscape through their creativity, courage, and vision. We celebrate the generations of performers, playwrights, creators, and changemakers whose work reminds us that representation matters and every voice deserves to be seen and heard. Here’s to honoring the past, uplifting the present, and empowering the future. 🌸 #AAPIHeritageMonth #CelebrateAAPI #LAWTF #WomenInTheatre #RepresentationMatters #AAPIArtists #TheatreCommunity
There’s an old saying, “April showers bring May fl There’s an old saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” & for this #MotivationalMonday, we’re celebrating a young woman who is already blossoming into a fantastic actress & exciting new talent on our screens. 🌺 Tamara Smart was born in England, 2005. From a crazy-young age, it was clear that she had great potential for performing, taking dance classes by age 3 & thriving in theatre school by age 8. 🎭 Her first major role was Enid Nightshade in the BBC’s ‘The Worst Witch,’ from 2017 to 2020. Since then, Smart has held her own with stars like Bella Ramsey & Dame Judi Dench, earning praise for her professionalism, warmth & the depth she brings to roles. Her work in Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ showcased a still-growing gift for bringing strength & composure to physically & emotionally taxing roles. 💪 Smart’s abilities have led to legends of the acting profession throwing their whole support behind her & her career. In 2024, Smart was cast as fan-favorite character Thalia Grace in ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians.’ Her character is the daughter of Zeus, portrayed in season 1 by the late, great Lance Reddick. Smart had previously played Reddick’s daughter on a prior project & they had often talked about working together again. When the show was looking for its Thalia Grace, Reddick’s widow, Stephanie, reached out to the showrunners, suggesting they consider Smart for the role, as “there is something so magical about her." Though initially considered as a courtesy, Smart left such a strong impression that there was no doubt that the role was hers. 💜 Sadly, her casting was met with a wave of racially motivated vitriol, similar to her fellow young, gifted & black female co-stars. But Smart keeps her head held high & author Rick Riordan says, “Put the ‘grace’ in Thalia Grace!” With Thalia’s character having such a huge role in the upcoming story, fans can’t wait to see more of the lightning-wielding badass onscreen later this year. ⚡ Tamara Smart is a wonderful example of what can happen when natural talent, incredible passion & a strong work ethic are not just encouraged, but supported & respected, regardless of age, race, or gender. ✨ #WomenInTheArts #LAWTF
Supporting the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festiva Supporting the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival has never been easier—and it won’t cost you a thing. 💜✨ If you shop at Ralphs or Food 4 Less, you can give back to LAWTF just by doing your regular grocery run 🛒 It takes just a few minutes to link your rewards card, and from then on, you’re supporting women in the arts every time you shop—no extra cost, no extra effort. 💛 Quick 💛 Easy 💛 Impactful Follow the steps in the graphic and get signed up today! Let your groceries do a little good while you do your thing 😉 #RalphsRewards #Food4lessrewards #communitygiving #lawtf
Happy #MotivationalMonday and #MayThe4thBeWithYou Happy #MotivationalMonday and #MayThe4thBeWithYou Who else could #LAWTF honor today but the effervescent & indomitable spirit that is the late, great Carrie Fisher? ✨ In a career of more than 40 years, she appeared in over 50 films! A highly sought-after script doctor & with countless TV series, documentaries, video games & writing credits to her name, Fisher defined the phrase “a life well lived.” ✍️🎭 She began her legendary work on Broadway at just 16 & before she was 20, she had landed her most iconic role: Princess Leia in the Star Wars Saga. Almost overnight, she became one of the most recognizable women in Sci-Fi. 🌌 Fisher’s inimitable character shone through everything she did. Whether center stage or behind the scenes, she was known for combining strength, wit & vulnerability in her work. Her one-woman play ‘Wishful Drinking’ debuted in L.A. in 2006 & moved to Broadway in ‘09. It explored her own life as Hollywood royalty, the intense fame of Star Wars, as well as her struggles with addiction & bipolar disorder. 💪 In 2016, just 8 months before her passing, Harvard College honored Fisher with an Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism, highlighting how her candid advocacy on mental illness & addiction helped reshape public conversations with “empathy and creativity,” which are perhaps the 2 words that summarize Fisher best. 💜🧠 Whether breaking the barriers of Sci-Fi for every little girl who picks up a lightsaber or speaking openly about her struggles, she reminded us all that everyone has their demons. That people are fallible, they live, they learn & sometimes, yes, they make mistakes. But Fisher never shied away from the truth of her illnesses & addictions, channeling the good & the bad into her artistry. She lived & loved unabashedly, using her experiences to reach people in their darkest moments & reminding us that even in those times, we are just as worthy of life & joy as anyone else. In the end, Carrie Fisher was a bold, brave & beautifully creative person & is someone who should inspire us all not only to face the darkness but also to remember that there can be beauty waiting on the other side. 🫶 #WomenInTheArts #RIP
Happy #MotivationalMonday, everyone! This month ma Happy #MotivationalMonday, everyone! This month marked 64 years since Rita Moreno made history, winning an Oscar for her role in ‘West Side Story.’ Now 94, Rita has an 80-year career to look back on, so today, let’s celebrate this trailblazing woman! 🔥 Moreno was born Rosa Dolores Alverío Marcano in Puerto Rico in 1931. Aged 5, she moved to New York, where she began taking dance classes & at just 13, Moreno made her Broadway debut in ‘Skydrift.’ After a talent scout saw her & MGM signed her to a film contract, she began a steadily growing career on the silver screen, now billed as ‘Rita Moreno.’ Between 1950 & late 1961, she was in more than 50 film & TV projects, including the Gene Kelly classic, ‘Singin' in the Rain.’ 🎥 Her breakout role came when she portrayed Anita in the original film adaptation of ‘West Side Story,’ becoming the first Hispanic woman ever to win an Academy Award. Despite the honor, however, Moreno felt her career growth was stifled by the highly stereotypical roles she was pitched. Even after her Oscar win, the typecasting continued, leading her to not make another film for 7 years, as a newfound sense of self-worth helped her turn down offensive offers. Instead, she focused on theatre, TV, one-woman shows & activism. She’s always been an advocate for Latinx representation in the arts & actively champions women’s rights, access to the arts & was active in the civil rights movement, even marching with MLK Jr. before he gave his iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. 💪 “When you've been ignored for so long, you feel that no one can hear you and no one cares. But we must speak up and remain hopeful and unafraid.” Moreno once said in an interview about representation, a sentiment that she’s embodied across her life & career. Rita Moreno has seen the best & the worst of what the industry has to offer, yet for 80 years, she has continued with the hope & conviction that things can and WILL change for the better. From her prolific work on stage & screen to breaking barriers as the first & (currently) only Latinx #EGOT winner, Rita Moreno inspires us all to know our worth and to “always keep fighting for what's right.” 💜 #WomenInTheArts #LAWTF
The energy doesn’t end when the curtain falls. 💫 The energy doesn’t end when the curtain falls. 💫 After an incredible 33rd Annual Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, we’re still carrying the power of this year’s theme—“The Strength We Carry.” From a moving Opening Night Gala to a weekend of unforgettable performances, we uplifted and amplified a rich, diverse array of women’s voices from across the country. What we created together wasn’t just a festival—it was a vibrant, powerful community. And that energy? We keep it alive all year long. Through our ongoing programming across the Los Angeles metropolitan area, we continue to support, celebrate, and elevate women’s stories—and you can be a part of it. 💛 Your monthly sustaining membership fuels our work all year long 💛 Become a LAWTF member today with a one-time donation and stay connected to our mission 💛 Support programming that uplifts women’s voices across our community Head to our linktree in bio or visit LAWTF.org to join us. Let’s keep building, uplifting, and carrying this strength forward—together. We can’t wait to see you. ✨
🎶Honey, everything's coming up roses… …For this we 🎶Honey, everything's coming up roses… …For this week's #MotivationalMonday, @PattiLuPone! Since tomorrow is her birthday 🎂 join us here at #LAWTF in celebrating a star synonymous with #Showbiz Born in New York, LuPone developed a passion for performing in dance classes, school & local theater productions. She attended Juilliard, & was a member of their inaugural Drama Division & its first graduating class. In 1973, LuPone made her Broadway debut & received her first Tony nomination in 1975. She has since amassed more than 50 stage credits & a further 7 Tony nominations, with 3 wins for Best Actress & Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She also has 2 Olivier Awards, 2 Grammys & multiple other honors. Nicknamed “the First Lady of the Theater,” LuPone has earned the accolade, giving life to many iconic roles. She was the first to play Eva Perón on Broadway in ‘Evita,’ earning her first Tony win! She then had nearly identical success when she originated the role of Fantine in the original West End production of ‘Les Misérables,’ also winning the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, making her the first American ever to win an Olivier. 🏆 LuPone is famed for her vibrant stage presence, but her path hasn’t always been easy. She’s had to fight for her success & even in so-called ‘lulls’ in her Broadway career, she kept honing her craft & expanding her talents, through plays, film & studio albums. That same resolve has helped LuPone be a fearless advocate for herself & many causes over the years. Costars have described LuPone as someone who feels deeply & brings that emotional force to her work, so it’s no surprise that when she lends her voice to a cause, like LGBTQ+ rights or elevating the arts, she does not back down. 💪 Patti LuPone has been called many things: actress, diva, icon & more. But these labels can be boiled down to a core quality: passion. LuPone is passionate about the craft she loves, the standards she maintains & the causes she holds most dear. Whether through upholding theater etiquette, belting out a show tune, or fighting for social change, perhaps it’s best summed up in her own words: “Love is what we need more of.” 💜 #WomenInTheArts
This #MotivationalMonday, we’re moving from an est This #MotivationalMonday, we’re moving from an established literature legend to a rising supernova in the world of music. At just 21, Sofia Isella is already making her mark as an immense talent, unafraid to share the deepest parts of herself through art that resonates around the world. 💫 Born here in Los Angeles in 2005, she had creativity in her blood – her father is a filmmaker & her mother is a writer. Sofia showed her musical potential from age 3, when she began learning classical violin & by age 8, she was writing her own lyrics. 🎻 In 2020, Sofia released her first EP, ‘I’m Not Yours,’ debuting her distinctive blend of alternative pop-punk & rock, infused with classical influences. In the following years, she quickly grew popular on social media, enough that she began capturing the attention of established artists. In August of 2024, Sofia was asked to be one of the opening acts for Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour. A month later, Sofia released her second EP, ‘I Can Be Your Mother,’ & in May 2025, she launched her third EP, ‘I’m camera.’ 🎶 If asked to pick a singular quality that separates Sofia Isella’s music from others, it would have to be the raw, at times jarring power of her lyricism. In an interview with Wonderland Magazine, Sofia summarized her sometimes uncomfortable artistry by simply stating that “It is gore to be a woman.” The interviewer agreed, saying Isella’s work exposes “the viscera of the feminine experience – the perversity, ugliness, and horror that lives beneath the skin.” In her lyrics, Sofia covers numerous difficult themes, from autonomy & objectification to identity & social control rooted in misogyny. ✒️ Much like Margaret Atwood, Sofia Isella’s art exemplifies the belief that “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” The word ‘unsettling’ is often used to describe Sofia & it’s a label she actively embraces. She is a wonderful human to draw motivation from; passionately dedicated to her craft & a wonderful example to creatives everywhere that art isn’t just about beauty – it’s about challenging, provoking, & sometimes, at its best, unsettling the status quo. 🖤 #LAWTF #WomenInTheArts
It is with a very saddened heart that we share we It is with a very saddened heart that we share we have lost yet another loved artist in our Festival Circle. Yesterday, our beloved LAWTF performer, DEE FREEMAN, passed. Dee performed excerpts of her moving solo show, "POISON GUN" several times with the Festival. Her personal story was one of my very favorite solo plays because it was so well-crafted and storytelling at its best. Dee was an incredible, engaging and at times humorous solo artist in a piece that was at once tragic, mesmerizing and mysterious. Dee will be sorely missed by LAWTF and all whose lives she so richly touched. We are in prayer for her two children and siblings. Take wings, Dee! DEE'S BIO: After high school, Dee entered the United States Marine Corps on a dare and left six years later as a Sergeant. (Oorah!) She lived in Japan after leaving the service, working at an all-Japanese radio station, FM Aomori, as a disc jockey. Dee has performed in more than 80 stage productions beginning with “Shear Madness” at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She has won numerous awards and was nominated twice for the NAACP Image Award for “Homegirl” at the Court Theater, and “The Last Street Play” at the Colsac Theater. Dee made her way to Los Angeles and has spent the last 25-plus years acting in television and film. Credits include NCIS L.A., Reasonable Doubt, Shameless, Cold Case, Dexter, E.R., Halfway Home, Pretty the Series, Brothers and Sisters, Crossing Jordan, My Baby’s Daddy, Boston Public, The Guardian, Anacostia, The Shield, Six Feet Under, Suddenly Susan, Kenan & Kel, Stranger Inside, The District, Blue Hill Avenue, The Division, Third Rock From the Sun, High Incident, Profiler, All That, The Hughley’s, Ghost Whisperer, Caroline In The City, Freezerburn, Seinfeld, Caroline In The City, The X-Files, The Landlady, Rude Awakening, and more. Dee just completed Seasons 9 and 10 of Tyler Perry “Sistas,” was a supporting lead in the horror movie, "Don't Move," and appears in the shorts "Patty's Last Resort" with Lori Beth Denberg, "Country We Call Life" and “For Piece Of Mind."
For this week’s #MotivationalMonday, we’re celebra For this week’s #MotivationalMonday, we’re celebrating Margaret Atwood, who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in contemporary literature. With the TV adaptation of her book, ‘The Testaments,’ set for release this Wednesday, let’s use today to honor a truly historic talent. ✒️ Born in Canada in 1939, Atwood spent much of her childhood in the Canadian wilderness, fostering a deep connection to nature & storytelling. This early, often isolated upbringing nurtured the imagination that would define her writing. In 1962, she earned a master’s degree in English Literature from Radcliffe College on a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, reflecting her creative talent & intellectual potential – potential that she has more than fulfilled. For 65 years, Atwood has been nothing short of prolific, with over 50 published works spanning multiple forms. Her first poetry collection, ‘Double Persephone’, was published in 1961, winning the E.J Pratt Medal, and the rest, as they say, is history. Her work has earned some of literature’s highest honours, including two Booker Prizes for ‘The Blind Assassin’ & ‘The Testaments,’ further cementing her legacy. 📚 Of course, we can’t discuss Margaret Atwood without mentioning ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ widely regarded as one of the most influential dystopian novels of the modern era. Offering a chilling exploration of the erosion of women’s rights, its themes have remained strikingly relevant decades after publication, resonating across generations. Atwood has always said that “One of my rules was that I would not put any events into the book that had not already happened." Art imitating life in this way only adds to the gut-wrenching power of Atwood’s writing and is a powerful reminder, too, that art is not limited to that which is beautiful; pain is equally as valid & significant. Margaret Atwood is a living legend. Her literary output is as vast as it is influential & while she declines the label of icon (“it leads to iconoclasm”, she’s said in interviews), we hope that she will accept our honoring of her as a pioneer of her field & an inspiration to women, writers & creatives around the world. 📖💜 #WomenInTheArts #LAWTF
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