Community

  • Celebrations, Community, Event, LAWTF

    “EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND” with LAWTF: Celebrating Voices and Sharing Purpose

    This September, the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival is thrilled to be holding its 12th Annual Empowerment Weekend. Over two days, on September 27th and 28th, LAWTF will facilitate five workshops and five panels, all led and presented by a mix of twenty-one incredibly talented and experienced professionals. As LAWTF approaches its 33rd year, our commitment to providing a space for and supporting artists with exceptional talents and richly diverse stories has only strengthened over time. This year’s EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND aims to guide and support performers as they continue to explore how to best grow their brands and share their voices in the face of these trying times. 

    Since 1993, LAWTF has been dedicated to celebrating and supporting artistic diversity and the achievements of women in the arts. EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND aims to be a rich lineup of workshops and panels led by industry experts, specifically designed to elevate the skills and career choices of solo artists, while also providing information relevant to many performers.


    DAY ONE: 

    “OWN YOUR STAGE” 

    September 27, 2025

    This day of EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND is specifically all about claiming your space and owning what makes you unique as a performer. 

    It’s the first of two days full to the brim with sessions led by industry experts, specifically designed to elevate the skills and career directions of solo artists, while also providing information relevant to performers, in general. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu and what you can expect from each session.

    September 27, 2025

    “CREATING A SOLO SHOW” – 10 am – 11:20 am (Workshop)

    • This opening workshop is LAWTF’s bread and butter, supporting solo performers to craft the best show possible. From concept to curtain call, our workshop leaders, Terrie Silverman and Kirsten Laurel Caplan, will guide participants through the entire process – from that initial spark of inspiration, through to writing and then to performing on stage. Using writing prompts and exploring stories, structures, and narrative arcs, “CREATING A SOLO SHOW” is the perfect way to start the day. 

    “TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK” – 11:30 am – 12:45 pm (Panel)

    • With Terrie Silverman acting as moderator, this panel – including multi-disciplinary performers, producers, educators, and publicists – is our first panel of the week-end. Presenters will share with attendees their expertise around the importance of collaborative creative teamwork and the roles of  those needed to bring solo shows to life.

    “FUNDING YOUR VISION” – 1:45 pm – 3 pm (Workshop)

    • After a brief pause for lunch, we kick the afternoon off with Erin Coleman and Rejyna Douglass-Whitman with their interactive funding workshop. We’ll cover options from grant writing to crowdfunding to individual sponsors, and those attending who may already have funded projects are also encouraged to share their own success with funding, too!


    “BRANDING YOUR ARTISTIC VOICE” – 3:10 pm to 4:20 pm (Panel)

    • This valuable panel, led by Nicole Soul, will lead attendees in taking the clearest, most authentic representation of their creative vision and turn it into marketing success. Participants will learn how to articulate their creative voice and values while still aligning their public presence in a way that draws in audiences to experience their work. 

    “NETWORKING WITH PURPOSE” – 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm (Workshop)

    • Navene Shata and Erin Coleman will lead Day One’s final workshop, a networking session that taps directly into one of the core purposes of EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND. Our workshop presenters will guide participants as they effectively explore tools to communicate their creative vision, and build relationships of mutual trust and respect that will benefit everyone’s development and career. 

     

    DAY TWO:

    “FUEL YOUR FIRE” 

    September 28, 2025

    Hold on tight as we delve into another jam-packed day of EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND. We’ll keep the creative fires burning as we dig deeper into what fuels us as performers to ensure the show goes on!

    “MOVEMENT & MINDFULNESS” – 10 am – 11:20 am (Workshop)

    • What better way to make sure your mind, body and spirit are fully awake and engaged for the day’s events? Find connection within yourself and with your peers through meditation, and movement, all guided by our own workshop facilitators, Sona Lewis and Jana Krumholtz.

    “ARTISTS IN THE FACE OF PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE CHALLENGES”
    – 11:30 am – 12:30 pm (Panel)

    • With these uncertain times that we are all facing at this moment, this panel is a must-attend session. Moderated by Navene Shata, this session will take a look at how vital self-care can be as an act of resilience, resistance, and personal renewal.

    “WRITING FOR HEALING” – 1:45 pm – 3 pm (Workshop)

    • This transparent workshop will allow space for the creative and therapeutic benefits of writing in real time of writing exercises. Participants will explore their vulnerability and authentic selves through various writing prompts in a safe space under the careful guidance of Terrie Silverman and Kirsten Laurel Caplan.

    “STORYTELLING CIRCLES” – 3:10 pm – 4:20 pm (Panel)

    • Moderated once again by Navene Shata, this panel of experts will explore how personal stories and experiences can be transformed into powerful performances and reclaimed as a form of artistic autonomy. In this panel, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their own storytelling journeys, offering insights into the process, challenges, balance, and how it is possible to make a living through this craft.

    “ANCESTRAL POWER & CULTURAL LEGACY” – 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm (Panel)

    • Our final panel of Empowerment Weekend that will include (names) will bring us all together in celebration of the power of memory, tradition, and personal narratives derived from our own unique heritages. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their own familial and cultural histories by sharing how they have been impacted in telling their individual stories.

    —

    EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND, on September 27-28, 2025, kicks off with an intimate interview with LAWTF Co-Founder, Adilah Barnes. With everything EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND has to offer, this interview is a great introduction to this year’s educational event. 


    “ZOOM IN WITH ADILAH”

    Friday, September 26, 2025

    7pm

    ZOOM

    Co-Founder Adilah Barnes will be interviewed by longtime award-winning LAWTF performer and teaching artist Juliette Jeffers. 

     

    This ZOOM interview will focus on LAWTF’s chance meeting beginning with Adilah Barnes and Miriam Reed in 1993 that turned into LAWTF and the Festival’s journey over the last 32 years. The interview will also dive into Adilah’s history as an award-winning actor, producer, bestselling author, international women’s literary retreat founder, acting and writing instructor and coach to many celebrities. She has a lead role in the upcoming film, “Love the Skin You’re In“ and an upcoming commercial.

    Interviewer Juliette Jeffers is an award-winning Caribbean-American performer, filmmaker, director, and teaching artist. She has performed all 5 of her solo shows on stage with LAWTF. Juliet currently guest-stars on the TV series “The Residence” and “Tulsa King“ and is presently working on her Caribbean-based short film, “Pan Gyul”, shot in St. Nevis. Very accomplished in the business, Juliette has appeared in 22 films, 42 TV shows, and over 60 commercials.

    RSVP at bit.ly/ZoomInAdilah to receive the Zoom link on the day of the event.

     

    BONUS! 

    Don’t forget, at the end of Day 2, there will be a raffle held with an awesome array of prizes, and the money raised will go directly to helping us here at LAWTF continue to run fantastic events like this in the future.

    There is still time to buy your tickets and make the most of everything Empowerment Weekend and LAWTF have to offer. Follow the link below to secure your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lawtfs-2025-empowerment-weekend-tickets-1596462003829 

    Student discounts are also available for Empowerment Weekend. Contact LAWTF at info@lawtf.org for student ticket information.

    We can’t wait to welcome you to our event!

  • Celebrations, Community, Event, Festival, LAWTF

    Honoring Women’s History Month: A Celebration of Strength, Stories, and Sisterhood at LAWTF

    March is more than just another month—it’s a time to honor the resilience, creativity, and contributions of women throughout history. Women’s History Month serves as a powerful reminder of the voices that have shaped our world, from trailblazing activists to visionary artists. At the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, we proudly continue this legacy by amplifying the voices of women in the performing arts, providing a platform where their stories come to life.

    This year, we celebrate our 32nd Annual Festival, “STRONGER TOGETHER” (March 27-30, 2025), a testament to the collective strength of artists in theatre, dance, storytelling, and more. For over three decades, LAWTF has been a space where women of all backgrounds can share their truths, explore their identities, and connect with audiences through the transformative power of solo performance.

    Representation in the arts is more than just visibility—it’s about ensuring that every woman’s experience is heard and valued. The women who take the stage at LAWTF don’t just entertain; they inspire. They remind us of the struggles and triumphs of generations past while paving the way for future voices. From deeply personal journeys to powerful social commentaries, these performances capture the essence of what it means to be a woman in today’s world.

    As we honor Women’s History Month, we invite you to be a part of this celebration by attending this year’s festival. Whether you’re drawn to compelling solo performances, engaging workshops, or our signature Champagne Gala & Awards Ceremony, there is something for everyone to experience and enjoy.


     Get Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stronger-together-lawtfs-32nd-annual-solo-festival-tickets-1123330484719?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl 

    Let’s come together to celebrate women’s voices, honor their legacies, and continue the journey toward a more inclusive and empowered future. Because when women tell their stories, the world listens.

  • Community, Festival, LAWTF, Reflection

    LAWTF SUPPORTS THOSE IMPACTED BY THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRES

    We, at the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival mourn irreparable destruction in our community caused by the Los Angeles wildfires that included the Pacific Palisades and the Eaton fire in the Altadena area as well as smaller fires in the area in early January 2025. 

     

    These fires have resulted in irreversible damage to the natural landscapes of Los Angeles, displacement of hundreds of people and pets, injury, loss of life, and the loss of homes and irreplaceable property for many. 

     

    The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival has been a staple in Los Angeles Theater for over three decades, and over this time has established a strong relationship with our local community. Thus, it is all the more devastating to witness the physical, social, and emotional losses incurred by our residents and the vibrant and beautiful theatre community of Los Angeles. 

     

    The theme of LAWTF’s 2025 Festival is “STRONGER TOGETHER.” We believe that right now, more than ever, it is important to reflect what it really means to find strength within our communities. 

     

    Whether you are a patron of the arts or simply a concerned citizen, there are plenty of ways to support your local community during this time. The most direct way is through donations, both monetary and in-kind. Monetary donations can be made to organizations such as the American Red Cross, The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, and the California Fire Foundation, amongst others. 

     

    Additionally, you can support displaced members of the historically black and brown community of Altadena by contributing to their GoFundMes, an ongoing directory of which can be found here. Moreover, items like clothes, toiletries, canned and non-perishable food items, blankets, bottled water, and N95 masks can also be dropped off at various donation drops throughout the city. 

     

    If monetary donations are not feasible at the moment, you can always donate your time. Many organizations are overwhelmed by the number of donations received and require volunteers to help sort through donated materials, as well as drivers to transport material back and forth. 

     

    Organizations such as the World Central Kitchen Relief Team need volunteers to help prep, serve, and deliver fresh meals to people in need. Or, if you are looking for a way to support furry friends in need of a temporary home, many animal shelters are looking for volunteers to foster animals displaced by the fires. A list of organizations seeking volunteers can be found here. 

     

    However you choose to help, it is important to remember that there are real human beings who have suffered devastating losses.  Hence it is integral to uplift our community with the dignity and respect they deserve, whether it be through making sure items donated are hygienic, usable, and in decent condition, taking the necessary precautions when dealing with pets, or doing the necessary research and due diligence before volunteering. 

     

    In the spirit of community, it is also important to acknowledge the relationship between the fires and the ongoing climate crisis. Experts have predicted that the fires were caused by a combination of unusually strong Santa Ana winds and climate extremities in California. All of us bear the brunt of keeping our planet safe from such disasters, whether it be through personal action like recycling, responsible consumption, and limiting our usage of extreme energy-consuming tools like ChatGPT, or through public action, like holding our local and national government leaders responsible for enacting laws that protect our planet. 

     

    Despite the circumstances we find ourselves in, we at LAWTF would still like to begin this year with a message of hope. It is at times like these that it becomes important to create art that brings the community together, and it is firmly rooted in our mission to “engage with and inspire communities” through theatre. 

     

    In the words of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” It is through our art that we will imagine and create a better tomorrow for ourselves and the communities around us. 

     

    We invite you to join the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, March 27-30, 2025. For more information, visit lawtf.org

  • Community, Event, Holidays, LAWTF, Reflection

    LAWTF’s Post-Election Discussion

    A month has now passed since our highly fought 2024 Election. This blog is a follow-up on our LAWTF Post–Election Dialogue that we held on Friday evening, November 15, 2024. Our Zoom gathering was at once moving, cathartic, and contributed to each participant’s well-being.

    We thank everyone who attended and are also reaching out to those who did not make it.

    As we look forward to this Holiday Season, we at the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival wanted to speak to our community from a place of gratitude and reflection.

    Firstly, we would like to acknowledge the people who exercised their right to vote in this election, not only for the President, but for the equally important local representatives and propositions down the ballot. Voting is a vital pillar of our democracy, and we’re proud of those who exercised their right to vote and by doing so, made their collective voices heard.

    Regardless of our election results, we believe we must stay vigilant and protective of our democracy. It is important to not become disillusioned, complacent, or feel that voting does not matter because it most certainly does!

    Our Presidential elections, while a major part of exercising our personal rights, are only one aspect of our democracy. We citizens are also responsible for ensuring that our elected officials are delivering on their promises and policies that got them into office. Our representatives work for US, both at the local and national level. In addition to voting, we can make our voices heard by letter writing, phone calls, and attending local council meetings.

    Especially approaching the Holiday Season, know that it is perfectly healthy to take time to process and grieve before being called to action. Equally as important as reflection is leaning on friends and family during this time.

    Below are some suggestions LAWTF suggests to take care of ourselves:

    1. Meditation

    2. Exercise

    3. Prayer

    4. Journaling

    5. Yoga

    6. Proper diet

    7. Proper sleep

    8. Communing with nature

    9. Gathering in communities

    10. Writing (both personal and creatively)

    As Michelle Obama has said: “Just Do Something,” but be easy on yourself during this time. The holidays focus on gratitude, so allow yourself love and levity as you gather with loved ones.

    On your healing journey, decide how and when to take action as an artivist.

    We at LAWTF, as a contributing community-building organization, will be right alongside you!