Category: 2023 LAWTF Festival Performer

Meg Lin, writer/performer of “What Am I, Chopped Suey?” on the inspiration for her show and identity struggles.  Usually, women’s solo performance work is intentional and often passionate. In speaking with Meg Lin, I wondered what incident, experience, or insight inspired her to create her show.  “The biggest influence in my life was my mom…

Lynne Jassem, writer/performer of “Being Richard Greene” on gender identity. Lynne and I caught up on the phone recently while she was out walking her dog. I asked if there was a particular incident that inspired her show, “Being Richard Greene.”  In her robust New York accent, she said, “It wasn’t an incident, it was…

Vannia Ibarguen, choreographer/performer of Andean Triptych, on speaking up, fitting in, and standing out Vannia and I had a conversation recently, and I asked her, “Solo pieces are often passionate. What inspired what you’re presenting?”  Vannia has a direct, simple way of communicating, and pulls her artistic inspiration from everyday heroes and those seeking to…

Barbara Brownell, writer/performer of Finding My Light, Finding Me, on the family secret I asked Barbara what incident inspired her show. In her even, resonant voice, she said, “I was at my father Arnie Brownell’s funeral. My cousin came up to me and said that it was really nice of my dad to ‘adopt’ me. …

Joyful Raven, writer/performer of “Breed or Bust,” on having a deeper conversation about motherhood and choice. I asked Joyful what inspired her piece. “My piece is about a woman’s right to choose. And to be honest it was the abortion I had that inspired me. It’s been percolating in my system for five years.  “I…

Alina Cenal, writer/performer of “Cuba: My Return” on connection, disconnection, and what inspired her to create her piece “When you tell stories in the theatre, you go back into memory. You revisit your memories, not to live in the past but to keep memories alive. It gives the audience a heart-to-heart experience. “We’ve all got…

Dee Freeman, writer/performer of Poison Gun, on the incident that changed her life I asked Dee what inspired her piece. “At four years old, I had an idyllic life with five brothers and two sisters on a 100-acre farm in Louisiana. One and a half miles down the road was my best friend, my grandfather…

Morgana Shaw, performer of “All About Bette Davis” on what inspired her performance. “When I walked into clubs during college, people used to play “She’s Got Bette Davis Eyes.” I loved it though I didn’t know at that time I was going to be an actress. I was dancing at a dance company.  “Camilla Carr…

Bellina Logan, writer/performer of “Confessions of A Mulatto Love Child” on the inspiration for her show. “I was raised by a very colorful, very English storytelling mother. “And then she got Alzheimer’s. After spending my whole life hearing her stories, I found myself becoming the storyteller for my mom. I kept her life alive for…

Juliette Jeffers, writer/performer of “Judgment Day” on black people, the police, and God “Does God have something against black people and what do we do about that?  “The idea for “Judgment Day” came to me a few years ago when Philando Castile and Alton Sterling were murdered by different policemen within the same week. “It…