“Stories for the Stage”: Alexandria, Louisiana
Celebrates International Women's Day
by Terri Febuary

In a city that is bursting with creative people, arts and historical events, culture and education, there is a sad lack of participation for any new program or event.

With the IWD event, I focused on a charitable organization partnership with one organization I was certain would bring in donors: Breast Cancer Awareness through the Central LA Arts and Healthcare, Inc. I had noticed with the early Easter Holiday, that none of the events in Alexandria were being attended. (However, sports events never lose fans to the holidays. Hmmmm.) The Director of the Arts and Healthcare thought that the program was wonderful. She was especially disappointed more people hadn't turned out for it.

Our program was very nicely constructed. We rented the black box theatre with seats on risers and a light booth, and paid for a light designer/operator. We brought in a Karaoke machine with two speakers and microphones and hooked it up to the podium, and that is where the narrators stood. I set the actors/readers on chairs that lined the back wall facing the audience, then provided three different sets for the readers to use across the floor between two structural building pillars. All readers wore black, and the chairs and most of the items on stage were black or blackish green.

This was a new exercise for most of the actors. It took several rehearsals before I could bring myself to admit my ICWP partner, Lisa Soland, was right. I told them not to move unless it was necessary for emphasis and then sit down again. (A practice foreign to myself as well.)

The actors created an atmosphere that was sophisticated and engaging. Several of the actors wanted to perform as a reader's theatre again, which the Arts and Healthcare Director decided to integrate into a grant proposal she is constructing.

There had been so many wonderful plays submitted, choosing was an exciting and difficult task; a task I would enjoy taking on again.

It was fortunate that my son's father-in-law was available as a professional photographer, and a theatre friend wanted to video the performance for us.

It was a marvelous experience. In spite of low audience participation, I was delighted with the final product.

I thank the Board of Trustees, the IWD selection committee, the many playwrights who submitted plays and Lisa Soland, my partner in CA, for trusting me with this fascinating opportunity.