5th Wall Theatre and TheatreLAB Team Up For The Women's Theatre Festival 2019

5th Wall Theatre and TheatreLAB are teaming up again to co-produce the Women's Theatre Festival beginning March 27, 2019. With the increased focus on Women's Rights, the Equal Rights Amendment, and the #MeToo movement, the Artistic Directors of 5th Wall Theatre and TheatreLAB, Carol Piersol and Deejay Gray, have created this festival to celebrate, champion, and advance women's rights, women's stories, and the work of female theatre artists in Richmond.

5th Wall Theatre and TheatreLAB, in association with The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company, the Weinstein JCC, and Cadence Theatre Company, will bring to the Richmond stage stories of women overcoming strife, finding their voice, and making their place in the world. Playing in repertory over four weeks, the festival's plays include:

Pretty Fire by Charlayne Woodard. The story of two young African American sisters growing up near Albany in the 1950's while spending summers with their grandparents in Georgia. Produced by 5th Wall Theatre, directed by Carol Piersol, starring Haliya Roberts. Performing: March 27, April 6, 12, and 17 at 8pm, and March 31 at 4pm.

Golda's Balcony by William Gibson. A tour de force about Golda Meir and her journey from a Milwaukee schoolgirl to Prime Minister of Israel; it explores the life of this great woman caught between personal beliefs and power. Produced by the Weinstein JCC, directed by Debra Clinton, starring Jacqueline Jones. Performing: March 28, April 3, 13, and 18 at 8pm, and April 7 at 4pm.

Message from a Slave by Margarette Joyner. Told in two parts: the journey of a woman's transition from freedom into slavery and the voice of her 100-year-old daughter speaking from the heart. Produced by The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company, directed by Shanea N. Taylor, starring Pamela Archer-Shaw. Performing: March 29, April 4, 10, and 19 at 8pm, and April 14 at 4pm.

Bad Dates by Teresa Rebeck. An idiosyncratic journey of self-discovery involving the Romanian mob, shoes, a Buddhist rainstorm, shoes, a teenage daughter, more shoes, and quite a few very bad dates. Produced by TheatreLAB, directed by Melissa Rayford, starring Maggie Bavolack. Performing: March 30, April 5, 11, 16, and 20 at 8pm.

Also running in association with the festival: In My Chair written and performed by Eva DeVirgilis. Co-produced by Virginia Rep and Cadence Theatre Company. Performing at the Theatre Gym March 2-31, 2019. Tickets for this show start at $35.

The festival also brings together an outstanding all-female production team including: Lighting Designer Erin Barclay; Costume Designer Ruth Hedberg, Sound Designer Kelsey Cordrey, and Production Stage Manager Breezy Potter.

The festival begins its repertory performances with Pretty Fire on March 27, 2019 and closes with Bad Dates on April 20, 2019. There will also be moderated discussions and talkbacks throughout the course of the festival. All performances are at the Basement, 300 E. Broad Street, Richmond VA. All ticketing is handled by 5th Wall Theatre and details on how to purchase tickets, talkback dates and times, and more information about each show can be found at: www.5thwalltheatre.org.

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