GRIT: One Woman's Evolution from Chaos to Courage at Theatre Row

Lisa Natale

Born and raised in Tucson Arizona with New York City family roots, Lisa recently moved back to NY after 27 years in LA. The city that ignites her soul. Lisa is excited to join the Hollywood Fringe community and to be back at the Zephyr Theatre performing Grit: One Woman’s Evolution From Chaos To Courage. Lisa first premiered Grit in the Solo Stars Series in December. She then went on to carry out her long held dream of performing in NY. Lisa received an encore performance in the United Solo festival off Broadway on 42nd Street where she won Best New York Premiere. Grit reflects her own journey of resilience and transformation, and has been a passion project for over two decades. Professionally and passionately, Lisa has been a personal trainer and spin instructor for 25+ years. Her love of movement, music and dance has carried her throughout her life. She shares this purpose with others to empower those around her to let go and live their most authentic lives. Instagram: Lnatale73

Jessica Lynn-Johnson

Johnson is a published playwright, recipient of BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST AWARD, Advisory Board Member of the LA Women's Theatre Festival and Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo Studios International. Jessica has aided in the development, direction and producing of over 150 solo shows. As a performer, Jessica has “edu-tained” international audiences touring her own solo shows Ze and Oblivious To Everyone for over 15 years. Jessica's projects have taken home awards such as TOP OF FRINGE, HFF ENCORE PRODUCER AWARDS, TVOLUTION BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE and the LARRY CORNWALL AWARD FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE. Jessica was also nominated for the Female Director of Distinction in Theatre by Girl Trip LLC at the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival, nominated as Best Director of a Play by Broadway World 2023 and was awarded the Rainbow Award 2024 by the LA Women's Theatre Festival.

Heather Dowling

Co Executive Producer & Soaring Solo Instructor, Heather Dowling, is an award-winning writer, actor and director. Heather brought to life 50 distinct characters in her critically acclaimed one-person shows, Unemployed. Finally. and Fertile. Both shows won the PRODUCERS’ ENCORE AWARD and were nominated for BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2015 and 2019. Both shows were selected for the prestigious L.A WOMEN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL and both were deemed BEST OF FEST at SOLOFEST, the largest solo theatre festival on the West Coast. Unemployed. Finally. was selected to be part of UNITED SOLO, the largest solo festival in the world, on 42nd Street in NYC. On the heels of her personal solo success, Heather started coaching for Soaring Solo Studios. She directed 5 shows that gathered 5 award nominations in the 2022 Hollywood Fringe Festival and one of the shows she directed and developed, Asexuality: A Solo Musical, won the TOP OF FRINGE and BEST PREMIERE.