Women's Work Weekend of Staged Readings Sept 7 through 11

Pride Films and Plays

August, 2011

We are very excited to be completing our first year of programming!

The Women's Work Weekend September 7 to 11 is an unprecented weekend of writing by women with lesbian characters and are works diverse and unexpected as the writers themselves. I hope you will be joining us for some great new plays and screenplays performed as staged readings.

On September 19, we will be presenting a special event at Sidetrack to announce the finalists of our Great Gay Screenplay Contest, with the Finale Weekend of performances slated for October 21 to 23 at Center on Halsted.

We will soon be announcing details about our first fully staged production - of course a new work for Chicago audiences!

And entries into the Great Gay Play and Musical Contest will be accepted between September 1 and October 31. Check our website for details.

I thank our board members, ensemble members, donors and friends for what we have been able to achieve in this first season!

And I also thank the great people at Center on Halsted for being such a great partner in supporting our endeavors!

I look forward to seeing you soon for another exciting evening of the best new LGBT writing for the stage and screen.

David Zak,

Executive Director

And The Winner WASN'T...

Join Chicago's top musical theater and cabaret stars at Sidetrack for an evening of Oscar Nominated Songs that lost!

Enjoy great singing, celebrate great movies, and watch them as we make the announcement of the five finalists in the Pride Films and Plays Great Gay Screenplay Contest. Sidetrack Logo

$20 ticket gets you one drink, one chance to win a door prize, and a great time in support of a great non-profit organization - Pride Films and Plays! For tickets go here.

Meet Our Newest Ensemble Member
Jude Hansen

Jude comes all the way from Australia and is currently completing an MFA (Acting) at Roosevelt University. He enjoys work that is topical, physically engaging and has a damn good story at its heart. Most recently, he performed for PFP in the staged readings of Pig and Maurice for GAY UK 2011.

THANKS TO OUR DONORS!

I would like to thank those who have contributed to

Pride Films and Plays:

Anne Smith,

Bill Rybarczyk and Lyn Adams, Bob Burger,

Brian and Catherine Cummings, Charlotte Newfeld, David Wynne,

David Zak and Christopher Kirbabas, George Zak,

James Darby and Patrick Bova, Jay Cook,

Jerry Proffit,

Jim and Mary Gearen,

John Nasca, Jonathan Verge, Katherine Harris, M.E.Eccles, Mark Ridge and Andrew Souders,

Michelle McKenzie-Voigt, Pat Cummings, Pat Curtis,

Patricia Aylward, Patrick Rybarczyk, Patti Honacki,

Ramona Nitzscke, Ronald Sarbieski, Sean-Edward Hall, Steve Kimbrough, Steve Needham,

Susan and Joe Adler,

Tom Chiola and Drew Jemilo, Tom Emerick. Special thanks to the CNA Foundation.

As Pride Films and Plays takes root in the local and national arts communities, we need your help. Individual donors from Chicago and throughout the country have recognized that what we do is unique and important. Their impact has helped us have a great first year.

If you can make a donation at this time, you can do so on-line here. We save money by processing our own cards, and will acknowledge your gift directly within 24 hours.

Pride Films and Plays has largely been a volunteer effort thus far, but as we grow we need funds for artist and staff support. The help of individual donors will assist us greatly.

Pride Films and Plays is a 501(c)3 non-profit, and your gift is deductible to the full extent the law allows.

Thank you for your support.

David Zak

Executive Director

Women's Work Weekend

We are thrilled to present an unprecedented weekend of new plays and screenplays with lesbian characters during our Women's Work Weekend September 7 to 11 at the Hoover-Leppen Theater at Center on Halsted.

The scripts you will see performed as staged readings are the four finalists in the Sapphics on Stage and Sapphics on Screen Contests.

If you believe in the future of LGBT theater and film, please attend the readings, meet the authors, and support their work!

Tickets are $12 for each reading, or $6 for film or industry professionals. You can purchase tickets for each show by clicking on each title. A pass may also be purchased for $70 for eight admissions for the weekend to be used as you like.

Wednesday, September 7, 7:30 pm

Girls Out Loud by Pat Branch, Los Angeles, CA

Genevieve Thompson, Director

A 30-something cynic gives up on romantic love and knocks herself up just in time to meet the woman of her dreams. This bundle of joy might have three baby mamas! Screenplay reading.

Thursday, September 8, 7:30 pm

Bad Dog by Jennifer Hoppe-House, Los Angeles, CA

Ebony Joy, Director

Molly has fallen off the wagon and driven her Audi through the house. When her beleaguered wife escorts her home from the hospital, Molly finds her far-flung, dysfunctional family descending to intervene. Play reading

Friday, September 9, 7:30 pm

The Basement by Dawn Marie Guernsey, Lawrence, KS

Sarah Ballema, Director

Trapped in the basement of a building destroyed in a tornado, Lena confronts demons from her past as she endures the cruelties of the property owner, who refuses to help her. Screenplay reading.

Saturday, September 10, 6:00 pm

'70s Shuffle by Diane Edington, Los Angeles, CA

Hannah Friedman, Director

Micki, a straight undercover FBI agent in '70s NYC, is pursuing a fugitive anarchist. Smitten Gaby, dyke bartender/politico, naively guides Micki through her Mafia underworld, into her bed, and into her heart, while the Mob and FBI plot to blow them both away. Screenplay reading.

Saturday, September 10, 8:00 pm

Patient HM by Vanda, New York, NY

Jackie Jutting, Director

A lesbian neuroscientist is haunted by her memories of her lost lover as she treats a man who hasn't had a new memory in 55 years. Play reading.

Sunday, September 11, 1:30 pm

Raising Ricci by Marilynn Barner Anselmi, Rocky Mount,NC

Susan Adler, Director

A lesbian couple returns to their Southern roots looking for healing and acceptance after the death of their son. Play reading.

Sunday, September 11, 3:30 pm

Leap of Faith by Alicia Lomas-Gross, Colton, CA

Shifra Werch, Director

A timid lesbian Catholic schoolteacher falls for a student's devout mother and must convince her that they are more than just friends. Screenplay reading.

Sunday, September 11, 6:00 pm

Still Fighting It by Cassie Keet, Los Angeles, CA

Tara Branham, Director

Lack of communication is highlighted in this family dramedy when the eldest daughter of the Harkey women returns home from college with her serious girlfriend. Play reading.

Tickets are available through Brownpapertickets.com, or call 1 800 838 3006.

Please save the date
Thursday, October 20
for a Pride Films and Plays Very Special Event
in the Hoover-Leppen Theater at

Center on Halsted.

Details will be forthcoming,

but you don't want to miss it!

About

PRIDE FILMS AND PLAYS

Pride Films and Plays fosters excellent writing for the stage and screen that speaks not only to the LGBT community, but is essential viewing for our friends, family, and co-workers.

Using stories with gay and lesbian characters or themes, Pride Films and Plays develops human stories of parenting, marriage, faith, and love that become a cultural bridge to understanding.

Pride Films and Plays, based in Chicago, links an international network of writers with professionals working in film and theater.

Through readings, contests, classes, screenings and full theater productions, PFP engages artists and audiences in the full developmental process needed to make great artistic experiences.

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