Women's Words Fest Includes a Week of Lesbian-Themed Entertainment

Chicago's Women's Words Fest will now include a week of lesbian-themed entertainment, including a film festival, staged readings, dance, prose and plays, all at the Chicago Public House Theater.

On Friday, September 19, join them at the Center on Halsted for a staged reading of a contemporary lesbian classic, Patricia Kane's "Pulp," a gritty and witty play about the shady lavender menace known as lesbianism.

Kane is a Chicago-based actress and award-winning playwright. Her play "Pulp" had its premiere in February 2004 at About Face Theatre -- garnering four Joseph Jefferson Award nominations (including for Best New Work) and winning for the music and lyrics. "Pulp" also received two After Dark Awards for Best New Work and Outstanding Production. "Pulp" has been performed in numerous critically acclaimed productions across the country, including an extended run remount at About Face in 2007.

On Saturday, September 20 at 3 p.m., enjoy Pat Montley's "Kali Dances," directed by Shelley DeHosse. When a music teacher is found at the church organ with her throat slit, her lesbian lover, the pastor, and his young daughter become suspects and confront the terrifying Indian Goddess Kali. More than a detective story, this mystery play explores the intersection of Hindu and Christian beliefs about death.

At 7 p.m. that evening, watch "Creative Nonfiction" by Laura Jones, directed by Anna Rose li-Epstein. This is a dramedy about Addie, a woman dealing with the layers of truth and fiction in her life. Ex-wife Smith is now happily remarried after Addie cheated on her with another woman. But when the other woman leaves, will Smith reunite with Addie, and will Addie ever tell others -- and herself -- the whole truth?

On Saturday and Sunday, the new works by the finalists will be performed, and you will meet women of mystery and women with history; women with tools and women who don't suffer fools; women who dance and women who take the "man" out of romance.
See "The Girl Who Would Be King" by Jan O'Connor, directed by Elyse Dolan, at 1 p.m., and "Jack and the Box Store" by Heidi FitzGerald, directed by Lexi Saunders, at 4 p.m. When a small-time lesbian secretly lures big business into town to take over her hardware store, she doesn't count on the community rallying behind her, or on falling in love with the undercover scout sent to destroy her livelihood.

Women's Words Weekend features films and plays written by women with lesbian themes. Pride Films and Plays mission is to present and develop human stories with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters or themes that speak for the community and are essential viewing for all audiences.

Events will be held at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted and Chicago Public House Theater, located at 3914 North Clark. A weekend pass can be purchased for $40 at BrownPapertickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006.