packing the house!

How nice it is to have so many folks who come out to appreciate the estrogen.

Last night must have been the most full Estrogen Fest yet!

Don't miss out! We have 3 more nights and we're having a ton of fun at Prop Thtr!

TONIGHT...

Wednesday, 23 May 7:30– Double Estrogen
Double the dose. Double the fun!
Special Guest Emcee: Tania Richard
Erica Burkhart & Matiss Duhon + Homoneurotic
Thread Meddle Outfit + Size Affects May Include
Chrissy Gardner + WhiskeyHouse
Marilyn Campbell & Maria Merrin + Mixing it Up
Carolyn Hoederman & Visibility Counts + Oh My God I Miss You!
Masha Kore & Ellefant Foot + About the Myst…
Chris Olsen Hodack + The Adventures of Gudrid and Jorunn
O•VAD•YA + Black Fire
AfterWords: Dialogue with all artists above
Time: 7:30PM
Price: 1 Shot of Estrogen
Preceded by a FREE performance of all seven plays from week 28 of Suzan-Lori Parks' 365 Days/365 Plays at 7:00pm
Followed by a concert by O*VAD*YATime: 9:00PM Price: 1/2 Shot of Estrogen

Work that Estrogen! TONIGHT...

Monday, 21 May 7:30–
Work That Estrogen
Monday… the perfect night to exploit that workplace estrogen!
Special Guest Emcee: Sharon Greene
Ross Travis + Support Group
ecnDanceworks + Loop Detail
Chance of Showers + Sex, Diversity, and YOU!
Michael Garces + kapital
Kristy Lockhart + The Executive Secretary
Courtney Berne + Choice

The Luna Blues Machine + Acoustic / Hip Hop / Soul AfterWords: Dialogue with all artists above plus visual artist Brandi Lewis
Time: 7:30PM
Price: 1 Shot of Estrogen
($12)

Preceded by a FREE performance of all seven plays from week 28 of Suzan-Lori Parks' 365 Days/365 Plays at 7:00pm

BONUS DOSE WEEKEND!

Don't miss the bonuses! The fantastic crafters, the great workshops, the non-stop estrogen fun!!!

Saturday, 19 May 7:30– Politically Charged Estrogen Olivia Newton-John gets physical. We get political, po-lit-i-cal, we wanna get politicahhhl. Special Guest Emcee: Arlene Malinowski Courtney Berne + Choice Maiden Sacrifice + Amerika Cristal Sabbagh + Say That! Chance of Showers + Sex, Diversity, and YOU! Carey Friedman & Bang You’re Dead + Ferine Sarah Gubbins + Out of Order Stephanie Rearick + Democracy AfterWords: Dialogue with all artists above Time: 7:30PM Price: 1 Shot of Estrogen Followed by a concert by MiLkBabY and Stephanie Rearick sponsored by Uvulittle Records. Time: 9:00PM Price: 1/2 Shot of Estrogen BONUS DOSE WEEKEND! Browse crafters from 11am - 4pm. Workshops + classes + panels all day beginning at 10:30am! Yoga Class + Mercedes Gomez: 10:30am The Art of Saying Before Words + Masha Kore: 12:00pm Sex, Diversity, and YOU! + Chance of Showers: 1:30pm Moving Like Elvis + RTG Dance: 3:00pm Politics + Art: Do They Mix? Panel discussion 5:30pm: FREE

FRIDAY NIGHT ESTROGEN!

this one should be fun!

Friday, 18 May 7:30– Obsessive Estrogen
Come witness some of our favorite obsessions…
Special Guest Emcee: Tekki Lomnicki
Joanie Schultz + Pulled to the Bull
The Chicago Moving Company + Quirk
Jesse Weaver + Do With You
Philip Dawkins + Saguaro
Rachel Thorne Germond & RTG Dance + Double Judy
Erica Burkhart & Matiss Duhon + Homoneurotic
AfterWords: Dialogue with all artists above
Time: 7:30PM
Price: 1 Shot of Estrogen ($12)

ESTROGEN TONIGHT...

What's on this evening's menu of estrogen??

7:30 PM Thursday, 17 May – Eclectic EstrogenLook what's on the menu tonight... little of everything, just the way we like it...

Special Guest Emcee: Kelsie Huff

Susan Hahn + The Scarlet Ibis
Michael Garces + kapital
The Dance COLEctive + Still As Yet to Be Titled
Lisa Dillman + The Curse of the Horned Babby
Kendall Loyer + Whatever You Want It To Be
Chance of Showers + Sex, Diversity, and YOU!
Laurie Goux + Saturn Over Sunset
AfterWords: Dialogue with all artists above plus visual artist Johnny KnightTime: 7:30PMPrice: 1 Shot of Estrogen
It's all at Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston (773) 539-7838

Estrogen Made a Man Out of Me.

I've been called many things in life, many of them unprintable, but I'm rarely ever referred to as a "Man." Dude? sure. Guy? frequently. Fella? only by my dentist. But, "Man"? almost never.

So unused to that descriptor am I, that I felt misplaced in the line up of "Men on Women" next Tuesday night. There I am, listed next to genuine men's men. Some I know, some I don't. I mean these are guys with, like, chest hair, and mortgages, and *gulp* wives. All I have are shoes, and tupperwear, and three sewing machines. Do I fit in here?

It's not that I don't think I'm a man. I know I'm a man. And if you're cute, single, male, and ask really nicely, I can prove it. But, I rarely feel like a "Man" in the pop culture sense. Maybe it's because the word "man" has come to represent all things opposite of "Woman." In the grand tradtion of the compare-and-contrast comedy routine, "Man" has taken on the connotations of all things anti-feminine, de classe, and troglodyte. Men, after all, are from Mars, they live in caves, they play with power tools, and don't know how to change diapers. "Men" want to watch "the game"; Women want to watch "their stories." "Man" is Fred Flinstone; "Woman" is "Carrie Bradshaw." In the lexicon of stereotyped language, "Man" is King, and anyone who's met me would likely agree I veer closer to Queen. Perhaps that's why I'm so unaccustomed to falling under the Man Category [Insert Dirty Joke Here.]. I'm fine being called a guy- being from the southwest, I call most everyone "guys"- but call me a man, and I start looking over my shoulder to see who you're really talking to.

But, who am I to allow stereotypical language to take away my title? Isn't that part of what Estrogen Fest is about, breaking down stereotypes, crumbling preconceived notions? Yes! And, for that, I am tinkled pink to be included right where I belong in the Estrogen Fest "Man" category. Tinkled pink in the most masculine way, of course.

Thanks, Estrogen Fest. I am Man, hear me squeal with delight!

Hit Me With Your Est Shot!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe I'm the first non-female to blog for Estfest. Is that right, Estros?
Am I boldly blogging where no man has blogged before. Well, color me honored.

Not only is it pretty cool to be the first dude on the blog, but it's full-out kicking to be in the company of so many righteously talented women. For me, one of the best perqs of being part of any festival is the new connections, friendships, collaborators, and brunch dates that come out of the process. And, what playwright isn't always on the lookout for talented females? I for one have always got my "future collaborator" goggles on ("Ooo, she'd be great in my comdey." "Ah, she's totally got her Stage Management shit together." "Wow, where did she get those boots?!"). So, aside from getting the chance to work with some good friends (including my talented co-workers, Katie Klemme and Ilesa Duncan), I get to meet a whole slew of knew theatre peeps like the adorable and hillarious Michelle Courvais, who I fully intend to work with as frequently as possible. Seriously, people, come see her in SAGUARO, and then cast her in everything. You won't be sorry.

It's like one big pot luck up in here. Only minus the hotdish.

But, there's something that seperates Estrogen Fest from a lot of the other festivals I've been a part of, something that excites me in a T-ball Coach kind of way. There seems to be an element of fearlessness attached to Estfest, and I doubt I'm the only one who feels it. While I'm sure Joanie and Ann are probably nail-biting nervous wrecks at this stage in the game, to my eyes, this is a bunch of daring, take no prisoners, balls-to-the-wall risk takers. It started with my very first meeting when Ann decided to stick her neck out and try acting in my piece. Right on! It's that sort of sample-the-blowfish attitude that really gets my theatre juices going, makes me feel like I better bring my best to the fest, since everyone else is going for it full-out. That's scary. And scary is fun.

Break a leg tonight, everyone! Thanks for dragging this man along for the ride.

a sneak peak into the estrogen fest tech...

we open the fest tomorrow!


to get ready for this momentous occasion, we had a long day of teching pieces in the fest today. what this means is that each piece came and performed in the space, and our amazing lighting designer/stage manager julie ballard created some light cues and worked with sound cues, and the rest of the est fest tech team worked with them on setup and tear down of their pieces.

we've been working hard, but it' s well worth it, as i noted on last night's post! this is going to be the best fest yet!


here, co-artistic director ann filmer discusses her tech with playwright/poet susan hahn and actress kathleen powers

frames being hung for jesse weaver's "do with you" directed by megan mccarthy, with actresses standing by to start tech.

hello from estrogen tech...

So here we are, as I type this, at Prop Thtr: Estrogen Fest Central!

We are teching Estrogen Fest 2007, and let me tell you, this place is buzzing with activity. We tech a different piece each half hour! We've been going all evening, and I can't tell you how exciting this is. Different artists milling about the Prop Thtr. and bringing their great vibes and incredible work!

Which leads me to the most important part: when Ann and I interviewed and auditioned all of these artists with their pieces, they were good, but with all of the time and work in between then and now, I had almost forgotten why I love the Estrogen Fest so much. But during this tech so far I have been amazed with how wonderful each and every piece is. Which just goes to show: whatever night you choose to see the Estrogen Fest, you are in for a damn good show. I am so proud of the work being done here at Estrogen central.

This is going to be an amazing fest. We open Wednesday! Don't miss it!!

Forget the fancy brunches, give me peace!!!

I've been a mom now for exactly two years. Hannah Doris was born right after the opening of est fest 2005 on May 15. I don't need breakfast in bed, or brunch at some overcrowded, overpriced joint. I demand peace. And not the quiet peace, as in leave me alone i want quiet time. (although yeah that can be good too) But as in, no more war. And the ones that profit from this perpetual state of war they have put us in can no longer have the power to make us think peace is something unnattainable or naive. You cannot pacify us with your sweet hallmark cards. (although I like cards and flowers). We call the shots. We will make some noise. Happy(?) Mother's Day for Peace!!!
ann filmer

Mother's Day Proclamation - 1870
by Julia Ward Howe

Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.

We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

1858 — Social-justice activist Anna Reeves Jarvis organizes "Mother's
Works Days" in West Virginia to improve sanitation in Appalachian
communities. During the Civil War, Jarvis encourages women to leave
their families to care for wounded soldiers on both sides. She
organizes meetings to persuade men to stop killing each other.
1870 — Julia Ward Howe writes the anti-war Mother's Day Proclamation.
1872 — Howe proposes an annual Mother's Day for Peace. For the next 30
years, Americans celebrate Mother's Day for Peace on June 2.
1913 — Congress declares the 2nd Sunday in May as Mother's Day it's no
longer Mother's Day for Peace. The growing consumer culture redefines
women as "consumers." Greedy businessmen and politicians embrace the
idea of making money from the sacrifices of mothers. According to the
trade journal the Florists' Review, "This was a holiday that could be
exploited."

funny

funny
the way things work.
the universe said no
made decision for us
wanted you present

we will work on in future
maybe you and me

i sent the above to playwright and friend Valerie Black-Mallon today. Her play THREE BAD MOVES was having scheduling and casting problems so we had to let it go. It won't be able to be in the fest. Sad but the challenges were becoming insurmoutable so to not pay attention... well... have been there before, and don't wish to again. Listen to the universe.

I am in a great frame of mind though. i loved my horoscope today: "The road of true anything always has some bumps. Go with the flow. Work with these new challenges. In the big picture, everything is still good."

I don't regularly follow astrology but it always seems to make it my way, or I to it, when I need it most. The producer in me really needed to hear that all is going to be ok. Cause there were a couple glitches today: Carolyn's tech time was changed but she didn't know and can't make new slot. Losing Val's piece, then getting back, then losing again. But then there is the good: Securing Susan Karp (Est Fest 03) to emcee May 20, Joanie lining up another cool band, doing a podcast for TheatreinChicago.com with marilyn and joanie. god i love them.

So... all is good. and there we are: marilyn, joanie and i walking downtown in the loop after exiting the sears tower. after talking art and debating what is estrogen?, what is the fringe? what makes a festival? enter today's sunny streets of chicago. sunglasses on. White men in suits everywhere. having just done the interview, we are fired up. we were just getting started! (i always feel this intense, yet nurturing, fierce, yet fun energy from the combo of j, m). we are moving through the crowds railing against fear, fear of the unknown, fear of the other, fear of change. marilyn exclaims "thank god i'm an artist. I don't know if I would have made it any other way" here here, sister.

Secretaries: we want your stories! 2nd Post!

Due to the Red Eye listing, I thought I should post this as the most current:

Calling All Administrative/Executive Assistants, Receptionists, Clerical Workers and Former Secretaries: We Need Your Stories!

Seeking stories of secretaries in the workplace. I need your story or the stories of your friends, co-workers or relatives experiences—especially seeking those that worked in secretarial position pre-1980. Final stories will be used in a piece at the end of May for the Estrogen Fest 2007 called“You too could be an Executive Secretary!”

Please post them here OR submit to SecretaryStory@estfest.org before Administrative Assistants Day on April 25th. Pass this along to anyone you know who might have a great secretary story!

Why Estrogen Fest?

I felt it was important to post while it was still Women's History Month to say a little bit about the women's movement, our history, and the Estrogen Fest. This is to give our readers, may they be participants or audience in the fest, a point of view of why I have chosen to participate in The Estrogen Fest since 2001.

First of all, I think that art and performance can create consciousness. If the real difference between humans and our animal friends is our level of consciousness, it is critical that we utilize this difference to evolve ourselves further all the time. I think that the level of comfort we have allows us to become unconscious, when what it should do is evolve us. Without a constant struggle for survival, can't we concentrate our energy on how to create a better world?

Part of a better world for me is creating equality for everyone, including women. It has been less than a hundred years since women have been given the vote in the US. I hope that all of you are using yours. The equal pay act was passed by congress in 1963, although since women are still receiving 71 cents to each man's dollar in Illinois, we have a long way to go on that. But alas, the Equal Rights Amendment proposed in 1975 never passed! To all of my young female friends out there I want to remind you that our rights are still not protected as equal under our US constitution!

I think that growing up I believed (wrongly) that women really did have equal rights. I think a lot of young women grow up believing this fallacy and instead of being upset when this turns out to be true, they back off instead of fighting, and accept their "role" in the world as it is given to them. This is the most sad thing to me.

I want women to dream and go for those dreams. I want to see women fighting odds, not complaining or crying, not ripping on men, not focusing their entire lives on relationships with men, but figuring out who they are, what they want, and how they will try to get it. I want women to create their roles, not have them handed to them. I want to see women in charge, I want to see them fight a good fight. By seeing this in art and on stage, I believe that we can encourage women to stand up for themselves and not think about what they "should" do but what they want. I think that the Estrogen Fest does this. We aren't hear to "celebrate" women. We don't even know what that means. We don't need to celebrate, we need to create!

So, if you made it through my post...what about you? Why are you part of the Estrogen Fest or going to see the Estrogen Fest?

It's a very exciting moment

Not only did the estfest.org web site go live, but this week was a special week of connections and chance meetings. This week alone we've brought on three directors: Kimberly Senior returns, Noah Simon gets all estrongen-y doin' it Dillman style, and hopefully the hook up between Lisa Portes and Marilyn Campbell will prove to be fruitful. Monica Payne is looking at directing the 365 plays section of the fest. Kristen Cox (of Chicago Dancemakers Forum) and I spoke, knocking around excellent ideas and contacts for panels and workshops- she has such exciting ideas to offer on dance and theatre collaborations. This morning I met with Renee from the Chicago band Gamine Thief and Girls Rock! Chicago who we are trying to get on the program. And then to top it all of, tonight I'm in this old Lutheran church in Bridgeport at a weekly art/music event called The Orphanage. For a $5 donation we are fed, and fed well. Artful trees grew from the tables, my daughter laughs and jumps around the dancefloor, and following the joyous groove of MiLkBaby, two women took the stage dancing with hula hoops. And I mean dancing! It was fun and sensual and athletic and quirky and beautiful. I approached one of these women, who I can tell has a great sprit, and this yoga instructor named Mercedes tells me how she has found balance within the masculine form of yoga exercises and the feminine, circular motion of hula hooping. I want to hug her. Instead I give her my card and told her I'd love to get her to perform and run a hula hoop workshop at the fest.
So this is the kind of energy I always hope will come out of this festival. It strengthens me to see it taking shape and reaching out farther and farther. As Angela Davis said, "It's a vey exciting moment."

Secretaries: We want your stories!

Calling All Administrative/Executive Assistants, Receptionists, Clerical Workers and Former Secretaries: We Need Your Stories!

Seeking stories of secretaries in the workplace. I need your story or the stories of your friends, co-workers or relatives experiences—especially seeking those that worked in secretarial position pre-1980. Final stories will be used in a piece at the end of May for the Estrogen Fest 2007 called“You too could be an Executive Secretary!”

Please post them here OR submit to SecretaryStory@estfest.org before Administrative Assistants Day on April 25th. Pass this along to anyone you know who might have a great secretary story!

Virgin

Ok, this is my first time blogging, EVER. Relieved it's thru estrogen fest. I think I may like this, we'll see. No rambling, right...! Just finished sending out my half of the notices welcoming all the artists to the fest. It's really happening. We have a space, acts, dates and themed-nights! In order, Birth of Estrogen (May 16), Eclectic Estrogen (17), Obsessive Estrogen (18), Politically-Charged Estrogen (19), Elemental Estrogen (20), Work That Estrogen (21), Male Estrogen (22) originally titled "Men on Women".. hmmmmm.... Double Estrogen (23), Triple Estrogen (24), and A Closing of Mythic Proportions (25).

It's 12:21am, my heart is racing, my toes are frozen, my back is sore, and my spirit is high. Feelin the vibe from all these awesome females (and males). Thanks for coming along for the ride!
love in estrogen,
ann

Mail Art

Hi all,

I'm Kristin, the associate producer of Estrogen Fest. In addition to making your (EstFest) lives as smooth as possible, I'm also helping to facilitate a mail art project that will become a part of the visual art displays when EstFest overrides Prop Thtr for our 10 day extravaganza. So tell your friends, you grandma, your bookclub--spread the word. The guidelines are similar to those of EstFest in general, but the link is listed below:

http://www.mailart.org/archives/717

Cheers!
Kristin

A Short History of the Estrogen Fest...

A Little Herstory on the Estrogen Fest... This story begins with a woman named Ann Filmer who ran a small off, off-Loop Chicago theatre company called The Aardvark. This artistic collective burrowed deep underground for unusual plays. Fueled by Filmer's aggressive nature, these plays tended to be manly affairs. So when female company members met her with a challenge, she took them on... and then some! Determined to find a play (devoid of crying or male bashing) to feature collective members Heather Graff and Laurie Larson, she finally found three…short ones. Originally entitling the program ALLWOMEN: MAD, BAD AND TOTALLY RAD, that title was soon nixed by marketing goddess Ms. Larson, who blurted out, "There has to be some better title for this, this…estrogen fest!" And so the name and the concept were born, the show ran at Angel Island in 2000, the girls got (almost) naked and all had a great time.

ESTROGEN FEST 2000
3 short plays that reveal a little something about women…The first Estrogen Fest was produced by The Aardvark (Ann Filmer, Artistic Director) at Angel Island Theatre. It consisted of The Mamet Women by Frederick Stroppel, No Problem by Catherine Butterfield, The Most Massive Woman Wins by Madeleine George and featured Amy Dunlap, Heather Graff (Jeff Nomination for Actress in a Leading Role), Candis Hacker, Laurie Larson and Linh Thanh Pham. Highly Recommended in the Chicago Reader, Jenn Goddu wrote, "Estrogen Fest will entertain everyone…Director Ann Filmer’s choices reveal a side of women not often portrayed this fairly…The Aardvark company’s talented cast and Filmer’s directorial wit make The Most Massive Woman Wins a darkly comic, disturbing finale."

ESTROGEN FEST 2001
No crying and no male bashing! Co-curators Ann Filmer and Joanie Schultz gathered together the coolest, funniest, dangerous and most complex Chicago female artists to create 100 minutes of fascinating females. Estrogen Fest 2001 featured two programs: Light Days and Heavy Flow in rotating repertory. 31 women (plus 6 men) aged 22 – 65 contributed to this four night only festival presented by The Aardvark at The Performance Loft. “An eclectic festival of theater, dance, music and performance art honoring the many sides of womanhood.” Lucia Mauro Chicago Tribune

ESTROGEN FEST 2003
Female Identity: It’s not just about the hair…Our triple-threat, third bi-annual Festival of Females featured three completely different, diverse and unprecedented programs of live music, theatre, dance, visual art, poetry and performance art all about female identity: who we are, who we’re told to be and who we dream of becoming. Once again led by Ann Filmer and Joanie Schultz, we changed our style every two weeks: Program 1 Extra Body, Program 2 Flexible Hold and Program 3 Sheer Strength – but stayed shiny and sassy all the way. Presented at The Storefront Theater in conjunction with Prop Thtr, Estrogen Fest was touted as “a delight! If the first part of this year’s Estrogen Fest is any indication, the women (and men) behind this joyous celebration of the feminine psyche and body is a no-holds-barred winner. Its dozen or so pieces artfully sparked thought, pathos, universality, and a big measure of giggles and guffaws. All in all, Estrogen Fest, could change the mind of even the most hard-hearted misogynist. You gotta love these women!” Rick Reed, Windy City Times

ESTROGEN FEST 2005
Changing the Rules! Back downtown at The Storefront Theater! An irreverent festival featuring 100 Chicago artists in two dynamically different repertory programs of live music, theater, dance, poetry, visual and performance art, looking at how women have broken out of the molds of the historic and mythical past and how they are still smashing them up today. Program A: History, Fantasy & Myth, deconstructs fairy tales, Norse mythology and Baby Boomers, as well as delivering break-through messages from the past, from women ranging from the Bronte sisters to Amelia Earhart. And Program B: We’re Still Here! takes on the battle to break free today—from social conformity to racial identity to who decides what is right. Curated and directed by Ann Filmer and Kimberly Senior.

AND NOW...ESTROGEN FEST 2007! What history will we make this year?

Welcome to the Official Blog of Estrogen Fest 2007!

Welcome fans and artists of the Estrogen Fest!

For those of you interested in the goings on of the Estrogen Fest and want to get the nitty gritty from us and some of the artists involved, you are in the right place! Ann and I will post here to discuss the fest, where we are in our process, and to just plain vent. We also hope to get some of our artists involved with the fest to post as well, and our Associate Producer, Kristin Idaszak.

Ann and I are working on creating an amazing ten-day festival of the most interesting, suprising, engaging women performing and creating in Chicago. Watch out...here we come!