5,000 Women

Because you want to spark your aliveness & creativity!

The “5,000 Women” festival recognizes the amazing creativity of women as evidenced by the astounding fact that at every moment, somewhere in the world, 5,000 women are giving birth at the same time. As women in the arts, we breathe life into our creations. The intention of the festival is to showcase the creativity of artists in all media and ultimately gather together 5,000 presenters to perform and share works, exchange ideas, and inspire change in our world.

I am doing this festival because I believe we are living in a moment where it is essential to choose to be creative in order to feel connected and alive. We also need entertainment now more than ever. As a child growing up in NYC in the 1970’s, performance art was everywhere, and I am seeking to create a forum where creative expression and entertainment is bursting forth just as I experienced it in my childhood. I am calling it “5,000 women” to emphasize women’s power, but it is for everybody to enjoy. Men are welcomed as collaborators and as support to the women performers.

Over the last 15 years I have been creating and performing one-woman shows with an emphasis on bringing humor to issues of gender, diversity and social justice. I am creating this festival as both a networking opportunity for those of us who already have an active career, as well as those who are envisioning a future in the arts.

The first performance festival will be at Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT on May 21st, 2011. Wesleyan is my Alma Mater and other Wesleyan University alumni are on board to launch the festival. The following performers are participating: Nina Shengold, Aleta Staton, Lisa Porter, Heidi Kole, Karen Gross, Jennifer Blaine, Elizabeth Liang, Stephanie Fungsang, Naaz Hosseini, Nafeesa Monro, Janet Grillo, Tamina Davar, Martha Meade, Grace Overbeke, and Dana Leslie Goldstein.