LA Women's Theatre Festival Opens with a Bang

 

(at left: Florence LaRue; at right: congratulating Connie Sawyer)

 

 

The annual gala for the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival, held at the Electric Lodge in Venice on Thursday March 25, was sheer delight.

The award show was lovingly co-hosted by Ted Lange and Anna Maria Horsford, who subbed last minute for Hattie Winston. Horsford could read the phone book and be funny and really added something special to the proceedings. Connie Sawyer, now 97 years young, was a hoot, getting up minutes before she was supposed to approach the podium. "You have to set yourself up" she confided. The audience adored her. The ever-beautiful Florence LaRue, the sole remaining member of The Fifth Dimension, Odalys Nanin, artistic director of the Macha Theatre and Indonesian choreographer Sri Susilowati were the four living award winners.

Alaina Reed Hall and Bea Arthur were honored posthumously with Infinity Awards. Hall's husband and Arthur's son were on hand to accept. 

The four entertainers interspersed through the ceremony were hand-picked from twenty-four entries. Dancer Bonnie Weiss, now a vibrant 74, ballet artiste Ingrid Graham, singer/actress Mzuri Moyo, who portrayed ex-slave and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth in a brilliant solo theatre piece with song, and Juliette Marshall, a contemporary cabaret artiste, presenting her "Shift Happens" that shows the difficulties a single mom endures trying to find true love in today's insane world, were all sensational.

This was a terrific opening for the annual weekend of theatrical events which closed Sunday March 28 at the Electric Lodge.

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