That Takes Ovaries:
Bold Females and Their Brazen Acts
Book edited by Rivka Solomon
Play co-written by Rivka Solomon and Bobbi Ausubel
Staged reading followed by an open mike
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Come hear and share stories about any time you were gutsy, courageous, wild and outrageous. THAT TAKES OVARIES is a collection of real-life stories from women & girls about the gutsy, outrageous, courageous things they have done. Multicultural, fun, sassy, true tales of estrogen-powered deeds, from playful to political. After, share stories about times you or the women in your life acted boldly. Everyone who speaks gets a chocolate egg wrapped in gold foil -- a Golden Ovary.
WHAT: That Takes Ovaries Book Reading, Open Mic and Fundraiser
WHEN: Thursday, March 20, 2008; 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center at Vanderbilt; Wheelchair accessible.
WHO: Everyone invited, all ages and genders. Bring your own true stories about being a brazen babe or about gutsy gals you know (3 min. max)! Guys: share stories about the ovaries in your lives.
CONTACT: Stacy Nunnally; stacy.nunnally@vanderbilt.edu; 615-322-6518
COST: Admission is free; Donations are welcome and will benefit Girls Inc.
At this event you will hear real-life stories from women and girls about the gutsy, outrageous, courageous things they have done. Multicultural, fun, sassy, touching true tales of estrogen-powered deeds that range from playful to political. After, women and girls from the audience can share their own true stories about times they acted boldly. Guys can proudly brag about the ovaries in their lives -- mothers, sisters, daughters. Everyone who speaks gets a chocolate egg wrapped in gold foil -- a Golden Ovary award.
Editor and playwright, Rivka Solomon compiled the true stories in this book and play because courage is contagious and risk-taking is infectious. She wanted readers and audiences to see how "ordinary" women do gutsy things everyday, because she anted them to think, "Hey, if that woman can do something so outrageous, so courageous, then maybe so can I". She wanted to celebrate the fun, bold things women do because she wanted to encourage more women and girls to be risk takers. If women live more boldly, not only will they have more fulfilling, adventurous lives, but they will be more willing to take risks in standing up for themselves and others -- and the more willing they will be to challenge the sexism, classism, racism, ableism and homophobia we live with on a daily basis. The more risks women and girls take, the sooner they will be able to build the world they want to live in. So, be bold!
The March 20th event at Vanderbilt will feature Vanderbilt student readers and an open mic that will celebrate local courageous women in our community. The Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center is hosting this event as a way to celebrate women’s history month. This event is coupled with a grassroots movement for empowerment. Through inspiration and discussion, the event hopes to engage those in attendance to commit their own acts of courage (big and small) in creating an equitable and peaceful community.
Book contributor and co-playwright, Bobbi Ausubel, will be in attendance at the March 20th event. Bobbi Ausubel leads That Takes Ovaries (TTO) women's empowerment events all across the U.S. and globe, including in Africa and Asia. In India and along the Nepal-India border, she uses the TTO model of empowerment to help women and girls in prostitution, including those had been forced into the sex slave trade. In addition to working with TTO, Bobbi is also a workshop leader, theater director, playwright, acting teacher, drama therapist and consultant in the schools. Bobbi was a leader in the Second Wave of the Women's Movement: She co-wrote and directed the first play inspired by the modern feminist movement in the US in the 1960s and '70s, How To Make A Woman. She brings with her, to her TTO workshops, the unique perspective of someone who was active -- not just witnessing, but taking part -- in the evolution of the U.S. women's movement over the last few decades. Also, she was co-director of Caravan Theater in Boston, MA, for twelve years, during which time her adaptation of Tillie Olsen's (icon of the women's movement) novella Tell Me A Riddle was named "Best Play of the Year". Ausubel also directed with Union Sister, a labor-sponsored theater, as well as other theaters on the US East and West Coast. She taught acting for fifteen years at the Boston Conservatory, where she was also Chair of the Theater Division for four years. Recently she co-directed Araceli Theater's Touched by Cancer, a bi-lingual (Spanish-English) play created by a drama therapy process with persons with cancer.
There is no cost to attend the event. However donations are encouraged and welcome. Donations will benefit the Girls Inc., an organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold. (www.girlsinc.org and www.theyw.com)
For additional information about the Vanderbilt March 20th event, please contact stacy.nunnally@vanderbilt.edu
For more info about That Takes Ovaries non-profit, play or book, please visit www.ThatTakesOvaries.org
CONTACT: Stacy Nunnally, 615.322.6518; stacy.nunnally@vanderbilt.edu
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