On March 8th, we held our third annual She Speaks, celebrating International Women's Day with women's voices in theatre.  What an incredible event.  First of all, the idea that five playwrights would travel, three in cars, one in a plane and one on a train, a collective, 2,913 Kilometers, to be part of this was simply amazing!  Judith Pratt and Kit came from Ithaca, NY.  It was great to see Judith again - we met at the first Ohio retreat, and meeting Kit was amazing.

I served on the ICWP board with her, but had no idea what an incredible, passionate person she was.  Christine Emmert had a piece in our last year's show, and this year, another.  She came up with her husband Richard from Pennsylvania.  She is always a pleasure.  T.Cat Ford, not 'yet' and ICWP member, brought a team with her of a director, from nearby, and two well-seasoned actors from Stratford/Toronto.  And another, hopefully soon to be member, Nancy Renny, took the train from Ottawa, arriving 45 minutes before the show.

To celebrate that fact, I organized a playwright's circle on the morning of the event from 11am - 2pm.  It was hosted at the Multicultural Theatre Space by Artistic Director, Majdi Matar.  We were joined by Lisa O'Connell, a dramaturg and founding member of Pat the Dog, a playwright's development group, and Gary Kirkham and Nick Cumming, both local playwrights who work with Flush Ink Productions.  The circle was loaded with food and coffee and opions and passion.  Friends were made.  Aliances forged.  Truley wonderful!

As for the show - it was beautiful.  Ten pieces...also from ICWP was a play by Robin Rice Lichtig, and Jean Hedgecock, were performed by, may I say excellent actors, and directors who made wise and interesting choices.  To expect an actor to crawl so deeply into a character, is impractical, but they did it.  It was moving, as so many of the pieces were emotional and intense, and it was funny, coffee running over four taste buds, and it was intriguing, I had the pleasure to read Kit's wonderful character in her play, Rasputin's Organ.

The council chambers is a very interesting place to hold readings...not a bad seat in the house.  I'm so proud of the quality of work that was represented, and the wonderful minds that came together for this event.