2017 Thanks!
Hello Lovelies!!!
I know 2017 has been a doozey on a lot of fronts. I think I can safely say it’s been an emotional roller coaster for most. Not that that’s always a bad thing, but it certainly has been hard for many. I want to give thanks for all the hard work that all of you are doing. I want to applaud you all for making change and moving forward, as I know all of us have had to do in some form or another this year. Let me remind you: You’re an awesome being and your light shines brighter the more energy you put in. I know it’s hard, but good is rarely easy - no matter how much our culture tries to make us think it is.
I had the privilege of working with oodles of talented artists, as well as getting to support and witness creation on a small and large scale this year. Below is a visual overview of the magic that happened at Bootleg this year. I've added links at the very bottom to the public sites for many of the artists & companies in the collage, please get to know them and support them. Thank you to all who were a part of it, as creators and audience members. Baring witness and participating as audience is just as important to Art as creating it. The audience player is key, never discount your role.
In addition to my work at Bootleg I got to work with a group of talented students at CalArts creating a version of The Iliad that taught me so much about ensemble and storytelling (NYC peeps you can see Roger Guenveur Smith's fantastic piece The Hendrix Project featuring a cast of talented CalArts students at The Bric as part of the Under The Radar Festival in January - GO!) and I am in the process of creating Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the musical, right now (tickets available Here - we open Feb 16!) with Celebration Theatre. The Los Angeles theater scene is continuing to surprise and excite me, I hope that you all will continue to support live performance in LA (or wherever you're based). It’s vital to the life of your city and the scene in Los Angeles is poppin - get in on this!
The beginning of 2018 at Bootleg is already exciting with The Melrose Poetry Bureau returning with a new version of their live poetry & burlesque show - Poetry Deathmatch Cabaret - as well as a one night only reading of a pilot about SNCC Written by: Nick Gillie, Josh Green, Mariah Craven and directed by Patrice Quinn and a special 2 nights only showing of Andrew Pearson’s solo dance piece, this is a blank page. a story in motion. And looking ahead we'll have a new piece from Theatre Movement Bazaar: The Grail Project, our second annual Mardi Gras Grand Bal Masque fundraiser, we will host the national Ladies Arm Wrestlingchampionship match, SUPER CLAW (Collective of Lady Arm Wrestlers) and we'll produce our annual festival of LA hip hop dance SHUT UP And Dance! And that's just the first 3 months! So much to see at Bootleg in 2018. All of the dates for these shows, as well as Write Club LA (2nd Mon of every month) and the nightly music Bootleg offers will be found HERE on our calendar page.
And, as it is the end of the year and I work for the non-profit side of Bootleg (Rampart Theater Project Inc.) AND since most people think that donations will be less likely with the new tax plan next year, I would be remiss not to include a link to make a tax-deductible donation. We rely on grants, ticket sales and individual donors to produce and support the the theater and dance that happens at Bootleg. If you have something to give we would greatly appreciate it, large or small doesn’t matter, support is support, no judgies on how much. You can donate online HERE or send a check to Bootleg Theater 2220 Beverly Blvd. 90057
I'd also like to add a HUGE thank you to the Bootleg team: Alicia & Jason Adams, Kirk Wilson, Roger Nakasone, Ammy Ontiveros, Ben Messmer, Daniel Knowles, Tommy Sugimoto, Kyle Wilkerson, the Board of the Non-Profit side: Alison Dickey, Barbara Bestor, Licia Perea, Anne Alexander, Charity Wu, Lisa Harris and the family of Bartenders, Box Office Badasses and fantastic Crew Members who are the reason Bootleg had a great 2017 and is still going strong after 12 years (what?!! Amazing.). You are all my heroes.
I also want to take a moment to shine light on a podcast series that has opened up my mind in a huge way just this last week. It has shifted and deepened my thoughts about America and race and I highly encourage you to take the time to listen to it. The podcast is Scene on Radio and the series is Seeing White. I would love to talk about it, so if you listen, please drop me a line. This is part of the hard work we all must do if we want to evolve, particularly White Americans.
And finally, I want to give the loudest Yes Queen to all the folks who identify as female for opening up ourselves to the power that we have and refusing to dim our light in service to a patriarchal system that does not recognize our worth. The paradigm shift that we are causing is not easy but it is soooo worth it. The future is female and that bodes well for all.
I hope this finds you all feeling energized by this year of many emotions. We have survived this year and grown in strength because of it and I, for one, am really looking forward to seeing where we go from here. I have hope because you and this world are amazing. I am honored to be in it with you, my co-conspirators of hope. The light in me recognizes the light in you. When the world tries to dim your light, dig down and shine brighter, we need your illumination.
Thank you for being awesome and supporting me, my work and live performance. Let me know what you're up to and in to so I can appreciate and support you as well.
2018 Here We Go!!
Love and Light to you,
Jessica
**If you want to be taken off this list, just let me know!**