Discussion: Women in Theatre

April 5, 2018 - 5:00 PM to April 6, 2018 - 4:59 PM
Robinson 103

Join Kathy Perkins (award-winning lighting designer and author), Delicia Turner Sonnenberg (co-founder of San Diego’s Moxie Theatre), Donna Scott (Executive Director of donna scott productions) and Kaja Dunn (UNCC professor of acting) for a conversation about the state of women in the theatre industry, both locally and nationally.

Delicia Turner Sonnenberg is the Co-Founder of San Diego’s Moxie Theatre and a leading voice in creating women-centered theatre work. By producing works by female playwrights and giving special attention to plays that defy female stereotypes, MOXIE has created more diverse and honest images of women on stage.

Kathy Perkins has designed lighting throughout the U.S. at the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT), Arena Stage, Berkeley Repertory, Seattle Repertory, St. Louis Black Repertory, The Alliance, Goodman, Steppenwolf, Congo Square, Manhattan Theatre Club (among many others). She is the recipient of the NAACP Image Award, National Black Theatre Festival Award, and was a nominee for the L.A. Ovation Award and New York’s Audelco. Her publications include Black Female Playwrights: An Anthology of Plays before 1950, Black South African Women: An Anthology of Plays, African Women Playwrights, and Alice Childress: Selected Plays. She co-edited Contemporary Plays by Women of Color (ATHE 1996 Outstanding Theatre Book Award) and Strange Fruit: Plays on Lynching by American Women

Donna Scott is Executive Director of donna scott productions in Charlotte.  In 2005, DSP debuted The Body Chronicles in partnership with Girls on Run International, garnering four Metrolina Theatre Association awards including Outstanding Special Event and Best Direction as well as Creative Loafing’s Best Original Show of the Year.  The Body Chronicles gave over $10,000 of proceeds to the international non-profit organization Girls On the Run, a self-esteem and running program for girls, founded in Charlotte by Molly Barker. Other award-winning productions include The Fairy Tale Chronicles (Metrolina Theatre Association’s Outstanding Original Play for 2009) and The Dixie Swim Club, (Metrolina Theatre Association’s Best Comedy, Best Director, Best Lead Actress in a Comedy).

Kaja Amado Dunn has performed in over 40 shows and taught internationally. Favorites include Around the World in 80 Days and Brownie Points (Lamb’s), A Raisin in The Sun and Gibson Girl (Moxie), playing a blues singing chicken in Canada, and performing in a circus. Most recently she was the face of an international Western Union campaign. Kaja was previously a Lecturer at California State University San Marcos and toured with Ya Tong Theatre in Taiwan. Her primary research focus is on using theatre to facilitate complex cultural conversation and people of color in theatre.