Eastern Michigan University - Guerrilla Girls On Tour

The dozen students who participated in our street theatre workshop were all energized by the end of the day and created engaging 3 minute musicals about sexual assault, transgender issues and the destruction of art. There was a lovely reception at the art gallery on campus after (currently full of women artists in a show called “Women’s Work”).

Julia Child and I tweaked the new version of “Feminists Are Funny” the next morning and we were both pleasantly surprised when we stepped onto the Sponberg Theatre stage. It’s an intimate house with about 250 seats and a savvy tech crew of students…thanks to Josh and Lorenzo for a great tech. And to Michelle Hartung – pictured at right – who spent a year organizing our tour.

We played to a SRO house and the audience was rockin’ as Julia and I went through the issues – feminism, rape, Obama, “Saturday Night Fever” (you had to be there to get this).
Engaging questions from the audience post show. We both felt very satisfied and welcomed for our Midwest tour and leave with warm memories of the funny feminists in Ohio and Michigan that we will carry in our hearts as we head east.

See us in “Feminists Are Funny” at Bridgewater State College and Penn State next. It’s not a performance, it’s a party!

Aphra Behn
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Guerrilla Girls On Tour U of Akron

For some reason the theatre at the Student Union at U of Akron where we performed last night had no idea of our tech needs or equipment even though we were booked by the women’s studies department last fall. Hence, our tech rehearsal was a combination of Julia Child and I going over the show with just props and people running in and out asking what we needed. We arrived at 1:30 in the pouring rain and didn’t really get started until 4:30PM.

Prior to that we had a lovely visit at the Akron Art Museum with Barbara Tannenbaum and the staff of the Akron Art Museum (www.akronartmuseum.org). They gave us a tour of the gorgeous and spacious new museum. My favorite was sculpture by La Wilson and standing in front of a painting by Alma Thomas and having our picture taken.

We finished our tech at 6:30, went up at 7:15 and I must say out of disaster came a fabulous show with an even more fabulous audience. Julia’s wig flew off at the end but other than that the two of us were in top improv form. On to Eastern Michigan University.

Aphra Behn
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© 2008

Guerrilla Girls On Tour - our new video from our brand new performance!

A Knee Jerk Feminist reaction

The film "Silent Light" diminishes the value of women in society.
The film "Silent Light" uses "God's" predestined order of life to allow a man to disregard his conscious and his responsibility to his wife and his family.
The film "Silent Life" justifies a man's decision to be a passive coward.

Upon further (positive) reflection and meditation....The film "Silent Light" allows an unfaithful husband to compliment his wife's ability to make good soap. Soap. Yes, soap. The film "Silent Light" allows that woman to stare blankly back and speechless at her husband after receiving the soap compliment. The film "Silent Light" ends with a scene which reminded me of "Jurassic Park" at least putting the behavior in the context of a time in which it may have been seen as more acceptable.

Hoping to see a sequel in which the women of the film "Silent Light" crawl out the back window into a life in which they are fully valued (spoiler alert - without having to die first truly or metaphorically).

Have a lovely evening - Edith Evans

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter._Martin Luther King, Jr.


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Musings on history from a sick GGOT who has been watching too much TV.

I write on the eve of history. I have been watching the television coverage as we inch closer to the Obama Presidency with a mixture of joyful tears and awe. This is really happening!

I have been recovering from a bad cold and been locked in the house with nothing to do but take cold medicine and watch TV. It has made my mind make strange connections.

There has been a lot of talk from the conservatives about the "Hollywood elites" and their "liberal conspiracy" and I think they might be right and it might be working!

It is natural for humans to become used to things they see around them. Before TV you only were familiar with those who lived in your town and what they looked and acted like. Then TV and movies came and create different realities and opened viewer’s eyes to different visions and views.

What am I talking about?? Well, take “24” - the TV show were Jack Bower saves the world every 4 years or so. Seems like a typical conservative show, rah, rah get the bad guys etc. However, they had not one but two African American presidents on the show. And they were well-loved, honorable presidents. The American eye is getting used to the idea of an African American president. Hey if it is good for Jack Bower, right?

And now in real America we are going to have an African American President! Could it have been in part to movies and television showing us that it would be OK? Daring to show a better world then we actually lived in at the time?

This season “24” has a woman president who seems like she will make a great president. Well, if it's good for Jack...maybe our next president (after a full 8 years of wonderful Obama presidency) will be a woman, just like on TV. (I am, of course, ignoring the rest of the content of “24” but I think you see what I am saying).

I think our “liberal” media really has helped open the minds of American's. Which only makes what we do in film, TV and theatre that much more important. With more voices writing, directing and performing from different back grounds, the more we become open to other ways of living other then what we see from our front porch.

More plays by women, more people see the women's point of view. More movies about gays and lesbians, the more people will understand and accept.

So go on out there American enjoy the new president. We can make this country a better place for all of us. Get out your box of tissues, sit back and enjoy the inauguration, be inspired, dare to reach for equality for all and go out there and celebrate.

And next time I expect we will have a woman president, or I will send Jack Bower out to get you.

-Gracie Allen
GGOT 10:05 pm
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Coco Chanel's resolutions for 2009

Coco Chanel:

In 2009 I resolve to quit smoking because it doesn't make me sexy or independent and it is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the US.
I resolve to wear pink and purchase items that have the pink ribbon because breast cancer is the second cause of cancer deaths among women.
I resolve to not obsess about my weight.
I resolve to be a better person and feminist, because you can't be one without the other.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.


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Final Report From China

China was like going to another world. And they probably think the same thing when they come to the States. It was the first time in my life where I definitely didn’t look like I was from there. In Ireland, England and even Argentina (due to the large amount of European immigrants) I was at least able to walk down the streets and fit in. It wasn’t until I opened my mouth that it was obvious I wasn’t from there. In China though, I was a tourist and there was no doubt about it. I never felt like a tourist though. People were very kind and patient, except the people trying to sell me a knock off designer handbag that is. They were a little pushy.

Really the only problem I had was the language barrier as it related to eating. Although many people spoke English very well, they did not know the word for everything and spoke in general terms. For example, if some one tells you it is seafood that includes anything that lives in the ocean. There are many things that live in the ocean that other people eat that I am not accustomed to eating. Now at least I can say with confidence, I do not like to eat snails.

As Americans, especially living in metropolitan areas, like New York City I believe we feel very worldly. We have neighbors from around the world, we can get any nationality food, and purchase anything made anywhere in the world. A week in China has let me know that I am not very worldly or cultured or even cool. I have traveled much, and I feel that I am a tolerant person, but it is not until you are immersed in a culture not your own that you discover you have a lot to learn. It was difficult to go to another country and say, “Look, you have a problem with domestic violence. We do too and we hope that we can educate you a little on the subject.” I was afraid that people would be insulted and stand offish. I was totally wrong. People were curious, kind, and attentive. They took our information postcards are actually read them and didn’t just throw them to the ground. I feel that as Americans we assume Human Rights is an American thing. We as Americans think that it our responsibility to solve the world’s problems, but in truth everyone in the world wants a safe home, and a loving family, and the right to live a happy life. We don’t have to tell them that.

-Coco Chanel

JANUARY 19th

January 19th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Obama calls for Americans across the US to join him in a national day of service. Organize an event or find one at wwww.usaservice.org

In 1994, Congress transformed the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday into a national day of community service to further commemorate a man who lived his life in service to others. As a tribute to that legacy and the very real needs of our nation, the President-elect and Vice President-elect have launched a national organizing effort on the eve of their Inauguration to engage Americans in service. This national day of service will fall on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 19, 2009 and, unlike past calls to service, President-elect Obama is calling on all Americans to do more than just offer a single day of service to their cities, towns and neighborhoods. He is asking all of us to make an ongoing commitment to our communities. Never has it been more important to come together in shared purpose to tackle the common challenges we face.

Guerrilla Girls On Tour vows to maintain our ongoing committment to the feminist community to continue to fight discrimination with smart humor and style.

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Josephine weighs in for 2009

Josephine Baker

In 2009 I will focus on film and television.
I will begin dancing again.
I will collaborate with my mother, (another female playwright) on a new play….
…and, oh yeah, I will leave this country at least once!!

-Josephine Baker

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Happy New Year 2009!

Eva Le Gallienne

In 2009 I will publish at least one book.
I will celebrate the accomplishments of fellow feminists- LOUDLY!
I will truly embrace life and my journey in it.
I will LOVE my sisters [and brothers] completely and passionately- show them through working, laughing and speaking out side-by-side!
And I will practice the five tenants of Peace, Love, Truth, Non-Violent and Right Conduct DAILY.

“…the real hope for the future of feminism: the sustained creation of communities of support, the continued bonds of sisterhood, and the never ending symbiosis between the personal and the political.”
-Emma Bee Bernstein (1985-2008)


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