Photo: Bob Doran
"A Woman’s Place is in Her Home” hits the road this Fall for the 2018 NorCal Tour.
“A Woman’s Place is in Her Home,” an exploration of women experiencing the largely unplanned, unpredictable realities of housing insecurity, premiered last spring in Humboldt county to sold out houses, and standing ovations. People were so moved they rallied to bring the performance to a wider audience. Unsolicited donations sparked a process to tour the show. Producers set to work planning logistics to get the cast and crew of 14 on the road.
The Arcata Playhouse in association with Arcata House Partnership and Food For People began the project with hopes to bring the distinctive challenges of being a houseless woman to the broader community. Not knowing how the play would be received, on opening night their expectations were surpassed with pronouncements like this:
"I want to say that my heart soared as I watched the brilliance of ‘A Woman’s Place is in her Home’. The whole event was touching, from the music, performed by a young local professional, who herself has struggled with housing; to the stories, which were true, real and local - yet held universal value, and true life experience. It is painful at times to hear the truth, yet it is deeply meaningful, and informs us as policy makers as to how to better help.
The music was memorable. The message, unforgettable.”
-Susan Ornelas, Arcata City Council
“A Woman’s Place is in Her Home” fuses storytelling, media, dance and music, performed by professionals alongside community members on stage for the first time. Jacqueline Dandeneau directs the play featuring Humboldt’s own Lyndsey Battle, and Dharla Curry, performing original compositions inspired by stories of the unhoused. Over 12 months, the creative team, Jacqueline Dandeneau, Ali Freedlund and Tammy Rae Scott documented the hardship, beauty, resilience, and resourcefulness of women in various states of homelessness, and witnessed the obstacles they face every day. The script was developed with the ensemble to bring the research to life. Many of this exceptional cast have experienced houselessness at some point in their lives. Together, throughout the production process, they shared life stories, prepared meals, broke down, held each other up and developed an extraordinary bond.
Playhouse Arts has a rich history of producing theatre addressing serious societal issues while bringing joy and connection to the forefront and encouraging empathy. “A Woman’s Place is in Her Home” brings perspective to the challenges homeless women encounter and narrows the gap between those with places they can call home and those who do not. Whether living rough on the street, traveling, or couch surfing, housing instability takes its toll and comes with long-lasting consequences for individuals, families, and communities. The producers and their partners give voice to these stories and strive to enable our community to connect homelessness to actual people, providing fertile ground for communication and understanding.
After each show, audience members are invited to participate in a conversation with the cast, the creative team, and representatives from local service providers.
2018 NorCal Tour Dates and Venues:
Arcata Playhouse, Thursday August 30, Friday August 31, 8 P.M.
Synapsis, 47 A West 3rd St. Old Town Eureka, Saturday September 1, 8 P.M.
Petrolia Community Center, Petrolia Tuesday, September 4, 7 P.M.
Redwood Playhouse, Garberville, Wednesday September 5, 7 P.M.
Matheson Performing Arts Center, Mendocino, September 7, 7 P.M.
Kate Buccanan Room, HSU campus, Arcata, Saturday September 8, 8 P.M.
Tickets for Arcata Playhouse and Synapsis performances $15
Reservations can be made by calling, (707) 822-1575.
(no one turned away for lack of funds)
Tickets information for Petrolia Community Center, Redwood Playhouse, and Matheson Performing Arts Center events coming soon. Please check back, we'll keep you updated.
