LOVE, LOCS & LIBERATION AT THE HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Performance-Activist-Poet-Educator
Press Contact: Ella Turenne
323.206.6411 or [email protected]

Announcing the
HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL PREMIERE of

Love, Locs, & Liberation
Written and performed by Ella Turenne
Directed by Kathryn Ervin

Hollywood Fringe Festival Scholarship Recipient

Preview: Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 8:30pm
Additionally:
Thursday, June 7, 2018, 10:30 PM
Thursday, June 14, 2018, 9:00 PM
Friday, June 15, 2018, 5:30 PM
Thursday, June 21, 2018, 9:30 PM
At studio/stage in Hollywood at 520 N. Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Hollywood, CA – Blending poetry, song and humor, Ella Turenne unlocks the history of hair stories experienced by Black women, revealing mishaps and triumphs. Through the eyes of 21 different characters – ranging from a 5th grade bully to Madam CJ Walker – she exposes the hair connection to politics, identity and culture. In doing so she illustrates why hair is an intimate and essential part of Black life. Ella Turenne’s Hollywood Premiere production weaves together stories of struggles with identity and beauty. From the rituals that Black women participate in related to hair, to Ella’s experience as an American woman with strong ties to her Haitian culture, this solo show asks the central question: “Is my worth tied to my hair?”

“My hair journey helped me understand how important it is to find your own authenticity. It’s a struggle that all women have, this battle over beauty and identity. I created this show so we could find space to take it back for ourselves,” says Ella.

Ella Turenne (Writer/ Actress) is a changemaker and entrepreneur. She has performed in an array of theatrical works including Shades of Blue, Love Child and Come Back to Me, which was featured in New York’s Fresh Fruit Play Festival. She was also seen in the 2004 Downtown Urban Theatre Festival in the play Working Things Out. Her debut stage play, which she wrote and starred in, “Gray,” was featured as part of the “Come Celebrate The Glory of Sugar Hill” Theatre Festival. Ella’s work has been published in various anthologies including Letters from Young Activists: Today’s Rebels Speak Out, Check the Rhyme: An Anthology of Female Poets and Emcees (nominated for a 2007 NAACP Image Award), Woman’s Work: The Short Stories, and most recently in Turning Teaching Inside Out. She is the editor of a volume of visual art and poetry commemorating the Haitian revolution entitled revolution|revolisyon| révolution 1804-2004: An Artistic Commemoration of the Haitian Revolution. Ella is also a filmmaker whose work has been an official selection of various national film festivals including the Hollywood Black Film Festival and the Montréal International Haitian Film Festival, where her short film woodshed was nominated for Best Short Film. Ella co-starred in the critically acclaimed web series Kindred, which garnered much media attention and was an official selection of the LA Web Fest. Other acting credits include Love Child at the Harlem Theatre Company, Working Things Out which premiered at the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival, short film Big, Dark, Scary Girl and the recently released feature film Forever Yours. Ella’s first solo show, Love, Locs & Liberation, has been an official selection of the United Solo Theatre Festival, The Downtown Urban Arts Festival and is a scholarship recipient of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. She is the founder of BlackWomyn Beautiful, a platform that celebrates the beauty and power of Black women.

Kathryn Ervin (Director) is a recipient of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Outstanding Educator Award and an NAACP Pioneer Award. As a director Kathryn has helmed productions such as The Wiz, Novio Boy, Hamlet: the artist formerly known as prince of Denmark. She guest directed Intimate Apparel at UCR and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at Illinois State. Her original production of the hip hop opera Keep Hedz Ringin by Rickerby Hinds was a finalist at the American College Theatre Festival in Utah and presented as part of the NYC Hip Hop Theatre Festival in 2002. In 2010 Kathryn received the Black Theatre Network Lifetime Membership Award recognizing her service to the organization. She is currently the Board Chair of Arts Connection, the Arts Council of San Bernardino County.

Love, Locs, & Liberation previews at 8:30pm on Saturday, June 2 and continues Thursday, June 7, 2018, 10:30 PM, Thursday, June 14, 2018, 9:00 PM, Friday, June 15, 2018, 5:30 PM, Thursday, June 21, 2018, 9:30 PM at studio/stage, located in Hollywood at 520 N. Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004. Tickets: $15 at http://hff18.org/4872

“The issues surrounding the images of Black women are very critical in these times. While Love, Locs & Liberation is wonderfully funny it is also a poignant reminder of how the history of beauty in this country impacts friends, family and individuals.” Kathryn Ervin; Director

Twitter: @blackwomyn
Facebook: facebook.com/lovelocsliberation
IG: @lovelocsliberation

Calendar Listing Information

What: LOVE LOCS, & LIBERATION
Written and Performed by: Ella Turenne
Directed by: Kathryn Ervin
Produced by: BlackWomyn Beautiful Productions

Where:
Studio/stage
520 N. Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/Gmbd9CwGhnE2

PARKING INFO:
Street Parking available.

FB: facebook.com/lovelocsliberation
Twitter: @blackwomyn
Instagram: @lovelocsliberation

When:
Preview at 8:30 pm on June 2, 2018

SCHEDULE:
Thursday, June 7, 2018, 10:30 PM
Thursday, June 14, 2018, 9:00 PM
Friday, June 15, 2018, 5:30 PM
Closes: Thursday, June 21, 2018, 9:30 PM

How:
Box Office and information: http://hff18.org/4872

How Much: $15

Description:
A solo play that investigates the edges and roots of a Black woman’s happy and nappy hair obsession.

Blending poetry, song and humor, Ella Turenne unlocks the history of hair stories experienced by Black women revealing mishaps and triumphs. Through the eyes of 21 different characters – ranging from a 5th grade bully to Madam CJ Walker – she exposes the hair connection to politics, identity and culture.