Adilah Barnes and the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival
FJ: What lead you to create your nonprofit?
AB: As a solo performer who was on the California Arts Council Touring Roster that existed in 1993, I attended a statewide conference in Pasadena. There I met fellow solo artist Miriam Reed. She was not on the roster but attended to learn more about becoming one of their artists. She and I met and bonded because we both perform historical solo shows – her figures are Anglo and mine, African American.
At the end of the weekend conference, everyone convened together for closure, and at one point, attendees were asked of any announcements. Miriam had the forward-thinking idea to ask from the podium for all women solo-artists to meet us at the rear of the room where I was.
We were bombarded by actors, dancers, storytellers, and those of other disciplines who identified themselves as solo artists. We knew then we had struck a chord. Two performers were with the Burbank Little Theatre at the time and invited all of us to gather there for our first meeting. At the end of that first meeting, the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival was born.