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Barbara Ciurej, Jean Hunt, Hedy Ratner, Maya Friedler

Women’s Media Group Presents “Coming to the Table”,
Celebrating the 30^th Anniversary of The Dinner Party Project in Chicago

“It was like a punch in the nose, but really beautifully packaged.” -Bette Cerf Hill

The Program
Opening Comments ……………………………………Nia O’Reilly Amandes

Introduction to The Dinner Party Project …….Marilyn Campbell, ensemble

Personal Reflections …………………………………..Marilyn Campbell

The Group:  Ideas, Inspiration, Friendships, Legacy …………………….Interviews
with Barbara Cuirej, Bette Cerf Hill, Jean Hunt, Hedy Ratner
Interviewers:  Maya Friedler, Marilyn Campbell

Congress and The Dinner Party ………………….Ensemble

Final Thoughts …………………………………………..Maya Friedler

With quotes from Hilton Kramer, U.S. Representatives Robert K. Dornan and Ron Dellums, Cornelia Parker, Judy Chicago and Women of the Dinner Party: Elizabeth I of England, Sojourner Truth and Georgia O’Keeffe

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Musical Excerpts

It’s My Party, Leslie Gore, rel. 1963
Written by John Gluck, Wally Gold and Herb Weiner

Dancing in the Street, Laura Niro, Gonna Take a Miracle, rel. 1971
Written by William “Mickey” Stevenson and Marvin Gaye

Respect, Aretha Franklin, single, rel. 1967, Written by Otis Redding

Who Knows Where the Time Goes, Sandy Denny, compilation rel. 1987

For the Creator (O, Quam Mirabilis), Vision: The Music of Hildegarde von Bingen, rel. 1994

I Am Woman, Helen Reddy (cowritten by Ray Burton), single rel. 1970

Walk on By, Laura Niro, Angel in the Dark, rel. 2001
Written by Burt Bachrach, music and Hal David, lyrics

Live at an ERA rally/We Will Never Give Up, Kristin Lems, Equality Road

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“Coming to the Table” was written by Marilyn Campbell and Maya Friedler. The Feminist Lens is a production of Women’s Media Group, Inc. Maya Friedler, Executive Producer, recorded in cooperation with WFMT Fine Arts Radio, Chicago; Steve Robinson, Vice President; Peter Whorf, Program Director; Don Mueller, Production Manager. Produced by Maya Friedler and Jamie O’Reilly; Hosted by Marilyn Campbell; Audio Production and Editing by Cat Jarboe; Directed by Al Nowakowski; Sound Engineering by Josh Savaneau; Musical Direction by Jamie O’Reilly.

This program is made possible with support from: The Roslyn Group of Arts and Letters Fund at the Chicago Foundation for Women and Wishbone Restaurant, with appreciation.

Special thanks to Tina Battle, Mary Watson, Mindy Friedler and Guy Nickson

Follow us on FACEBOOK:  The Feminist Lens

Maya Friedler
Executive Director
Women’s Media Group

September 1, 2011

Co-sponsored by The Roslyn Fund for Arts and Letters at The Chicago Foundation for Women
and Wishbone Restaurant, Chicago

Joann's book about girls

Women’s Media Group mourns the loss of Joanne Zimmerman, a member of the Roslyn Group for Arts and Letters.  She was a writer who wrote beautiful stories about family and childhood. A gentle woman whose work, ideas and presence will be greatly missed.

OBITUARY JOANNE KUPER ZIMMERMAN
Joanne Kuper Zimmerman, of Homewood, IL, died June 4, 2011, at Northwestern University Hospital, at the age of 89. She is survived by her three children, John (of Westhampton, MA), Jim (of Pleasantville, NY), and Kathy Topete (of Reedley, CA); and her long-term partner, Glenn Merritt (of Homewood); she was loved and will be deeply missed by her six grandchildren; her one great-grandchild; and numerous relatives and friends. She was predeceased in 1995 by her husband of 52 years, Howard Zimmerman. Joanne was born in Chicago, IL, and was a Homewood resident since 1951. She was a successful and published writer, and was active in many charities and area political and cultural groups, including the South Suburban Human Relations Council, Amnesty International, the Chicago Heights Drama Group, the Forty-Odd Players, and the Roslyn Group. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to a charity of your choice. A memorial gathering is planned for July 30, in Homewood.

Roslyn Group honors Joanne Zimmerman

Women’s Media is dedicating our September 24 The Feminist Lens radio show “Coming to the Table,” to Joanne.  Her friends at the Roslyn Group have made a contribution in support of the program series in her name.

It’s their turn to make their ways in the world. What will their lives look like? What will feminism be for them?… I think the conversations are in good hands.

Chicago Tribune Opinion Column features an article by Barbara Brotman. Women’s Media Executive Director Maya Friedler responds:

Dear Barbara,
The Feminist Lens Team, who produce a radio series airing on WFMT Fine Arts Radio for Women’s Media Group, want to congratulate you on today’s commentary:
Slutwalk Offers outlet for dressing down of perception, (6/06 Tribune).

You presented a wonderful exchange of the inter-generational conversation that is now being held about the word “feminism” and the actions it inspires. Neither the old feminist, nor the young feminist, can rely on others to define us. We must co-operate to identify ourselves.

Congratulations again,
Maya Friedler
Executive Director Women’s Media Group

Barbara Ciurej, Jean Hunt, Hedy Ratner, Maya Friedler

What is the legacy of second wave feminism? What can women do today to expand our place at the table?

Join Host Marilyn Campbell for “Coming to the Table”, as The Feminist Lens revisits the life-changing experience of the outstanding group of women who brought The Dinner Party exhibit to Chicago in 1981. Group members Hedy Ratner, Jean Hunt, Barbara Ciurej and Bette Cerf Hill tell the story and talk about where we are now. Producer Maya Friedler contributes commentary. Musical Director Jamie O’Reilly focuses on music of the era

Dinner Party materials Chicago show

The Feminist Lens “Coming to the Table”, is dedicated to the late writer Joann Zimmerman. It is made possible with support from The Roslyn Group for Arts & Letters Fund at the Chicago Foundation for Women, and Wishbone Restaurant.

Sponsored by Wishbone Restaurant

Women’s Media Executive Director Maya Friedler appeared on
MAD AS HELL IN AMERICA in the Mother’s Day show with
Adam Klugman on May 7.

Give her segment a listen Maya_Friedler

June 1 at 7PM

The Feminist Lens Theater Contributor (Toast to Ageless Women, Seeing Peace) Cecilie O’Reilly, Associate Professor, Columbia College Chicago, is a presenter at the International Symposium on Chicago Theatre May 18-21.

Cecilie’s presentation “We Hold for Planes: The University of Chicago’s Drama Program and the Development of Court Theatre under James O’Reilly and Robert Benedetti”, is May 19^th 3:15-4:30 PM “Chicago Theatre in the 1950s and 1960s,” at Columbia College Film Row Center 1104 S Michigan, Rm 801A

(MORE)
COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO TO HOST
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CHICAGO THEATRE
MAY 18-21, 2011

The Theatre Department of Columbia College Chicago, with the support of Columbia’s School of Fine and Performing Arts, will host “Chicago: Theatre Capital of America—Past. Present. Future,” a scholarly symposium on the development of Chicago theatre from grassroots movement to global phenomenon. May 18–21, 2011, the event will bring scholars and professionals from around the country and overseas to Chicago for four days of presentations, panels, and performances.

Don’t Miss Cecilie O’Reilly May 19 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM Chicago Theatre in the 1950s and 1960s: We Hold for Planes: The University of Chicago’s Drama Program and the Development of Court Theatre under James O’Reilly and Robert Benedetti.

Robert Benedetti and James O’Reilly ran the drama program at the University of Chicago from the late 1950s through the turbulent 1960s, bringing such internationally famous artists as Tyrone Guthrie and the Living Theatre to Mandel Hall and the Reynolds Club. They developed the Hutchinson Commons outdoor stage into “The Court Theatre,” and mounted some of Chicago’s most innovative and spirited “firsts,” including Romeo and Juliet with a white Romeo and a black Juliet strategically placed among the Civil Rights and SDS demonstrations of the time. By assembling professional level acting, directing, production and design elements, period research and original music, they developed an audience that supported a theatre that would move beyond university walls. Court Theatre, in its current form as a leading professional theatre in the city, has its roots in their efforts at combining both tradition and originality.

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To register for the Symposium:

http://www.colum.edu/Academics/School_of_Fine_and_Performing_Arts/theatresymposium/

OR Email:chitheatresymposium@colum.edu