8th Annual Women's Performance Arts Festival

Believe it or not, this post is actually early compared to previous years. But be that as it may, this weekend, Stockyards Theatre Project is presenting its 8th Annual Women's Performance Arts Festival. This year's theme is "A Fierce Presence," and as usual, it's a veritable cornucopia of drama, dance, stand-up comedy, stage combat, storytelling, and performance art. Each of the three nights features different performances. Here's the scheduled line up:

Friday at 8:00: Stand-up comedy by Janet Kane; "Welcome to the Gap," a monologue by Kelsie Huff; improv/sketch comedy from Dumbledore's Army (Ashley Cozadd & Carrie Bain); "Open," dance & video by Jennifer Allen; "They Don't Call it Mousechwitz for Nothing," sketch comedy written by Francesca Peppiatt; "The Green Room" by Elmarie McDonald Esser, which blends the continuing series format of popular television shows with classical theatre; and "Who's That Girl?," a monologue by Kendra Stevens.

Saturday at 8:00: Stage Combat from Alison Dornheggen and Gillian N. Humiston of Babes With Blades; stand-up comedy by Hollie Himmelman; "Stalled," a series of comedic vignettes written by Cyra K. Polizzi & Katie Rolnick; "Jesus Camp Queen," a atorytelling performance by Angela Latham; two dance pieces from think/dance collective; "Who's Ark Is It," song and dance by Mary Hobein; and "No One Is Faithful," performance art by Leslie Moore & Taleshia J. Walker.

Sunday at 7:30: Four dance pieces from think/dance collective; "Apologies Are in Order," improv comedy from Carole McCurdy; a dramatic excerpt from "Criminal Hearts" by Jane Martin, featuring Lori Howard & Janel Palm; dance from GI Dance Alliance; "This Expert Slut Moans," performance art by Jennifer Karmin; "Jesus Camp Queen, storytelling by Angela Latham; and songs from singer/songwriter Jeanne Arrigo.

The Chicago Sun-Times has called Stockyards' Women's Performance Arts Festival "the purest woman's performance event in Chicago." For readers in the Chicago area, drop by for one night of purity or all three. Each evening is $15 at Links Hall, which you'll find at the apex of Clark, Newport, and Sheffield, just a couple of blocks south of Wrigley Field.