Stronger Together - Celebrating International Women's Day

6 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 Celebrating International Women's Day STRONGER TOGETHER arnoldbros.com 1-855-JOIN ABT BY PAT ST. GERMAIN Music, puppetry, comedy, drama — Winnipeg's Sarasvàti Productions presents an eclectic slate in its International Women's Week Cabaret of Monologues: Here I Am. A "celebration of identity," the subject matter is equally diverse, exploring a broad range of experiences in nine monologues penned by Canadian women. Performed by local artists, some of whom also created the pieces, the cabaret will be presented in its entirety at two Saturday performances at the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film. Sarasvàti, which mounted its first International Women's Week cabaret in 2003, also collaborates with women's resource centres, shelters, university groups and other organizations to present portions of the cabaret at events throughout the week. "A lot of the women's groups will do their own events and I think what has been most successful for us over the years is working with those other organizations so we become the entertainment at their events," says Sarasvàti artistic director Hope McIntyre. "We present it to the community groups like a menu, like these are the nine pieces we're doing this particular year, and it gives them an opportunity to figure out what they feel their community would be most excited by, most interested in or how the content of the monologues might connect with the mandate of their organization. "It's an opportunity for them to raise funds and awareness and Sarasvàti comes in to do the entertainment piece for it." This week, Sarasvàti has presented monologues at a variety of events in Winnipeg, including a performance at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. And it's taken the show on the road to Gimli, The Pas and Flin Flon — its northernmost destination to date. This evening, it will be a highlight of Women, Wine & Theatre at the Steinbach Cultural Arts Centre, in support of Steinbach's Agape House. "It's great because the actors love it — it's a good challenge and they get to perform the piece multiple times in different spaces." Over the years, more than 100 monologues have been presented in the cabarets, and the program has evolved to include spoken word and, for the first time this year, a musician — local singer-songwriter Wanda Wilson, who brings an Indigenous woman's perspective to the show. "We keep it very minimal, so it's usually an actor and a chair, or a guitar in this case with our musician, so we can pretty much go wherever we can and support women's organizations," McIntyre says. "What's great about this is it's a combination of arts and community work, so that's what we love about this particular event. Often we have people coming to see these monologues at community venues who would never step into a theatre." Along with the cabaret, Sarasvàti has produced FemFest, an annual celebration of women playwrights, since 2007. Events throughout any given year may include readings of plays in development, a comedy night, and stand- alone productions that may be part of Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre's Master Playwright Festival and Winnipeg Fringe Festival. This year, it's mounting a Reconciliation Project, thanks to funding from the Winnipeg Foundation. Following consultation with Indigenous groups and artists, a new play in progress will be presented at a public launch in May, to be followed by a full production in May 2020. McIntyre says the company typically puts out a call to playwrights for International Women's Week cabaret submissions in summer and selects the pieces by November. "It's very important for us to not paint a picture of all women having the same story or experience, so we want to get that cross-representation in there," she says. Where pieces are not written and performed by the same person, Sarasvàti casts an actor. Rehearsals begin in January and for the full production, there's a bit of a balancing act to establish an optimum performance order. "We try to go back and forth between lighter comedic pieces and then some of the spoken-word pieces that we've done in the last couple of years have been really very heavy but very poetic and beautiful at the same time, so I think audiences have really appreciated that," McIntyre says. "It's still dealing with important issues but doing it in a creative and engaging way." To learn more about Sarasvàti Productions, visit www.sarasvati.ca. ◗ Raising Their Voices VARIETY PACK OF WOMEN'S MONOLOGUES IN CABARET SHOWCASE This summer, a single mom and her three children will be able to move into a safe, affordable new home, thanks to Habitat for Humanity Manitoba's Women Build. 2019 will mark the 16th consecutive year that Women Build has provided financial — and physical — support for a Habitat home. Along with raising funds, many women who participate in the program literally raise walls, wielding hammers and power tools as hands- on volunteers at blitz builds like the one set for this May 21-31. They also raise hopes for a better future for Habitat families, who buy the houses at fair market value after investing 500 hours of "sweat equity" in the organization. The new homeowners meet stringent eligibility requirements. They are full-time workers with kids who would otherwise be unable to come up with a down payment on a home. With help from fundraisers, corporate sponsors and volunteers, Habitat for Humanity Manitoba is able to provide interest-free mortgages geared to the buyers' incomes. Professional construction tradespeople are essential to every build. They teach and assist volunteers, complete the plumbing, electrical and heating systems and make sure the energy- efficient homes are built to code. Women Build participants help families break the cycle of poverty for the next generation while learning new skills, meeting new people and taking on leadership roles in a team environment. Here's how you can help: • Volunteer to take part in the next Women Build Blitz Build, May 21-31. Sign up as an individual, organize a team at your workplace, or contact Habitat to find out how your business can sponsor a build or fundraising event. • Join the fundraising committee (email womenbuild@habitat.mb.ca). • Support a fundraising event. The Women Build Speakers Series was launched in 2018, when two inspiring women — Mariette Mulaire, president and CEO of World Trade Centre Winnipeg, and Dr. Gigi Osler, president of the Canadian Medical Association — shared their stories. On International Women's Day, the third speaker in the series is Dayna Spiring, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg and the first female chair of the board of directors of the Winnipeg Football Club. The event is held at the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg, starting at 8 a.m. Tickets cost $60. Details online at www.habitat.mb.ca. Other events in support of Women Build include Habitat's seventh annual Amazing Race, a race and scavenger hunt in the Wolseley area, on May 11 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.; the 10th annual Holes for Homes non-competitive co-ed golf tournament, on June 7 at 9-Hole Lorette Golf, and the Steel Toes & Stilettos Food & Wine Tasting, with live music, on June 20 at Riverwood Square. A date has yet to be confirmed for a Quiz Night coming up this fall. Learn more about Women Build and keep tabs on all upcoming events at www.habitat.mb.ca. ◗ Here I Am is a diverse collection of monologues, music and even puppetry. Photos courtesy of Sarasvàti Productions Happy Home Makers HABITAT FOR HUMANITY MANITOBA'S WOMEN BUILD PROGRAM

• Cover