Chicago Joins Nationwide “The Future Is Female Festival” Celebrating Women’s Voices

In March, Oak Park’s FM Productions will join theaters, playwrights, directors and actors throughout the US and Canada uniting during Women’s History Month to present THE FUTURE IS FEMALE FESTIVAL. The series of staged readings and productions of 10-minute plays written by women of all backgrounds focuses on what the subject “The Future is Female” means to them.

“Instead of spending March celebrating women’s history, we’ll celebrate women’s futures,” says festival creator and writer Mya Kagan of New York.

FM Productions and the Gender Empowerment Project will present THE FUTURE IS FEMALE CHICAGO FEST at Chicago Dramatists Theater (1105 W. Chicago Ave) on Sunday March 19th at 7pm.

Tickets are now available online for $20 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-future-is-female-chicago-tickets-32224846383 FM Productions is donating $10 of every ticket to benefit the local charity, GirlForward -- a community of support dedicated to creating and enhancing opportunities for girls who have been displaced by conflict and persecution.

The local festival outpost includes work from playwrights Elaine Romero, Rohina Malik, Georgette Kelly, Loy Webb, Rachel DuBose, Tanuja Jagernauth, Oak Park resident, Karen Vaccaro, Myra Travin, Sarah Cosgrove with writers Nishat Mirza and OPRF teen, Grace Mucha.

“Never has there been a time when it was so important for women's voices to be heard loud and strong,” says Julie Proudfoot, Founder & Artistic Director of Artemisia, A Chicago Theatre. “Having had the good fortune of being exposed to these talented women's work, I can say without a doubt this festival will be truly amazing!”

FM Productions, Inc. was established in 2016 to produce music and events intended to entertain, inspire and
empower. “I’m a huge believer in the power of the arts and authentic, vulnerable storytelling to educate and nurture change - and help heal trauma individually and collectively,” says Kevin Reid, Creative Director of FM
Productions. “We’re thrilled to host a Chicago fest.”

The event also includes live acoustic sets from Chicago singer/songwriters, Daniela Sloan, aka, DAJA, and Christine Melody during a pre-show concert from 6-6:45pm.

In addition, the Festival has launched another way to participate: Anyone can create a pop-up festival using 10-minute plays available for download through the festival website.

“It’s a way for people to be involved throughout the festival month even if there isn’t an outpost event near them. They can sign up on our website and invite friends over to have a casual play reading in their own living rooms, church basement or college dorm,” says Kagan.

The nationwide festival was built by three women: Creator & Producer Mya Kagan, Co-Producer Lauren Orkus, and Social Media Manager Sarah Cosgrove. The trio volunteered their time out of the desire to do something actionable and positive for fellow women artists and women themselves, at a time when it seemed more necessary than ever.