Lena Gilbert's The Appointment Ignites a Bold Conversation on Women's Health at STL Fringe
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lena Gilbert — hello@theappointment.us
New York, NY — Lena Gilbert’s solo performance, The Appointment, directed by Joanna Parson, takes center stage to drive a vital dialogue about women's health rights and abortion through the powerful medium of theatre. With a blend of humor and poignant storytelling, this production challenges societal norms and advocates for critical changes in healthcare access.
The Appointment merges personal experience with advocacy, capturing audiences with a narrative that delves into the complexities of accessing healthcare, the stigma surrounding abortion, and the overarching need for empathy and comprehensive understanding. Gilbert's journey through an incomplete miscarriage at 17 weeks serves as a universal call to action, resonating deeply with viewers.
As debates on women’s health rights continue across America, The Appointment aims to foster a deeper understanding of abortion as an integral aspect of healthcare. This show is pivotal for anyone committed to advancing the discourse on women’s health advocacy.
Upcoming Performances at STL Fringe Festival
Experience the impact of The Appointment live at the STL Fringe Festival, held at High Low in St. Louis, MO:
Thursday, August 15, 7:30 PM
Friday, August 16, 5:30 PM
Saturday, August 17, 12:00 PM
Sunday, August 18, 6:00 PM
Secure your tickets today: Purchase Tickets.
Audience and Critical Acclaim:
Critics and attendees alike have lauded the show for its emotional depth and timely relevance. The performance skillfully intertwines humor with the gravitas of real-life challenges, crafting an experience that not only entertains but also inspires action for improved human connections and healthcare policies.
Quote from Lena Gilbert, Creator and Performer:
"Statistics don’t tell the story. Stories tell the story. We need more stories to paint pictures of what it’s actually like to be a woman inside our care systems. Unless we hear real, lived experiences, we can imagine that things are better than they are. And that won’t get us to where we need to be."
Engagement and Dialogue Opportunities:
Following each performance, moderated discussions with healthcare experts, activists, and policymakers offer a platform for engagement and potential policy impact. These sessions aim to foster positive changes and strengthen support systems for women nationwide.
About Lena Gilbert:
Lena Gilbert is a writer, choreographer and performer with deep roots in the artistry of ballet and modern dance. She is a distinguished choreographer and dance educator renowned for her innovative contributions to the performing arts. As a writer, her work is known for honesty combined with warmth and humor — always with an eye toward activism and improving how human we are to each other.
As a dancer, she has performed with the Vytis Jankauskas Dance Company in Lithuania, around New York City at Joe’s Pub, Aaron Davis Hall, the Joyce Soho. In Montpellier, France she was a performer/choreographer for l’Université Paul Valéry. She has also danced in film, television and as an entertainer at corporate events.
She has been Resident Choreographer at SOOP Theatre since 2009 where she has choreographed over 30 musical theater productions, earning accolades such as a Metro Theater Award nomination. Some favorites include; Legally Blonde, Chicago, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mary Poppins, Lion King, Heathers. She has taught dance technique and choreography at the New York Film Academy’s undergraduate Musical Theatre for Film program, as a guest teacher at NYU Tisch Dance department, as well as in public school enrichment programs. She considers her work successful only when it is also fun. MFA NYU/Tisch Dance. Member: AEA.
Find out more at www.lenagilbert.com.
About Joanna Parson:
Joanna Parson is a director, actor, and writer. Her musical monologues have been heard on WNYC’s public radio program, "The Next Big Thing", and she has written and performed solo work for “The Liar Show,” “The AtrainPlays,” Caitlin Shetterly’s “Letters to” series, and most of NYC’s comedy clubs and alternative venues. Joanna co-wrote and co-starred in the well-received cabaret shows “Reddy or Not: A Musical Comedy Tribute to Helen Reddy,” and "Not Helpful: Pretty Songs and Feminine Harms." She is a contributor to “The Idiot’s Guide to Jokes.” As a playwright, Joanna is the author of three radio mystery theatre scripts for young people called “The Janet Any-Gal Series."
Joanna also produced and hosted The Happy Hour Salon, a bimonthly new works variety show, for five seasons, providing development opportunities for comics, actors, performers and writers at venues as varied as Club El Flamingo, the D-Lounge at the Daryl Roth Theatre, and Siberia Bar. Salon alumni include solo performers like James Braly (“Committed: Life in a Marital Institution”), sound effects uberkind Zero Boy, comedian Christian Finnegan, writer/performer Lena Gilbert, and many more. She has taught solo workshops privately and for New York’s Screen Actors Guild, as well as the Broken Bridge Workshop for Young Writers in Pomfret, Connecticut. Her latest solo show “A Transcriber’s Tale” has won rave reviews at the Hollywood Fringe Festival and is headed to the Gilded Balloon Patterhoos at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024. Learn more at joannaparson.com.