This year the International Women's Festival has something for everybody, from politics to comedy to fashion.
By HELEN KAYEyona elian 88(photo credit: )
This year the International Women's Festival has something for everybody, from politics to comedy to fashion. Taking place in and around the Holon Theater from February 19-24, there are more than 25 different events to choose from.
New York Times reporter Judith Miller and Al Jazeera TV correspondent Gebara el-Baradari will be among the guests of honor at "Journalistic Dilemmas", a conference of women in the media. Miller was jailed last July for contempt of court following her refusal to reveal a source to a grand jury.
Every single woman over 40 will identify with the gutsy, rambunctious and funny "Menopause the Musical", now a Haifa Theater production that will have its premiere at the festival. Four women meet in a shopping mall with nothing in common except "a black lace bra, hot flashes, night sweats…chocolate binges and too much or too little sex" according to the original description by its author, Floridian Jeanie Linders. The local version, translated by Dan Almagor, is directed by Patty Bender who's currently working on the London production due to open soon.
Other premieres include two comedy shows, "The Way I Am" with Osnat Vishinsky and Rolanda Chagrin's "Just Laughing at Myself". Latina jazz singer Judy Silvano makes her local debut with the Holon Big Band under the direction of Guri Agmon.
The festival will also honor four remarkable women: Leah Gottlieb, the woman whose Gottex swimsuits and beach wear put Israel on the international fashion map; Beit Lessin actress Yona Elian who's equally at home in comedy ("A Flea in her Ear") and drama ("Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf") ; children's author Nira Harel who has just published her 50th book, and vocal teacher and coach, professor Hannah Hacohen who has been shaping singers for 30 years.
