Thank YOU San Diego!

WE DID IT!

Voices In Color - San Diego is complete and they gave so much love I can't help but begin plotting and planning for the next show, and the next show and the NEXT show! 

It was such an amazing feeling to have so many people come up to me afterwards and begin sharing their own stories or what pieces they related to. This response is exactly what I had hoped for. The purpose of the show is to tell qwoc (queer women of color) stories, be authentic, give our community a voice. If you're a member of this community you know how colorful we are and you'll also see we've come along way with regards to building relationships with one another. It's not always easy for women of color to be "out", to feel free in their own skin within society. This show is MY way of helping build bridges, helping us feel comfortable and safe.

One half of Soul Kiss had seen the show in Oakland with her partner and invited me to bring the show to SD. Actually, her and her partner have been true supporters and have encouraged me by offering to do whatever they could to bring my show to southern california. Soul Kiss and Malu Presents sponsored an event in Miami and during that trip we had a very real conversation about what we feel this qwoc community needs and how do we, as qwoc ourselves, do our part. I appreciate those conversations more than they can ever know. We have to keep these dialogues going because from them come freedom for ourselves.

One of the newest pieces I wrote is titled I Am Different and its made up of stanzas, describing different types of women. I struggled with this because one of the stanzas reads "I feel more comfortable around women of color, there's an unspoken sisterhood. I don't trust white women. But I know this community is bigger than me or them. I don't always want to be different". I struggled with this particular piece because I didn't want to alienate any guests who were white but I know women of color who feel this way. The purpose of the show is to represent as many qwoc as possible and I had to remind myself this show isn't all of my personal stories but a collection of stories from the people around me. So I kept it and a few women came up to me afterwards thanking me for including it because they could relate. sigh & exhale.

So I've succeeded and accomplished another milestone. Thank you again to EVERYONE who has continued to support me. Now, the wheels are turning for my next step. Hopefully I'll be booking an LA show here shortly.......

Don't turn that channel...STAY TUNED!

Peace, Kiki

Getting Ready for San Diego!

I've been so busy with prepping for this show I haven't updated by blog! So let me take a moment and write down my lil update of what is going on for me, Malu Presents and Voices In Color.

I have a show booked for September 23rd in San Diego courtesy of Soul Kiss. I'm so thankful for these ladies, they have no idea. They've been so supportive and encouraging every time we've talked about the show. Those conversations fed me. I created this show being honest with myself, I am NOT a writer but I have a story to tell. When I thought about it, we ALL have a story to tell and here we are with another opportunity to share those stories.

When I was invited to do the show I jumped and immediately said YES! :)

Then I had to plan it out and a new reality set in. The venue is not at all made up for a stage play, I have no cast members, I don't have the same connections I had in the Bay Area which helped me in a tremendous way to pull it off. I was having serious doubts and then was reminded by a friend of how moved they were by the show. Then a few weeks ago a friend passed away who had always encouraged me to fulfill my creative self. Then last weekend a good friend gave me a beautiful journal with my name printed on it specifically to continue writing Voices In Color. My dedication was renewed by these instances. I needed to remember why I was doing this and how many of my loved ones supported me.

Today I've almost finished a new script (there were a lot of changes that had to be made to the script which caused more worry), cast 2 amazing women, completed 2 additional scripts and am ready (well almost). As I finish a 2nd draft of one of my scripts and I was very nervous to share it but my muse told me she really liked it, gave me a high five and said she was proud of me. Yup, that's the type of encouragement I needed to finish writing tonight!

Thank you to everyone who's continued supporting me.  My gratitude is soaring above the clouds!

Peace, Kiki