Seattle Women's Chorus celebrates Lesbian literature and so

Seattle Women's Chorus celebrates Lesbian literature and so

by Shaina Hinton - Courtesy of Seattle Women's Chorus SEATTLE WOMEN'S CHORUS'S VIXEN FICTION/SIREN SONG APRIL 12, 9 PM AND APRIL 13, 2 PMV MEANY THEATER $17.50-$50 This spring the Seattle Women's Chorus takes us back to the provocative and racy birth of women's literature and music in Vixen Fiction/Siren Song. A two-part concert, the first half of the show features celebrated American writer Ann Bannon as well as new music written by Eric Lane Barnes and Brenda David, while the second half showcases women's music pioneer Cris Williamson. Vixen Fiction will focus primarily on the advent of women's literature - primarily Lesbian literature - in the late 1950s and early 1960s, a period of great change for the American woman. With the conclusion of WWII, the United States saw the traditional roles of men at work and women in the home altering dramatically. As women began to play a greater part in determining their destinies, women's literature emerged as a way to give a voice to this newfound freedom and liberation. One of the most popular types of literature from this time period was Lesbian pulp fiction. Perhaps the best-known writer to come out of this era was Ann Bannon, who gained renown from her immensely popular series The Beebo Brinker Chronicles, earning her the title "Queen of Lesbian Pulp Fiction." "Women all over the nation started buying these books; they helped women realize there were others out there like them," said artistic director Dennis Coleman. Vixen Fiction will use Bannon's words and the sounds of the era to take us back to this pivotal time in women's history. It will be a dramatic and theatrical musical presentation; using Bannon as the central character, the show will be interspersed with original songs, dramatic musical interpretations, and readings by Bannon. "I think that people will get an immediate emotional reaction to the material when they hear and see it in concert, especially hearing Ann's words combined with music of the period," commented Coleman. While Vixen Fiction highlights the rise of women's literature, Siren Song takes us into the time when Lesbian music was changing the way women saw and understood themselves and their communities. The emergence of women's music at this time provided Lesbian audiences with singers they could relate to and music they could identify with - something that had not previously existed. Siren Song stars one of the pioneers of women's music, singer and songwriter Cris Williamson. First appearing on the music scene in the 1970s, Williamson's record The Changer and the Changed was one of the top selling independent albums when released, and is still considered to be THE classic women's music album. A charismatic performer, Williamson's soulful lyrics and dynamic music have been empowering audiences for over 30 years. In addition to captivating listeners, Williamson's music has paved the way for today's independent women artists and cultivated the rise of an entire genre of music. Accompanied by the Women's Chorus, Williamson will share some of her groundbreaking songs from the 1970s as well as selections from her recent album, Real Deal. For Dennis Coleman, juxtaposing these two eras in women's history was particularly important because these two art forms truly helped women identify one another and see themselves as a community. Indeed, the concert looks at these two art forms because they helped give definition and identity to the women's movement. "Women's music and literature, more so than any other art forms, helped women see in art exactly what they were feeling," stated Coleman. "Music and literature were the two art forms that had the most influence on women's communities, making them logical and important topics to bring together in a concert." For today's audience, experiencing this show will not only provide a fun and inspirational look back, but it will also give insight into the early struggles of the Gay and Lesbian movements and perspective on how far those movements have come. "Both of these art forms captured the struggle and the hope for something better," commented Coleman. "It will be fun to look back and remember, discover, and for some people, relive." While for some Vixen Fiction/Siren Song will be about re-experiencing memories of past eras, for younger generations this concert will give them a look at the start of the Gay/Lesbian movement and the art forms that propelled it forward. Although many feel the events at Stonewall marked the beginning of Gay and Lesbian history, many underground structures existed in the decades prior to the 1969 riot. Bannon's literature and Williamson's music are not only a historical record of this movement, but also a testament to the impact words and songs can have on both individuals and communities. "I think young Lesbians and Gays will find it fascinating to know a bit about their history in America, rather than just what the history books say," concluded Coleman. With provocative literature and compelling music, Vixen Fiction/Siren Song will bring the art and history of this important era to exuberant life. Finding freedom in each other's voices, the talented Seattle Women's Chorus, with Bannon and Williamson, will tell the stories of a movement, teaching about the events that made Gay and Lesbian communities what they are today, while also entertaining audiences young and old alike. For information and tickets, call 206-388-1400 or visit www.flyinghouse.org.