WE GOT ISSUES! World Premiere and Tour Kick-off

Featured at VAGINAS VOTE, CHICKS ROCK: A Vote Against Violence, Monday September 13, 7:30 PM, Apollo Theater, Harlem, NY. See full release for list of celebrities. The We Got Issues! performance piece is drawn from written and recorded rants from hundreds of the 22 million young women who did not vote in the 2000 elections and the many more who did.

(PRWEB) August 26, 2004 -- As the most important election of a generation approaches, the voices of diverse and politically disenfranchised young women will be raised at the world premier and tour kick-off of WE GOT ISSUES!, a performance-based dialogue on feminine power, politics and civic transformation. On the evening of September 13th, the We Got Issues! performers will join other actors, singers, dancers, thinkers, and leaders at the historic Apollo Theater for VAGINAS VOTE, CHICKS ROCK: A Vote Against Violence. The entire evening of entertainment and political empowerment is sponsored by V-Days V Is For Vote" in conjunction with Rock the Vote Chicks Rock, Chicks Vote", the Omega Institute and The White House Projects Vote, Run, Lead" initiative.

We Got Issues! is a multiphase project with the ultimate aim of creating a sustainable network of young women in private and public leadership, especially those from the most marginalized communities-immigrant, people of color, working poor, queer. The project was created by The Next Wave of Women and Power/1+1+1=1 (NWWP), a national 501(c)3 organization based in New York.

The We Got Issues! performance piece is drawn from written and recorded rants from hundreds of the 22 million young women who did not vote in the 2000 elections and the many more who did. NWWP founder, Rha Goddess, and artistic director, Lenora Pace, led a group of politically passionate young women writers, performers, and designers to create a multimedia production that speaks to the hearts, minds and concerns of the generation that is the present and future voice of democracy at home and abroad.

The performers include: Manuela Arciniegas, Kamilah Forbes, Julia Motyka, Aroosha Rana, Samarra, Irene Shaikly, Tiana Silva, Kelly Tsai, B-Girl Rokafella, and DJ Sabine. The writers include:

- Staceyann Chin, Jamaican-born poet, cast member of Def Poetry Jam, 2003 Tony Award winner
- Suheir Hammad, poet, author, cast member of Def Poetry Jam, 2003 Tony Award winner
- Hilda Herrera, poet, spoken-word artist
- Anna Lappe, co-author of Hopes Edge and co-founder of the Small Planet Fund
- Lenelle Moise, poet, playwright, New World Theaters 2003 Grand Slam Champion
- Sarah Little Crow" Russell, Native American activist and award winning playwright

Original graffiti and backdrop design by Toofly and Puppet design/additional choreography by Emily Decola. The artistic project manager is Julie Kline. The stage manager is Erin Threlfall.

Confirmed to date for Vaginas Vote, Chicks Rock: Vanessa Carlton, Toni Childs, Rosario Dawson, Eve Ensler, Jane Fonda, Jehmu Greene, Isabella Rossellini, Susan Sarandon Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Gloria Steinem, Julia Stiles, Marie Wilson, and many more. WE GOT ISSUES! has been commissioned by V-Day for the event and the executive producers are Eve Ensler, playwright The Vagina Monologues" and founder of V-Day; and Jane Fonda, V-Counsel member and actress. (See attached announcement for further details about Vaginas Vote, Chicks Rock)

Tickets are available for $15, $25 and $40 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at (212) 307-7171 and (800) 755-4000, and at the Apollo box office, 253 West 125th Street, NYC.

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