Waltham, MA (OPENPRESS) November 26, 2009 — On Thursday, January 14, 2010, milDRED Gerestant brings her one woman play When She was King to the Boston Peabody Marriot. play When She was King is a blend of comedy, poetry, dance, music, activism, monologue, cultural history, Spirit, expression, and education.
Using theatre, dance, humor, and cultural history, milDRED plays with gender roles and social/racial stereotypes to inspire all audiences to think about race, gender, and identities. Her performances are not just about imitating the same or “opposite” sex, they are about freedom of self-expression and crossing/breaking boundaries. She wishes to continue inspire people to honor and accept the differences in their selves, and each other.
Says milDRED, “I like roles that push people’s boundaries, and makes them think about their own identities formed through society. Through my performances, I draw attention to how society domesticates us into our preconceived notions of gender, race, and sexuality. My life, humanity, and spirituality, brings us a bit closer to recognizing and unlearning constraints, prejudices and stereotypes.”
Brooklyn based writer and poet, Cheryl Burke says, “milDRED Gerestant performs a particularly mystical form of one woMan show. Her act is less a typical impersonation and more a challenge to societal ideas of what it means to be male or female, while reminding the audience that there’s some of each in everyone. It’s no surprise that milDRED’s motto is ” Love all of who you are.”
For the past 14 years, she has been performing and doing workshops all over the world including Korea, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and all over the United States, garnering praise and awards throughout her career.
Ilana Lansberg-Lewis, former Advisor for UNIFEM said, “To her work, milDRED brings a sophisticated understanding and insight into issues of race, gender, ethnicity and using the medium of theatre and dance to break boundaries. I have often brought activists from developing countries (with whom I work at the U.N.) to her /performances plays when they visit New York. .They are unfailingly fascinated and elated by her words”
From Flip Wilson as Geraldine to Martin Lawrence as Sheneneh, men have made tons of money as drag performers. Now it’s the women’s turn, and one of the world’s leading character actors is Haitian-American milDRED Gerestant, the artist formerly known as DRED.” – Port of Harlem Magazine.
“Next time you see P. Diddy, Shaft and Superfly on stage, take a closer look underneath that black suit, top hat, afro or leather jacket. That isn’t a macho mack daddy busting moves up there – that’s a woman, baby. Damn right. Famed milDRED Gerestant, the artist formerly known as DRED.” – Sydney Morning Herald, Australia.
“milDRED is an alchemist and artist, a spiritual teacher, and a political activist. She will wake you up, make you think, and open your heart to the possibilities of LOVING ALL of who YOU / WE are! Thank you milDRED! You embody what it means to walk in beauty!” – Sally N. MacNichol, Director of Programs of CONNECT.
In 2009 she recievd Out music Spirit award This year I was listed, among Wanda Sykes and Ellen DeGeneres, one of Go magazine’s “100 Women We Love” List. Twice she received The Field’s Artward Bound Artist in Residency.
To learn more about milDRED go to www.dredlove.com. You can also see her on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfcTXiTHNy0
For the past 29 years Tiffany Clubs First Event has been one of the premier transgender conferences in the United States.
FE 2010 will be held at the Boston Peabody Marriot in Peabody, MA from January 13-17.
First Event 2010 is anticipating over 600 attendees this year and will feature daytime workshops of interest to the entire transgender, spouse, partner and allies community. Evening entertainment will include a number of special activities. Tiffany Club’s Saturday night community recognition awards banquet and keynote will cap off the exciting event.
Registration forms and information for Tiffany Club’s First Event 2010 Transgender Conference are located at the club’s web site at http://www.tcne.org or by calling the club’s First Event program office at 802-356-4582 or via email at firstevent@tcne.org.
Tiffany Club of New England, the sponsor of First Event 2010, is a 5013C non-profit corporation and an open resource and support organization for all parts of the transgender community from cross dressers to transsexuals, both Male-to-Female and Female-to-Male, allies and intersexed persons.
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