Photo by Kimberly En
Sometimes theater is serious business, giving voice to the voiceless, telling stories that matter and emboldening those among us who are downtrodden or suffering. And sometimes theater is a laugh riot, letting us transcend our troubles and wallow around in joy.
Saturday night, enjoy a little from column B while throwing your support behind the work of column A at a hilarious fundraiser featuring all women performers. The annual fundraiser, That’s What She Said, takes over John Burroughs High School with food, drinks, and plenty of fun.
Solid Lines Productions is a nonprofit theater company in its fifth season, and it is theater with a mission. Its productions tackle tough and socially relevant issues like domestic and sexual abuse, sex trafficking, mental and behavioral health, race relations, or any social issue that’s grabbing headlines and affecting the lives of its audiences.
“All of our productions focus on a certain social issue,” says Clayton Bury, fundraiser producer. “We want to sink our teeth into the issue.”
Most of the company’s productions are staged readings. Afterward, a licensed certified counselor leads a talk-back session with the audience.
“I like the way we do it, the way our counselor leads it,” says Bury. “We use the play as a vehicle to begin our discussion about the issue. The counselor is providing a safe space. People open up and talk about their own experience and their own lives.”
The productions are always free to the public. Obviously, it’s a great way to make a difference in peoples’ lives—but it’s not a great way to keep a business afloat.
Enter the fundraiser, which brings in money and generally goes to the opposite end of the emotional spectrum, bringing good vibes and ell oh ells. Keeping in line with Solid Lines mission of social justice, the laughs are all from lady-identified folks.
Yes, there will be standup comedy acts. But there will also be a sketch group, an improv team, musicians, burlesque acts and characters acts including the cuisine-deficient “Cooking with Marge.” Christina Rios of R-S Theatrics hosts.
It’s a full-on night out, beginning with cocktails including Urban Chestnut beer and Trademark Wines and coffee from Kaldi’s. The buffet dinner comes from Cantina Laredo.
Doors are at 6:30 p.m. and performances start at 8 p.m. and should wrap up by 10 p.m., with a silent auction happening all evening. Bid on a custom commissioned work of art from artist Zack Smithey or a package of four Cardinals tickets in the Champions Club.
That’s What She Said 2018, John Burroughs High School, 9245 Clayton Road. Tickets are $50, $52.74 with service fee.
