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MARCH 17th 5:30pm
MARCH 23rd 3:30pm
MARCH 28th 7:30pm
Welcome to the Women's Wit and Wisdom Theatre Festival! We have aimed to celebrate every women at every age and every stage of her life in this collection of plays and performances. We selected monologues and short plays from local playwrights and the like to present in a two part evening of theatre to showcase women at their best, their worst and everything in between. 
Part 2 features love and loss and relationships. We highlight works from local playwrights Elise Hodge, Nathaniel Mercier and Laura Sheperd. Join us for our second night of exploring women at their best and their worst, their most loving and their most hateful. This is why we love, respect and revere the women in our lives, be they mothers, sisters, daughters, lovers or friends. 

TICKETS FOR THE FESTIVAL:
ooleytheatre.org

OR
https://our.show/witandwidsom2/30449

Our selections for Part 2 Come from 3 Local Playwrights, an Essay, and a monologue many of you might recognize! ENJOY THE SHOW!

"ALICE"
Written and Performed by Laura Sheperd

"HOW IT FEELS TO BE COLORED ME"
By Zora Neale Hurston
an Essay Performed by Sarina Krastev

Cabaret Number by Hannah Sheaffer

"THE (W)HOLE PERSPECTIVE"
By Nathaniel Mercier
Performed by Elise Hodge and Sarina Krastev

"DOWN THERE"
a Monologue Performed by Deborah Shalhoub

Cabaret Number by Hannah Sheaffer

"THANKS IRENE, with LOVE"
By Elise Hodge
Performed by Eileen Hoang and Bernadette Arrogancia

LAURA SHEPERD
Actress/Writer
as Alice in
"Alice"

Laura, who has, most recently been primarily a playwright, is very pleased to be given the
chance to bring once again one of her short pieces to the stage as an actor. As a playwright,
Laura has received nominations for several of her plays and received an award for her very
first play.

DEBORAH SHALHOUB
"Down There"
a Monologue

Deborah has been performing at many Sacramento theaters and so very happy to be back on
stage, working with Elise. Last seen in a short film, THE DINER, and on stage as Maisie Madigan
in JUNO and the PAYCOCK and having fun with some wonderful, staged Radio Shows at
California Stage.
As always, this one’s for Gregg and PJ, who’d love to see Ant Deb being silly on stage.

HANNAH SHEAFFER
Singer/Musical Theater

Hannah is grateful to have the opportunity to return to the Ooley Theatre after performing here as part of the PRISM Theatre Troupe's Cabaret series multiple times last year. A couple of her favorite past roles include Ali in Mamma Mia, Dragon Lady in Shrek the Musical, and, most recently, Phantom in Rocky Horror Picture Show. As always, she wishes to extend thanks to her friends and family for their continued support.

SARINA KRASTEV
as Jo in
"The (W)Hole Perspective"

Sarina studied Theatre Arts and earned a B.A. in Drama on the East Coast before moving out to California. Soon after, she began performing with theatre groups in Los Angeles, demonstrating her talent in both acting and dancing. Around town, you may have seen Sarina in GOOD PEOPLE, TREASURE ISLAND, DOUBT: A PARABLE, SPECIAL REQUEST, and DIRECT FROM DEATH ROW: THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS. Additionally, Sarina has been known to step off the stage and shine in front of the camera. Several of her films may be found on your most popular streaming platforms. Sarina is thrilled to be working with Elise Hodge and Nate Mercier on this funny and relatable piece during Women's History Month.

ELISE HODGE
as Nat in
"The (W)Hole Perspective"

It is such a joy to finally share the stage with Sarina Krastev, my partner in crime in the short play we perform by writer/director Nathaniel Mercier. It is also a joy to see two women come together to perform my own piece as well. I have been in over 40 productions in career now and loved every minute of them. This will be no exception and I hope you love it this show too. It is always a challenge and a joy to work on a new piece and I thank Nate for allowing me to give notes, to play with these characters and to have a great time acting!

EILEEN HOANG
as Jane in
"Thanks Irene, with Love"

Eileen performed at the Ooley Theatre for the first time in the production of Angel County and is glad to make another appearance on the Ooley stage. She began acting with a foundation in theatre, starting with the Actor’s Workshop of Sacramento and mentored by Ed Claudio. She has had the opportunity to perform in numerous productions in the Sacramento region on the California Stage, Three Penny Theatre, The Stage at Burke Junction, and most recently, Big Idea. She will also be in a production of Snow Falling on Cedars at Nevada Theatre this Spring. In 2023, Eileen expanded her repertoire into film acting as well as producing and directing film. Some theatre credits include: The Taming of the Shrew (Lucentio/Tranio), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), All My Sons (Lydia), Twelfth Night (Viola), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia).

BERNADETTE ARROGANCIA
as RJ in
"Thanks Irene, with Love"

Berney is excited to be back at The Ooley Theatre after their performances in Help Me and Angel County last year. Other productions they have been in include Airness (Nina), Waiting for Godot (Lucky), Men On Boats (John Sumner), and Taming of the Shrew (Bianca). Berney is an aspiring screen actor. They have been in productions for companies including Warner Bros, Netflix, and Apple TV, and ads for brands like Apple, Snapchat and Clifbar. They are very grateful for their family, partner, community, and teachers Janis, Pam, and Nancy. They give a special thanks to Shane and Elise for their beautiful hearts and souls, and dedicate their performance to Nex.

NATHANIAL MERCIER
Writer/Director
"The (W)Hole Perspective"

Nate has been acting in the Bay Area since he was 18 years old with a passion for performing and the arts in his family’s blood. Though he has dabbled in a talent agency and some short film and commercial credits as well as landed some Netflix airtime (13 reasons why) theatre is where he is most at home.

Nate is also a registered alcohol and drug counselor for those struggling with addiction, and a mental Health counselor for the Sacramento community. He is holds a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from South University and hopes to one day provide in depth counseling in a private practice for struggling addicts.

Recently Nate has crossed to the world of directing and assistant directed Sweeney Todd here at The Ooley and now taking on his own work!

STACEY NASON
Director "Alice" By Laura Sheperd

Welcome! Thank you for taking the time to join us for Women's Wit & Wisdom!! Stacey has been performing  in Sacramento and surrounding areas for several years. She is so pleased to be a part of this inspiring and moving festival that celebrates women; and hopes that you walk away feeling moved and inspired. Please sit back, relax, and make sure you have tissues as you laugh and cry through this exhilarating journey of women’s lives.

ELISE HODGE
Writer "Thanks Irene with Love"
Director "Down There"

Getting to direct a monologue is always super fun and exciting. I enjoy so much the process and helping an actor explore all the ways a story can be told like this. Thank you to the women who agreed to let me guide them through this process! I am also thrilled to have my piece "Thanks Irene, with Love" performed again thanks to Shane Robert. This piece has become very popular and been done quite a few times now, always with a different combination of people as I intended. Age, gender, race... none of it matters when two people simply find a connection which what this piece is all about. Thanks for watching and enjoy the show!

SHANE ROBERT
Director
"Thanks Irene, with Love"
 by Elise Hodge

Shane Robert is an Actor, Writer, Director and is beyond excited  to be working on one of his favorite works for the second time.  To Shane this  is a story of the human connection and telling a different version than intended is an exciting journey he was more than happy to take on. He is greatful to Elise for letting him take on this beautiful script and he hopes it speaks to you as it speaks to him.