Show: 8
Title: Jewelry Power Elite
Category: Comedy / Drama / Solo Show
By: Rogues Gallery Arts
Created by: Lauren Anderson
Location: Strike Theater
Summary: A solo show by actor/improvisor Lauren Anderson (a frequent performer at The Brave New Workshop) telling the story of her life through jewelry.
Highlights: I love jewelry, but Lauren Anderson really loves jewelry. She's turned it into a way of life, and crowned herself "Jewelry Power Elite." In this very funny and personal show, she talks about the history of jewelry itself, along with the origins of her love for jewelry (those '80s jelly bracelets, and a grandmother with an extensive jewelry collection that she inherited) and the way it's helped her in various phases of her life. She talks about her connection to her dad through their love of theater, and holding onto his dog tags from his Vietnam service to give her confidence. She talks about how putting on her grandmother's beads connects her to that relationship and her childhood. In the show-and-tell portion of the show, Lauren shares her five favorite animals and what they represent to her, and shows us a small portion of this animal-themed jewelry. She uses visual aids in the form of what looks like an overhead projector but is actually a camera projected on the wall, where she displays historical photos and actual jewelry pieces. Lauren is a born entertainer, and it's no surprise that she's very funny and personable in her first solo show. It's well constructed to take us through a series of stories from her life, and the different ways that jewelry can make you feel special, give you confidence, remind you who you are, or connect you with something bigger. I'll never look at a bracelet the same way again.
