In celebration of Women’s HERStory Month, Harbor House of Rochester is presenting Rochester and the Finger Lakes Region’s first Festival of Women Improvisers (F.O.W.I.) on Sunday, March 23, 2-5 pm at Brickstone by St. John’s in Rochester.   The event will feature women performing artists who use improvisation as a key component of their work as well as notable local women creatives in other disciplines, who have embraced improvisation as a key to problem solving and effecting positive change.

While improvisation is most commonly associated with jazz, it plays an important role in many other performance media, including theatre, poetry and dance, among others.  Improv has proven to be a valuable tool not only for exercising the brain but also in promoting physical, emotional and spiritual health and wellness through collaboration and teamwork.

Headlining this first festival is the innovative jazz pianist Laura Dubin, who performs with her husband-percussionist Antonio Guerrero.  Laura and Antonio will also be presenting an improvisation workshop as part of the festival. Also performing is Eastman rising star saxophonist Lane Hansen, with pianist Kate Molloy.

Rounding out the event will be a panel discussion with some of Rochester’s most inspiring local changemakers:  Stacey Mrva, Patricia Williams, Ashley Cuylear, Erika Dixon, Rachel Crawford and Essence Lewis,  who will be sharing their stories of how improvisation has been a key to navigating real life changes.

Advance tickets are:  $10 and can be purchased at:

Harbor House of Rochester

Tickets purchased at the door:  $15

To support the festival with a donation, please visit:

https://harborhouseofrochester.app.neoncrm.com/forms/festival-of-women-improvisers-playing-the-change

The Festival of Women Improvisers is a production of Harbor House of  Rochester in collaboration with St. John’s Living.  All ticket sales and donations are 100% tax deductible.  

$10