AmySimon

Amy Simon is a mother, actress, playwright, improviser, published writer, producer, and self-proclaimed Cultural Herstorian. She has been acting in and producing theater for most of her adult life. Her first play Cheerios In My Underwear (And Other True Tales Of Motherhood) holds the record as the longest running solo show in Los Angeles. SHE’S HISTORY! plays in theaters, schools, libraries, military bases, museums, for conferences, women’s groups, fundraisers, political and social justice organizations and retirement communities. SHE”S HISTORY! is fiscally sponsored by the Women’s Museum of California (http://www.womensmuseumca.org/). Always interested in hearing and presenting what women have to say, Amy directed, co-produced and performed in Los Angeles with GAL-O-RAMA and OVARYACTION at The Improv, The Laugh Factory and The Upfront Comedy Theatre. As the creative force and co-producer behind HEROINE ADDICTS, the four-year hit all-girl variety show, Amy worked with and was inspired by many of the most talented female writer/performers in Los Angeles (including Jane Lynch) at Hollywood’s bang Studio. She created and produced Motherhood Unplugged and Moms Who Write, a mom written and performed story and music salon and stage show (to benefit Beyond Shelter) with LA Parent Magazine and Mamapalooza (Moms In The Arts). It inaugurated and is featured on Los Angeles’s KPFK Radio’s Pacifica Performance Showcase. Working as a consultant on the 2008 launch of the Broad Stage Theater in Santa Monica, Amy performed a variety of duties, including stage-managing the thirteen member cast of American Voices: Spirit of the Revolution, Stephanie Glass Solomon’s original play based on The Federalist Papers, directed by and starring Dustin Hoffman, a truly wonderful man, whom she assisted. As the cast understudy she actually got to play Abigail Adams going in for Annette Bening in dress rehearsal. A frequent guest on local and national radio, Amy was a guest commentator for American Woman In Fact And Fiction, a three part series that aired on Pacifica Radio Archives FromTheVault.org series. She is also a regular guest on the Nicole Sandler Show Radioornot.com. Amy plays California Pioneer Maude Younger in California Women Win The Vote, the documentary/film produced by Wild West Women, Inc. (www.wildwestwomen.org). Her work in the classroom, as an educational specialist teaching improvisation and theater games inspired her to create a curriculum related interactive presentation of SHE’S HISTORY! for Middle School. As a “Herstorical” humorist, Amy writes, blogs, performs and entertains on the radio, online, and onstage furthering her mission to turn the world on to all the fabulous females no one knows anything about. She is a single mother of two glorious and "challenging" teenage daughters who can tell you all about the first woman to run for President.

Jan 042014
 

 

BLOG – Women of 2013

“The main problem, is me being a female.”

“Women who drive cars could cause damage to their ovaries and pelvises and they are at risk of having children born with ‘clinical problems.'”

 

Looking back on 2013, here are just a FEW Fabulous Females who inspired, empowered and made a difference by standing up, speaking out, and ultimately making our lives better.

MALALA YOUSAFZAI

This Pakastani sixteen year old, addressed the United Nations in July, is the youngest person to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, has a book and campaign “I Am Malala”, and might end up running her country.  Her journey began at eleven years old when she began blogging for the BBC about life under the Taliban (the religious militant group of men from Afghanistan and Pakistan who do not believe girls or women should be educated or have rights).  When she was fourteen years old, the Taliban shot her in the head while on her school van.  She was taken to England where she MIRACULOUSLY recovered.  Her whole family moved there as well (her father is an educator and great inspiration and supporter) and Malala returned to school, continuing her education.  This year she went on a tour of sorts, which included charming John Stewart on The Daily Show so much he wanted to adopt her.  On a visit to The Oval Office, she also told President Obama to STOP using drones (one of her causes), and was up for Time Magazine Person Of The Year but lost to the Pope.  “Let us pick up our books and our pens.  They are our most powerful weapons.”  http://www.malala-yousafzai.com

ELIZABETH WARREN

The Senior Democratic Senator from Massachusetts, former Harvard Law Professor, mom and author is a true representative of the people.  She called out and told off corporate America, the banks, (including introducing legislation to make student loan rates the same as the banks; “Let’s give students the same great deal the banks get”) fights for income equality, minimum wage, expanding social security, cutting the military budget (using that money for education) increase taxing the rich, and a ton of other causes that will improve the lives of everyday Americans. “I’m really concerned that too big to fail has become too big to jail. That just seems wrong to me.”  http://elizabethwarren.com

WENDY DAVIS

The Texas Trail-Blazing Fifty Year Old Senator (who was a nineteen year old Single Mom) stood on her feet for almost almost eleven hours, filibustering to defeat a bill that would close a load of abortion clinics (leaving only FIVE OPEN!) in that giant state.  She couldn’t and didn’t use a bathroom, eat, drink, talk off-topic or lean against furniture.  This Harvard Law School graduate is now running for Governor.  “People are hungry for leadership that’s not afraid of political consequence.”  Watch it and her here…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcjfv2BF9f0

http://www.wendydavistexas.com

KIRSTIN GILLIBRAND AND JACKIE SPEIER

New York Senator and Democrat Gillibrand and California Congresswoman and Democrat Speier went to bat for the twenty-five year long despicable untenable and UNBELIEVABLE crisis of sexual assault in the military.  Said Gillibrand  “…sexual violence is reported to be the leading cause of post-traumatic stress disorder among women veterans”.  Once you watch this and learn what’s been going you will become incredulous and outraged. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqM6-Upn2V4

AMY ZIERING

And speaking of Sexual Assault In The Military – it was this Fabulous Female who brought so much attention to the crisis by producing the Oscar nominated documentary “The Invisible War”. http://invisiblewarmovie.com

SHERYL SANDBERG

Women in Corporate America….disgraceful with only 4.4 percent of Fortune 500 CEO jobs going to the gals!!!  Absolutely unacceptable. Ms. Sandberg is trying to change it.  This Mom and Harvard Graduate with many male mentors is the COO of Facebook.  She published her book Lean In and created her campaign Leanin.org which inspires and empowers girls and women to be more assertive and LEAN IN to their ambitions and goals and not let anyone or anything hold them back. She is controversial for saying things such as: “Until women are as ambitious as men, they’re not gong to achieve as much as men.”  But I am a big fan of her message: “Believe in yourself and negotiate for yourself. Own your own success.  I’d like to see where boys and girls end up if they get equal encouragement – I think we might have some differences in how leadership is done.”   http://leanin.org

MARISSA MAYER

Another Female Corporate (and controversial) Trailblazer, she is President and CEO of Yahoo.  Our young girls NEED to see women in these roles.

MARY BARA

DROVE right through the automotive industry’s glass ceiling as the first female CEO of General Motors.  Major Trail-Blazing! 

JANET YELLEN

ChairPERSON of the United States Federal Reserve – First Female for the big job.

MAKERS.COM

Super cool on line digital platform filled with inspiring, empowering and IMPORTANT true stories of Fabulous Females who make America, developed by PBS and AOL.

http://www.makers.com

KRISTI JACOBSON and LORI SILVERBUSH

Two Fabulous Females who produced and directed this heartbreaking documentary about hunger in America…. http://www.catalyst-films.com/film-tv/place-table/

JENNIFER LEE

Is a Fabulous Female Filmmaker, mom and feminist who wrote and produced Feminist Stories From Women’s Liberation,  a documentary covering the women’s movement from 1963-1970.  Why?  “One day in 2004 I watched a segment of “Meet the Press” where five men were discussing how to overturn Roe v. Wade. I thought, ‘Where are the women?’  The next day I talked about it with a co-worker and she leaned over and whispered, “Are you a feminist?”  http://www.feministstories.com

MELANIE KLEIN and WAM

WOMEN, ACTION MEDIA is an organization that fights for gender justice in America.  They led the fight to successfully campaign to remove all misogyny, hate speak and violence against women from Facebook.  Just one of their campaigns.  Melanie Klein is a writer, speaker and Associate Faculty member at Santa Monica College, teaching Sociology and Women’s Studies.  And she is my SHESOURCE sister!

http://www.womenactionmedia.org  (http://www.shesource.org)

ARAYANA SAYEED

A singer/songwriter who made headlines by refusing to wear a veil.  In Afghanistan.  On National Television – as a judge on their version of The Voice.  Receiving death threats did not stop this Fabulous Female from making a statement and risking her life. “The main problem, is me being a female.  For a woman, anything she does in Afghanistan is a problem.”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC-hjI0xRQY

SAUDI ARABIAN WOMEN

“Women who drive cars could cause damage to their ovaries and pelvises and they are at risk of having children born with ‘clinical problems,'”  said a leading Saudi cleric.  Of course!  THAT explains MY two teenage daughters’ behavior!  Oy!!!!  But a bunch of incredibly courageous Fabulous Saudi Females drove anyway on October 26th. Five were arrested and “dealt with accordingly”  (what does THAT mean???). Saudi Arabia is the only country in the whole wide world that does not allow women to drive.

Like I said, just a few fab females doing what they can for equality and social justice.

Happy 2014 Everyone.  Get out and vote!  The Midterm Elections are really important this year.

UPCOMING SHOWS:  March is Women’s History Month!

MALIBU

Sunday March 16th at 7:00PM

Presented by Carla and Leigh McCloskey, whose beautiful private home called OLANDAR is an event venue, filled with amazing art. Come a little early and enjoy the exhibit before the show.
Donation: $20.00
Location: Olandar, home of Carla and Leigh McCloskey in Malibu, CA
RSVP as space is limited.
For address, more information and RSVP: Please email carlamccloskey@aol.com or call, 310-457-5398

SAN DIEGO

THE WOMEN’S MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA

http://womensmuseumca.org

2730 Historic Decatur Rd. Barracks 16

San Diego, CA 92106

(619) 233-7963

Saturday March 15th at 7:00PM
BUY TICKETS

 Sunday March 16th at 3:00PM
BUY TICKETS

Don’t forget to listen to my Fabulous Female Facts every Thursday on Nicole Sandler’s http://radioornot.com/.  I am on at 8:20AM Thursday mornings.  (You can listen to the podcasts which are archived) and  – as always – get your Women’s History on with http://sheshistory.com/.  Here are a few photos of my year highlights.  (I’m better in front of the camera than behind it….)

sonia

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in Los Angeles at a
Writer’s Bloc event for her book “My Beloved World”

A SHE’S HISTORY! performance for El Rodeo Middle School, Beverly Hills

A SHE’S HISTORY! performance for El Rodeo Middle School, Beverly Hills

 

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CATW Read-thru

New York City read through for the Coalition Against Trafficking In Women
with Alberto Bonillo (Frederick Douglass) and Stacey Robertson, Author
“Hearts Beating For Liberty”

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nicole & amy

florida

Working AND playing in Florida with Nicole Sandler

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sandra

West Hollywood Women’s Leadership Conference with Attorney/Activist Sandra Fluke

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Mother's Day

Venice, California – Mother’s Day at the theater.
Left to right: My twenty year old daughter Rose (Journalism Major), my long time friend Donna Walker of KPFK Pacifica Radio and my Uber Fab Playwright/Author/Columnist/Actor/Self Defense Advocate friend Ellen Snortland.

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girl scouts

GIRL SCOUTS Teen Summit performance, Los Angeles

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I Love A Good Story

Performing in Fab Female Lauri Frazer’s show at The Los Angeles Story Telling Festival

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hollywood stag

The Lounge Theater, Los Angeles Solo Show Festival
Fabulous Solo Show Sisters left to right:
Wendy Hammers of RIPE andTASTY WORDS, Jonna Tamases of THE GISELE SHOW and JONNA’S BODY, PLEASE HOLD and Rozie Bacchi of CAREER DAY

Nov 112013
 

What happened in October 2013?

Well, aside from the government shutting down, fabulous females have been working hard to to enlighten our youth.

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager shot by the Taliban for wanting an education AND the youngest person nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize – addressed the United Nations on October 11th –  International Day of the Girl Child.  Read all about it her “I Am Malala” book  and campaign:  http://www.malalafund.org

   

I am continuing my own share of enlightening! On Saturday November 9th I performed SHE’S HISTORY! for GIRLTOPIA – the Girl Scouts Teen Summit at The Los Angeles Convention Center.

I was and am SO inspired by Jennifer Lee’s amazing moving important documentary FEMINIST STORIES FROM WOMEN’S LIBERATION. http://www.feministstories.com   Our girls – and boys – do not know what the Equal Rights Amendment is, so I told the lovely girls at the show ALL about the ERA EDUCATION PROJECT (http://eraeducationproject.com) and then turned them on to Alice Paul – who wrote it in 1921.

They THOUGHT they knew what feminism is (defined by Merriam-Webster as the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities; organized activity in support of women’s rights and interests), so I showed ’em what a Feminist looks like:

But some of them knew about Sojourner Truth and Malala Yousafzai and it was so very cool chatting after with a bunch of young excited feminists! They really give me hope. One of the girls is dead set on becoming President. Here is what she wrote in my Comments Book:

Thank you for inspiring me! I hope to see you at my inauguration parade!

 

Guess which Girl Scout said it?

This is why I do this!

Who knew there were the Veteran Feminists of America? http://www.vfa.us I didn’t until I went to the conference here in Los Angeles.  My good friend and colleague and uber Fabulous Female Paula Caplan wrote about it here…

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/science-isnt-golden/201309/much-needed-women-and-media-conference-energizes-inspires

So check out what some MORE of my colleagues are doing!

http://www.bravegirlswant.com/brave-girls-take-back-media.html

http://www.womenactionmedia.org

http://www.sheheroes.org

Listen to Fabulous Female Facts every THURSDAY at 8:20AM PST (or podcast anytime) on my fabulous female friend Nicole Sandler’s Radioornot.com.

And of course, as always, visit sheshistory.com.

Amy Simon Cultural Herstorian/Playwright/Performer
(310) 308-0947

She’s History!  The Most Dangerous Women In America…Then And Now  is a play and school program about women who make and made history.  

 

 

Today’s Fabulous Female Fact: “I would have girls regard themselves not as adjectives but as nouns.”  Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902)   After suffering from “mental hunger and domestic drudgery” this privileged activist mother of seven demanded the right to vote in 1848 at the first Women’s Convention (that she called for and made happen).

Aug 212013
 

Who Said: “I think…that the young women of today do not and can never know at what price their right to free speech and to speak at all in public has been earned”.

It was Lucy Stone in 1893. And still sadly true today when we know all about Kim Kardashian and nothing about Lucy Stone. We celebrate Woman’s Equality Day on August 26th, honoring the momentous event ninety-three years ago, when women got suffrage – the right to vote in – 1920, with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. Ahhh. Lucy Stone was the first American gal to get arrested for civil disobedience – she would not pay her property taxes because she could not vote. You had to be a white male property owner to vote.

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Lucy Stone (read more)

Fabulous Female Fact: Lucy Stone

Voting is the most powerful way to affect change. (Unless you agree with Emma Goldman, who said; “If voting changed anything, they’d make it illegal.” ) And as we look back ninety three years ago, could we have imagined such a powerful change as a black president? How many of us know how hard the gals fought to free the slaves – were INSTRUMENTAL in getting the Thirteenth Amendment passed? Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her crew over at The Loyal League (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/ topic/647185/Womens-National-Loyal-League) got 400,000 signatures on a petition abolishing slavery! (Imagine what these suffragists could do with Facebook andTwitter?) But the gals were not free to vote. “Votes for all or votes for none! Universal Suffrage!” said Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony when they were asked after the Civil War, to fight again. This time for the freed slaves’ right to vote. Black male suffrage is paramount. Tis the hour of the Negro” they were told, which pissed off some of ‘em so much that it split the movement, setting back the gals efforts for their own right to vote another fifty years.

petition_for_universal_suffrage_women_voting_right_poster-r76f2746e43764bd292e560464e1b5659_ail3e_8byvr_512

There were very FEW gals in positions of power in 1920. In 1917 Montana’s Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to the House of Representatives (they had to build a Ladies Room for her).

images

Jeannette Rankin

http://sheshistory.com/site/category/fabulous-female-facts/page/4/

And Pioneering Attorney Belva Lockwood ran for President – TWICE – in 1884 and 1888. Back in 1872 the scandalous, history-making, glorious, Victoria Woodhull (AKA Mrs. Satan), became the FIRST woman to run for President (and spent election day in jail for what she published in her newspaper).

victoria_woodhull_2victoria-woodhull-presidential-flyer-1872

http://sheshistory.com/site/category/fabulous-female-facts/page/5/

Speakin’ of gals who run for President, who woulda thought back in 1920 that a woman who MIGHT be running for President, is so apparently powerful, an entire political party VOTED to ban CNN and NBC from airing their Presidential debates. CNN’s planned documentary and NBC’s planned film about the life of Hillary Clinton is the cause of the brouhaha. Wow! Here we are in 2013 and the power is on as we inch our way toward equality with ninety-eight women (out of five hundred thirty-five) in Congress. This would thrill Jeanette Rankin and the amazing activist/suffragist (and author of The Equal Rights Amendment) Alice Paul. In 1917, Alice Paul and a bunch of her gal pals were thrown (literally) into jail for peacefully picketing the White House for the right to vote. These gals went through HELL sacrificing and suffering, enduring physical abuse and hunger strikes, ALL SO WE CAN VOTE!

And thanks to the late great New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug, every year since 1971, The President of The United States issues a proclamation commemorating August 26th as Women’s Equality Day!

susan-b-anthony-quote-cropped

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SHE’S HISTORY! plays The Lounge Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday October 13th at 2PM.

BUY TICKETS

loungeoct-13