One of the most enjoyable people I've worked with on her solo show is a performing and visual artist named Michelle Vest. I remember that when Michelle initially began working with me, she thought she wanted to do an autobiographical show about her journey into motherhood.

What a surprising twist~ Her art and inspiration took her in an entirely different direction once she began to create. One of the assignements I always give to my students is to create a monologue based on an interview with someone they don't know very well.

Michelle interviewed a woman who helped her out with her child and housekeeping. This woman came across the border from Mexico and told Michelle some of the harrowing stories of her life and what she had to do to come to the States and work. I will never forget when Michelle came to class and performer her monologue of this woman. She completly embodied her. There was a depth and power in the work. This excited Michelle and set her on her path to create "Sole Surviver's"; a show where she plays four immigrants form Mexico and El Salvador, based on personal interviews she had with these people. In this work, she really gives voice to those that are generally "voiceless" in our culture.

Once again, we see the invitation of solo performance to offer us a window of intimacy into people's lives that we might never see or know otherwise. A window that offers us more understanding, more empathy and more power we choose to view each other. How can we stay seperate and experience each other as "stranger's"?....we cannot, once we hear each others authentic and vulnerable stories.We are brought together in our humanity when we really drop into these monologues and just listen.

Michelle is performing her show in Philadelphia this month and in October at Stage Left Studios....I am thrilled that others will see this amazing world she has created. Blessings, Michelle. Your artistry and presence is a blessing. www.MichelleVest.com and www.StageLeftStudios.com