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Mama Juggs: Three Generations Healing Negative Body Images

DNA, Dramatic Art Takes Actress from Carolina to Cameroon

Actress/playwright rie Shontel (AKA Anita Woodley) introduces her provocative one-woman show Mama Juggs, a powerful performance that challenges black female body awareness in the housing projects of Oakland, California. The shows are a prelude to her much-anticipated July tribal reunion and performance in Cameroon, Africa.

But first, she will take the stage in Durham, N.C., performing "Mama Juggs: Three Generations Healing Negative Body Images," at the Common Ground Theatre.

'rie Shontel's courageously gritty performance in Mama Juggs draws on three generations of powerful matriarchs that influenced her upbringing. 'rie artfully transitions between deep complex characters to show how song, laughter and candor can heal.

'rie (nickname of the performers mother) channels how the characters deal with breast cancer, late puberty bra stuffing, and the frustrations of breast-feeding. Acapella breast- feeding songs passed down from ries great-grandmother are included in Mama Juggs.

Together, 'rie Shontel's three characters will heal their negative self images by boldly questioning cultural taboos in the black community.

This summer 'rie will perform Mama Juggs in front of her family's ancestral tribe in the tropical rain forests of Cameroon. Her roots were traced to the countrys Tikar people through DNA testing.

While in Africa, 'rie Shontel will be working with the non-profit Hope International for Tikar People (HITIP) as the African-American representative http://www.hitip.org .

Proceeds from all performances will support her tribes access to health care and education, as well as help support this once in a lifetime journey to Cameroon.

For more information about rie, visit: http://rieshontel.blogspot.com/

View a Trailer for Mama Juggs on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU_WQndEReM

When:
March 19 at 8 p.m.
Saturday March 20 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Tickets:
$20 Students/Seniors 55+
$25 General

**Original and Limited-Edition prints of 'rie's mixed-media artwork will be sold at the venue to benefit her tribe.