JUSTICE? OR…JUST ME? THE BITE WILL BE IN SOLOFEST 2022

Justice? Or... Just Me?: The Bite

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 26, 2021
PRESS CONTACT: [email protected]

JUSTICE? OR…JUST ME? THE BITE

LIVE FEBRUARY 3rd AND ON DEMAND FEBRUARY 9th, 2022

LOS ANGELES (December 26, 2021)—Justice? Or…Just Me? The Bite by Lorinda Hawkins Smith, based on the Justice? Or…Just Me? book series will be at the Whitefire Theatre in Solofest 2022 Solo Theatre Festival in Black History Month. The solo play is written, produced and performed by Lorinda Hawkins Smith with direction by Patricia Bean-Kane. Justice? Or…Just Me? The Bite was an official recipient of the 2021 Hollywood Fringe Festival Diversity Scholarship awarded to productions with powerful community impact. Downtown Women’s Center’s Domestic Violence Homeless Services Coalition will be facilitating the Q & A after the show. Performance will be in person February 3rd, 2022 and On Demand February 9th, 2022.
In her quest for justice, Dominique finds just her. What if saving your life means losing it? Justice? Or…Just Me?: The Bite is the first in a trilogy of shows chronicling the journey of a Black woman (Dominique Mills) who leaves an abusive marriage to a White man.
“I’m homeless. No, I never smoked crack. I’m childless. Yes, I want my babies back. I’ve been in jail. No, I’ve never robbed a store. People want to take from me. Yet, I’m very poor,” says Dominique. Society tends to have one idea of what the face of homelessness, childlessness, domestic violence and criminal backgrounds looks like.

“Justice? Or…Just Me?” was a ten minute monologue workshopped in Skid Row in 2007. After performing the mini solo show for ten years, Lorinda was able to be part of REDCAT’s Studio: Spring 2018 where she incorporated multi media with the piece. Said REDCAT, “Writer, actor, and activist Lorinda Hawkins Smith’s compelling solo performance Justice? Or Just Me? intricately remixes incisive text and soulful vocal rhythms and textures to examine a Black woman’s encounter with law enforcement, domestic violence and her interracial marriage to a White man.”

Understanding that the story is too large to fit into just one show, it is now a trilogy: Justice? Or… Just Me?: The Bite, The Fight, The Flight. Justice? Or…Just Me?:The Bite is part one and the book is currently available in paperback, Kindle and Audiobook on Amazon.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION 
Justice? Or…Just Me? The Bite
By Lorinda Hawkins Smith 
Based on the Justice? Or…Just Me? book series.
Justice? Or…Just Me?: The Bite is the first in a trilogy of shows chronicling the journey of a Black woman (Dominique Mills) who leaves an abusive marriage to a White man. The show mixes spoken word, song, comedy and drama.

The production is written, performed and produced by Lorinda Hawkins Smith. Directed by Patricia Bean-Kane.
FEBRUARY 3, AND FEBRUARY 9, 2022 | Solofest 2022 Solo Theatre Festival

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Lorinda Hawkins Smith (Playwright) is an actress, author, comedian, musician, filmmaker and domestic violence survivor. While transitioning from houseless to housed, she earned her MBA and wrote Justice? Or…Just Me? The first in her book series, Justice? Or…Just Me? The Bite is now available on Amazon. Lorinda is honored to be a commissioned playwright for the Robey Theatre Company. In addition to plays, Lorinda wrote and directed a short film, The Virus, which has won multiple awards including Best Covid Film in the London Indie Film Festival. She teaches drama to youth. lorindahawkinssmith.com
Patricia Bean-Kane (Director) began writing and directing plays as a freshman in high school. She has been involved in Christian theatre for over 25 years. She is the founder of Black Light Theatre in Denver and the Christian elite Ensemble in L.A. Patricia has written over 15 plays that have been performed under her directorship either by Black Light Theater Company or CEE in Denver, Colorado, Los Angeles, California, Kansas City Kansas, Holly Springs Mississippi, Oklahoma and Washington D.C. She is an actress, director and trainer. She has assisted various churches, and organizations in producing their own productions. She is the recipient of the Rohi Honoree Award awarded to Christian playwrights.
Steven McGill (Drummer) began playing the Conga Drum as a teenager. His first teacher was “The Witch Doctor” in his home town Palo Alto, California.  Upon moving to Washington D.C., Steven became involved with “The African Cultural Dancers and Drummers” where he learned Afro-Cuban Drumming and more about African Culture. Steven is one of a handful of Percussionists to record playing the conga, bongo, djembe, timbales, shekeree, quica, vibraphone, xylophone, maracas, waterphone, rain sticks, gongs, cowbells, go-go bells, piano, cabasa, tambourine, thunder stick, berimbau, various bird calls, whistles, and various rattles shakers etc..  Steven also writes music and lyrics.

TICKET INFORMATION
Justice? Or…Just Me? The Bite is February 3 and 9, 2022 at 8p.m. Tickets are $25 and $19.99. Tickets can be purchased online at https://solofest.stagey.net/projects/7276?tab=tickets
WHERE: Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
WHEN: Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. with Q & A following in person. Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. On Demand.
ADMISSION: $19.99 – 25.00
ONLINE TICKETING: https://solofest.stagey.net/projects/7276?tab=tickets
CONSUMER ADVISORY: Masks and vaccination card or negative test within 48 hrs. for live show.
PARKING: Street parking is available. Read signs. Or, valet at Augustine Wine Bar, just east of the theater, on the same (north) side of Ventura.