Feminist Crush

As artistic director of Chicago's The Viola Project, professional actor and teaching artist Skyler Schrempp cultivates confidence among middle school-aged girls by creating "a brave space" for young women to stand up, advocate for themselves, and demand inclusion through creative exploration of William Shakespeare's classic plays.

Chicago-based storyteller, educator, and sex positivity activist Alicia Swiz takes on takes on rape culture, slut shaming, and media's role in influencing our attitudes about women and sexuality.

Writer, producer, and co-creator of Amazon Prime's new animated series Danger and Eggs Shadi Petosky talks internalized transphobia, intersectional feminism, and the importance of recognizing our biases (and f***ing destroying them!).

For playwright Ellen Fairey and director Kimberly Senior, aging and ageism, the evolution of gender roles, and the need for safe spaces to express our anxieties about an ever-changing world take center stage in the Goodman Theatre's New Stages Festival production ofSupport Group for Men.

Actors Bri Sudia and Lauren Molina, in collaboration with Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman, set the scene for sisterhood both on and off stage in the Goodman Theatre's production of Leonard Bernstein's classic musical Wonderful Town.

Through comedy, feminist improviser and creator of goodgirlsarentfunny.com Holly Mandel empowers funny women to say HELL yes, and... "f*ck it!", to bust their inner good girls, and to "build their own sandboxes" in which to play (No boys necessary!).

Chicana punk rock pioneer Alice Bag sounds off on making art out of rage, finding her feminist voice, and reveals "the greatest hurt" she could do to herself: to not live by her own convictions.

Writer and comic book creator Christy Marx chronicles the origin story of her "soul obsession" with super heroes, considers why Jem and The Holograms strikes such a chord with feminist fans, and offers her advice for breaking into the comic book industry's boys club (hint: Let nothing stop you!).

Transgender actor, writer, and comedian D'Lo raps about how hip hop inspired his feminism, storytelling as a tool for self-discovery, and his gratitude for directors who challenge him to face his stinky "shit."

The political is poetic as feminist writer and climate change activist Rebecca Solnit opens up about mansplaining, the change-making nature of "naming things", and why we all need an education in hope.