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Homeless D.C. women tell their stories at the Terrace Theater

Fifteen homeless African American women tell their stories April 30 at the Kennedy Center as N Street Village and Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts present “My Soul Look Back and Wonder: Life Stories from Women in Recovery.”

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Shevanda Brantley, 32, rehearses a scene for the "Life Stories" presentation at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater. The women of N Street Village, a shelter for homeless women, are presenting "Life Stories." Brantley, a recovering cocaine addict, carries a large portion of the play and hopes to one day write a screenplay. "We have a lot of compassion for each other, and we're acting each other's stories as though they were are own. It makes us all stronger," she says.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Pertrina Thomas, 56, left, and Jewel McNeill, 54, sing during rehearsals at Calvary Baptist Church for the Terrace Theater production in which they will perform Monday night at the Kennedy Center. After months of rehearsals, the two women and 13 others will deliver a scripted hour of music, monologues and vignettes about relapse and recovery.

Pertrina Thomas, 56, left, and Jewel McNeill, 54, sing during rehearsals at Calvary Baptist Church for the Terrace Theater production in which they will perform Monday night at the Kennedy Center. After months of rehearsals, the two women and 13 others will deliver a scripted hour of music, monologues and vignettes about relapse and recovery.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Shevanda Brantley, 32, left, is hugged by Jewel McNeill, 54, during a scene from 'Life Stories,' to be performed at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater on Monday night by the women of the N Street Village homeless shelter.

Shevanda Brantley, 32, left, is hugged by Jewel McNeill, 54, during a scene from "Life Stories," to be performed at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater on Monday night by the women of the N Street Village homeless shelter.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

The 'Life Stories' cast members rehearse a scene at Theatre Lab. “Life Stories” started as a form of art therapy, to give structure and creative outlets to vulnerable populations. Thomas Workman, who has worked on Life Stories workshops with the N Street Village women's shelter since 2007, came up with the concept in partnership with Deb Gottesman, co-director of Theatre Lab, which trains 1,500 actors a year, ranging from beginners to professional.

The "Life Stories" cast members rehearse a scene at Theatre Lab. “Life Stories” started as a form of art therapy, to give structure and creative outlets to vulnerable populations. Thomas Workman, who has worked on Life Stories workshops with the N Street Village women's shelter since 2007, came up with the concept in partnership with Deb Gottesman, co-director of Theatre Lab, which trains 1,500 actors a year, ranging from beginners to professional.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Deb Gottesman of Theatre Lab directs the 'Life Stories' cast during a rehearsal. After months of rehearsals, the 15 women will deliver a scripted hour of music, monologues and vignettes, sharing stories of rape, physical abuse, drug addiction and the children they lost.

Deb Gottesman of Theatre Lab directs the "Life Stories" cast during a rehearsal. After months of rehearsals, the 15 women will deliver a scripted hour of music, monologues and vignettes, sharing stories of rape, physical abuse, drug addiction and the children they lost.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Director Deb Gottesman, talks to the cast members from N Street Village who will present 'Life Stories' at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater on Monday night. It was Gottesman who had the idea to take the Theatre Lab's work with the women to a public stage. 'I attended a talk given by Michael Kaiser [president of the Kennedy Center], where he said, 'This is not the time to hide our dreams as artists.' And I thought, 'What is my biggest dream?' To showcase the work of the women on one of the great artistic stages in the country.'

Director Deb Gottesman, talks to the cast members from N Street Village who will present "Life Stories" at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater on Monday night. It was Gottesman who had the idea to take the Theatre Lab's work with the women to a public stage. "I attended a talk given by Michael Kaiser [president of the Kennedy Center], where he said, 'This is not the time to hide our dreams as artists.' And I thought, 'What is my biggest dream?' To showcase the work of the women on one of the great artistic stages in the country."

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Thomas Workman, left, and 'Life Stories' director Deb Gottesman talk to cast members. “Life Stories” started as a form of art therapy, to give structure and creative outlets to vulnerable populations. Workman, who has worked on Life Stories workshops with N Street Village since 2007, came up with the concept in partnership with Gottesman, co-director of Theatre Lab.

Thomas Workman, left, and "Life Stories" director Deb Gottesman talk to cast members. “Life Stories” started as a form of art therapy, to give structure and creative outlets to vulnerable populations. Workman, who has worked on Life Stories workshops with N Street Village since 2007, came up with the concept in partnership with Gottesman, co-director of Theatre Lab.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Pertrina Thomas, 56, sings in rehearsal for 'Life Stories.' As a student at Roosevelt High School in the 1970, Thomas dreamed of being a journalist, but her voice remained silent for decades as she shuffled through rehabilitation centers. 'My generation just didn’t talk about things, even in church. But I’m a big girl. I’m sharing my story now so it might help someone else,' she says.

Pertrina Thomas, 56, sings in rehearsal for "Life Stories." As a student at Roosevelt High School in the 1970, Thomas dreamed of being a journalist, but her voice remained silent for decades as she shuffled through rehabilitation centers. "My generation just didn’t talk about things, even in church. But I’m a big girl. I’m sharing my story now so it might help someone else," she says.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Pertrina Thomas is one of the homeless women who will perform in 'Life Stories' at the Kennedy Center. Thomas likes to spend time reading in her room at the N Street Village shelter for homeless women.

Pertrina Thomas is one of the homeless women who will perform in "Life Stories" at the Kennedy Center. Thomas likes to spend time reading in her room at the N Street Village shelter for homeless women.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Pertrina Thomas heads back to her room, Bible in hand, after spending time in the common area at the N Street Village. She has been rehearsing for her role in 'Life Stories' Monday night at the Kennedy Center. Nicole Boxer-Keegan, a documentary filmmaker and daughter of Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), has filmed rehearsals since February. She hopes to take 'Life Stories' to film festivals next year, seeing it as a window into issues of homelessness and arts advocacy in the region.

Pertrina Thomas heads back to her room, Bible in hand, after spending time in the common area at the N Street Village. She has been rehearsing for her role in "Life Stories" Monday night at the Kennedy Center. Nicole Boxer-Keegan, a documentary filmmaker and daughter of Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), has filmed rehearsals since February. She hopes to take "Life Stories" to film festivals next year, seeing it as a window into issues of homelessness and arts advocacy in the region.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Pertrina Thomas, one of the homeless women who will perform in'Life Stories,' tends to the flowers she planted in the window of her room at the N Street Village shelter.

Pertrina Thomas, one of the homeless women who will perform in"Life Stories," tends to the flowers she planted in the window of her room at the N Street Village shelter.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

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