FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2012 CONTACT: Dan Fotou, Luna Media Group 646-245-1706 (cell), dan@lunamediagroup.

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Media Advisory
DC Black Theatre Festival to Feature World Premiere of The Hair Chronicles, Saturday, June 30 at 3pm
Three Women of Color Intimately Discuss the Role Hair Plays in Their Lives, Culture & Self-Identity
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This Saturday, June 30 at 3pm (ET), the first-of-its-kind DC Black Theatre Festival will feature the world premiere of The Hair Chronicles, a new play examining the role hair plays in both the cultural and self identity of women of color. Told through the eyes of three young women of color, The Hair Chronicles offers audience members an in-depth look at how this personal feature, legendary for the societal, political and cultural focus it's received throughout history, continues to shape the lives and identities of women today. To purchase tickets, visit: http://3girlsandadog.com/upcoming-shows African-American commentator and cable news host Melissa Harris-Perry recently catapulted the discussion on the Politics of Black Hair to a national stage by dedicating an entire segment of her MSNBC show to the topic. From childhood at kitchen tables, while their mothers and grandmothers tend to their hair, young women of color are taught about their heritage, societys expectations, womanhood and identity. As an African American woman who grew up in a predominantly white community, Ive always had to explain my hair -why I dont wash it every day; why I cant go swimming as often as Id like; or why it takes so long to style, said co-producer and playwright, Michelle Whittaker. When Melissa Harris-Perry recently did her segment on the politics of black hair, I wanted to share it with every friend. Her teachable moment beautifully summarized the issues that Ive struggled to explain since I was 8 years old! Explaining why your hair is different can be very difficult for a young girl." WHAT: World Premiere of The Hair Chronicles WHO: 3 Girls and a Dog Productions -- co-producers and co-writers: Nileah Bell, Mary Nyingi and Michelle Whittaker. Director: Nicole M. Brewer WHEN: Saturday, June 30, 2012 TIME: 3pm ET WHERE: Howard University, Blackburn Center, Media Lab, 2400 Sixth Street NW, Washington, D.C. How we look, what we think, where we come from and who sees us as we are, are all questions that the play strives to answer. In a sharp, and often hilarious banter, we get to know these three women of color, and in doing so, we get to know ourselves. My hair is my self image, says co-producer and playwright, Mary Nyingi. I have this perfect hair style in mind that will say who I am, but I can't get my hair to cooperate. It keeps sending the wrong message! Fellow co-producer and playwright Nileah Bell shares, When someone says something about my hair -good or bad -- I am immediately brought back to who I am. As a mixed race woman, my hair is a direct link to my culture. When we were writing this piece, our conversations started with hair, but ended with a deeper connection to so much more. Hair has the power to do that for women everywhere.

Following the world premiere at the DC Black Theatre Festival, The Hair Chronicles will play at the DC Fringe Festival, Goethe Institut, in July on five different dates: Jul 14th 8:30 PM; Jul 15th 1:30 PM; Jul 18th 6:30 PM; Jul 20th 9:15 PM; Jul 22nd 7:15 PM To interview the shows producers/writers please email or call Dan Fotou with Luna Media Group at: dan@lunamediagroup.com or 646.245.1706.

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For more information about The Hair Chronicles and 3 Girls and a Dog Productions, visit the production company website, www.3girlsandadog.com. You can follow The Hair Chronicles on Twitter at www.twitter.com/3girlsanddog and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hairchronicles. In its third year, the 2012 DC Black Theatre Festival is a week-long festival celebrating extraordinary stories told by people of African descent and an exciting menu of more than 150 provocative and groundbreaking theatrical performances, by local and national artists, writers, producers and theatre companies. Capital Fringe is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2005 with the purpose of connecting exploratory artists with adventurous audiences by creating outlets and spaces for creative, cutting-edge, and contemporary performance in the District.