University of New England

Maine Women Writers Collection presents screening of "Ugly Ducklings," based on a play by Carolyn Gage

"Ugly Ducklings," a documentary film based on Maine playwright Carolyn Gage’s play of the same name, will be screened Thursday, September 14th at 7:00 p.m. at the CHP Lecture Hall on the Westbrook College Campus of the University of New England, 716 Stevens Avenue in Portland.

The Maine Women Writers Collection, which is screening the film, will also host a dessert reception and discussion from 8-9:00 p.m. at the CHP Lecture Hall. This event is free and open to the public. 

Ugly Ducklings
Based on the critically acclaimed play by Carolyn Gage, Ugly Ducklings sets the stories of real girls, teens and women against the backdrop of the play’s messages and characters. The women reveal their personal struggles with bias-based harassment and homophobia from the peers, communities, schools and families.

The film, directed by Academy Award winning cinematographer Fawn Yacker, sets out to educate both adults and youth about bias-based harassment and to aid families, schools, and communities who wish to openly support LGBTQ youth by initiating honest dialogue and creating safe and supportive environments.

It is their hope that regardless of religious belief or political affiliation, we can all rally around the common goal of protecting children and youth from the harassment and violence that can lead to self-harm and suicide.

Carolyn Gage
Carolyn Gage is an acclaimed lesbian playwright and performer. The author of five books and forty-eight plays, she has been the recipient of numerous grants and fellowships, including the Oregon Book Award, national finalist for the Lambda Literary Award and the national Women in the Arts Culture Award, whose roster includes Audre Lorde, June Jordan and Nikki Giovanni. Her work has been endorsed by feminist authors Jewelle Gomez, Andrea Dworkin and Phyllis Chesler, and she is on the roster of the national speaker's bureau Speak Out! Since moving to Maine in 1998, she has taught at the University of Southern Maine and at Bates College. This year, the American Theatre Critics Association nominated her play "Ugly Ducklings" for their ATCA/Steinberg Award, for the best new play produced outside of New York.

Call Cally Gurley at (207) 221- 4324 for details about the screening, or for more information on the Ugly Ducklings Project, visit www.hghw.org.

(Press release issued August 14, 2006)