Location: PopHop Books
Times: 12:00-12:30 PM
Jesse Bliss will read poetry and excerpts from her
book I LOVE MYSELF GOLDEN to celebrate the
10 year anniversary....
Short Bio: Jesse Bliss is a writer, director and producer. She is Founder and Artistic Director of The Roots and Wings Project.
Bio:
Jesse Bliss is one of the most innovative and impactful forces in American Theatre. She is also an acclaimed arts educator. Her work has been showcased globally at prestigious venues such as the United Nations, Off-Broadway, the Edinburgh Festival, Traxx at Union Station, Lincoln Heights Jail, S.P.A.R.C at the Old Jail in Venice, The Last Bookstore, King Eddy Saloon, The Rosenthal Theater at Inner-City Arts, Casa 0101 Theater, Theatre of Note, Hollywood Fringe Festival, Occidental College, UCSC, UCLA, California Institute of Integral Studies, 7th West, Graf Angeles, and the California Arts Council among many others.
Starting as a child, Bliss creates and directs original work, bringing stories to light that have otherwise been left out of the narrative. A staunch advocate for women, her plays explore experience with humor, grit, and grace, incorporating unique visual, movement and auditory elements. Miss Bliss not only brings transformative work to traditional theatres, but also to site-specific locations, inviting audiences on unique and unforgettable adventures.
Through her beloved characters, she explores the relationship of women to adversity, trauma and patriarchy, claiming their power, joy and freedom. Her body of work consistently explores rising above the confines of oppression by any means necessary, offering not only a direct reflection of our world, but also possibilities of another way it can be. Characters grapple with self-love, romantic love, motherhood, survival and the pursuit of justice against all odds.
A vocally trained songwriter, Bliss creates original scores and collaborates with powerhouse musical talent to bring rhythm and unparalleled musical accompaniment to her plays. Classically trained as an actress, Jesse has performed throughout her career.
As Founder and Artistic Director of The Roots and Wings Project Theatre Company, Bliss collaborates with femme writers, bringing collective voice to matters specific to women. With solidarity at the forefront, she works diligently to uplift the voices and experiences of all women. System impacted, she started entering high-security prisons for the incarceration of a loved one at 16 years old. Unbeknownst to her, this was the beginning of a lifetime of deep healing work with those being held in incarceration.
She is author of the celebrated graphic chapbook “I Love Myself Golden”, illustrated by Alfie Numeric and loved on both sides of the walls. Her company holds a writing and theatre program at a women’s prison as well as classes for professional and high school-aged writers. Poetry has also been a cornerstone of Bliss’ work. An enigmatic performer, Bliss has shared her poetry at prestigious venues throughout the nation and the world.
She is also a journalist, having programmed Pacifica Radio’s THINK OUTSIDE THE CAGE 90.7 FM as a producer and host for a decade. Bliss has taught, developed curriculum and consulted with the Institute for the Future, California Arts Council, The Geffen Playhouse, Inner-City Arts among countless others. She has received commissions from the California Arts Council, Eastside Arts Initiative, The TahDah Foundation, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, Poets and Writers, and ArtEquity, among others.
Bliss is a native of Phoenix, Arizona with roots in Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland and New York. She resides in Los Angeles with her daughter.