"Jane: Abortion and Underground" will be presented as a reading Monday, July 24, 7:30 pm
at the Pride Arts Center, Broadway Theater, 4139 N. Broadway St., Chicago. The play by Paula Kamen and will be directed by Iris Sowlat.
The reading will be followed by a panel discussion with the theme "Never Go Back" ( to When America Wasn't So Great Again ) with a member of the Jane Service and several abortion rights activists.
Paula Kamen's play is based on original interviews with women who ran and used this legendary pre-Roe v Wade Chicago abortion service. Widely known as "the best kept secret in Chicago," Jane was run in private apartments across the city from 1969 to 1973 and provided safe abortions to more than 10,000 women.
The panelists will discuss how to avoid going back to the days when America wasn't safe for women and will focus on Illinois House Bill 40. Passage of this bill guarantees that Illinois, a safe haven for choice in the Midwest region, will uphold abortion rights if Roe v Wade is repealed.
Panelists include
Alicia Swiz- Moderator, creator of Sluttalk and Shout Your Abortion 773
Jean Galazer-Levy, former member of Jane and one of the "Abortion Seven"
Aileen Kim, pro-choice, reproductive justice and women's equality activist
Paula Kamen, playwright and author of four books about women
For more info about the play's production history and playwright, seepaulakamen.com and www.facebook.com/PaulaKamenauthor/ .
Chicago Women's History Center is organizing a reception following the production to encourage conversation and organizing.
To purchase tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3023050
Tickets are $20 and will benefit the Chicago Abortion Fund .
Parking is a challenge in this area, so public transportation is recommended.
Questions: email paulakamen@gmail.com or call ( 773 ) 203-3158.
