Esther Friedman

Frugal Buddha: Dosage of Gratitude Pills in India

2011-11-26T16:17:00.000-08:00

Frugal Buddha: Dosage of Gratitude Pills in India: The minute we pulled into the New Dehli Airport I took a picture from my window. This is what I came for…prayer, meditation…reconnecting...

Performing in "Ladies Day" by Aristophanes...a stylish comedy about women on top! Ha!

2011-10-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to performing at this Hero Theatre event hosted by Megshops.com
October 18, 2011 @ 7pm
54 North 6th Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211
Free Admission

This will be a 45 minute reading followed by a free wine reception.

The play
"Ladies Day" by Aristophanes
Directed by Amy C. Ashton

This will be a fun, light reading (with music and dance). The goal is to entertain and target fundraising within the fashion community.

For more information or to make a tax deductible donation please visit: www. HeroTheatre.org

Performing at the Urban World Film Festival on Sept 16, 2011 @ 3:00pm.

2011-09-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

Click on link for the 15th Annual Urban World Film Festival

My book is for sale!! :)

2011-06-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

Check it out! I was interviewed for Jews of Color Celebrate Jewish Diversity

2010-12-27T12:41:00.000-08:00

Jews of Color Celebrate Jewish Diversity from Patrick Wall on Vimeo.

Great American Smoke Out November 18, 2010

2010-11-16T06:52:00.000-08:00

I was a closet smoker. I would smoke my cigarette in the car on my way to the gym before and after my workout.

One of the reasons it was so hard for me to get off cigarettes was because I was so hard on myself. I would tell myself I should be able to just stop smoking. The worst was when I use to tell myself I can just have one. Both not true.

I realized I couldn't do it on my own. I had to find a gentler way to heal from all the abuse I was putting in to my body. I also had to feel which was the scariest thing of all. Instead of having my feelings I would say I could just have one cigarette. It didn't work. The truth of the matter feelings are not facts and they all pass.

I'm grateful for putting down cigarettes with the help of my peers...people like myself who were hard core smokers who know how hard it is to quit when you don't want to. You just need to be willing. I challenge you to try on November 18 The Great American Smoke Out as the day you quit smoking. Take it one day at a time , one hour, one minute. If you'd like to know more of what I'm putting down email me on the side. :)

Below a video with the folks that helped me on my journey to quit smoking.

Smile Portrait Project: Esther

2010-11-01T12:49:00.000-07:00

Smile Portrait Project: Esther: "Esther is a good friend of mine - I've known her for about 5 years now (is that right Esther?) We met in LA when I took her headshots - ther..."

Smile Portrait Project

2010-09-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

Esther here! I wanted to share how EXCITED I am to get on board the Smile Train by signing up for the Smile Portrait Project (SPP) taking place October 26, 27, 28 in Soho, NYC.

Smile Portrait Project is coming to New York to wake up the city that doesn't sleep. Wait - what?? Seriously. It's a project designed to make the world smile again - to wake people up - to have a blast - and to raise money for Smile Train, the charity that repairs children's smiles around the world with surgeries to repair cleft lips/palates. Log onto http://SmilePortraitProject.com

Watch Video Here

SMILE!
Smile Portrait Project is helping the world smile again, one picture at a time.

Sign up to have your awesome portraits taken and help a child have surgery that will improve their life, forever. 50% of the profit is donated to
Smile Train. Click on this link to read more about their wonderful charity.Get your photos with your best friend, your kids, your love, your family , with yourself, your business partner, your writing partner, whoever!

How do you get involved?

You reserve your time slot and prepare to have a freakin'blast!

Where? Manhattan - in Soho at Easy Studio NYC

DATES : OCT 26, 27, 28

TIMES: 6 - 10pm

COST : $85.00 for a ½ hour of playtime. Your images will be sent to you electronically, keeping the project green. Smile Train uses the money to pay for cleft / palate surgery for children in developing countries. You are all invited to participate. If you would like to learn more click on www.SmilePortraitProject.com

CONTACT: Photographer and Creator of SPP: Faleena@smileportraitproject.com / 213.595.3462 to sign up or call me at 323-244-9088 and I'll sign you up. I'll also be there to check you in.

I really believe this is a wonderful opportunity for you to have fun, play in front of the camera allowing Faleena to capture your wonderful, beautiful selves and at the same time giving back in a BIG BIG way.!!

Why I am signing up for...

Smile Portrait Project
"I know when I am happy and I smile naturally it really touches, moves and inspires folks. Even if I didn't have a nice smile it's still inviting if I am smiling. That goes for anyone who smiles. Smiles really bring out the inner beauty of people. Seeing children with cleft lips/ palates in photos and thinking that these kids will possibly be shunned based on what they look like visually just rips me up inside. I can't imagine being deprived of the smile I have been blessed with. I don't want another to be deprived of enjoying their own smile and would love to know that the family and friends around those kids are enjoying their smiles as well."

Click on this link for Esther Friedman's new website

Photo by
Creator and Photographer Faleena Hopkins
www.smileportraitproject.com

Space on White Contest. Please click on link to view

2010-04-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

The more views we get the better chance of winning free space to put up the next show!! Calling on my peeps to help us win!

Esther performs at the Short Play Lab Series in New York

2009-10-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

This theater community asked me to perform in their Short Play Lab Series, and I said "Yes!"
If you are like I'm not really into theater, but Esther keeps sending me these invites...this could be an opportunity to fit this ...into your schedule this weekend or share with a friend to check out some entertainment and for me to share excerpts with you.

John Chatterton presents

Short Play Lab Series

October 24 @ 4:00pm - 5:30pm

October 25 @ 1:00pm - 2:30pm

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE HERE:
http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=WHE29

Where Eagles Dare Studios

347 W. 36th Street

New York, NY 10018
(Between 8th and 9th Avenues)
Tickets are $15

If you were like, what's this play thing about again?
A story of healing and restoration. The audience gets to watch a young racially mixed girl mature into womanhood resolving generational wounds while striving and fighting for a healthy love relationship. A string of loving complex characters come alive in Random Sharp Objects: How I Got the Past Out of My Ass

Hope to see you there

Public Reading of Random Sharp Objects - Sept 21, 2009 @ 8pm

2009-09-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

Readings of 3 new sexy, smart, sensational plays!
Host: Lynx Ensemble Theater
Type: Music/Arts - Performance

Price: $10 Suggested Donation - $25 for all 3

Location: 440 Studios
Street: 440 Lafayette St.
Phone: 212-252-5195
Email: admin@lynxtheater.org

Description: SAVE THESE DATES!
Lynx Ensemble Theater's 2009 Chain Lynx Text Reading Series brings you the new work of three sensational playwrights:

ESTHER FRIEDMAN
RANDOM SHARP OBJECTS:

How I Got the Past Out of My Ass

directed by Christina Zorich

* Monday, September 21st at 8PM *

A story of healing and restoration. The audience gets to watch a young racially mixed girl mature into womanhood resolving generational wounds while striving and fighting for a healthy love relationship. It is a very universal coming of age story.

White Box Theater
440 Studios
3rd floor
440 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003-6919
across from the Public Theater

Readings will be followed by moderated discussions with
playwrights & cast.
Join us for a complimentary glass of wine and a delicious chat following each performance.

Admission to the Chain Lynx Text Reading Series by
SUGGESTED DONATION
$25 for the READING SERIES
$10 Individual Readings

Lynx Ensemble Theater is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization that explores the nature of identity, exploding stereotyping and engendering empathy and understanding between diverse people.

Lynx Ensemble Theater is a member of A.R.T./New York and a recipient of grant awards from the Nancy Quinn Fund, the Katherine Dalglish Fund,
the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, the Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation, and the Ernest O. Reaugh Foundation.

Lynx Ensemble Donation page [http://rs6.net/tn.jspet=1102694495902&s=1819&e=001KJ1zsBCCA1c4vkjITUrujjY_UCcW6lHk55sxi2doCINe_VYMlQ_y1CgS1U2h2mmYsMucoD_30XXFg1fUolfhvcEwPVDemCC5H3q4VVTRf6fMrHlGfeYvRVQfs321TjOChTrRllE1oSdW2vS3wkm3q6zkf_8fVLLwoA6jYX4cGM=]

Loving Day Celebration New York 2009

2009-06-11T11:55:00.001-07:00

Check out the pictures and links from the Loving Day Celebration I went to this past weekend.

The Loving Day name comes from Loving v. Virginia (1967), the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized interracial marriage in the United States. Loving Day refers to two kinds of loving: the couple in the Supreme Court case, and the original definition of loving.

Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival 2009

2009-06-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

2nd Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival (TM)
June 12th and 13th, 2009
Japanese American National Museum
in downtown Los Angeles, CA.
369 East 1st Street

The Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival is an annual free public event celebrating stories of the Mixed experience through films, readings, workshops and live performance. The Festival is an inclusive event which brings together film and book lovers, innovative and emerging artists, and multiracial/multicultural individuals, families and friends

I had a really nice time at this event last year.
I got to perform

and I gave a workshop on the process of writing and producing a one person show.

I strongly recommend going to the festival if you are in Los Angeles. Click on the website link for more details and schedule of events

http://www.mxroots.org/

2009-05-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

Rain Pryor asked me to come on down to Baltimore and take part in her first reading of Colorism.

COLORISM By Rain Pryor

A Short Rhythmic Play (First Reading)

COLORISM is a short Rhythmic play that explores the taboo subject of color within the black community as told by three Black women of different hues.

Featuring Lenett Nef'fahtiti Myrick , Jaki Teri & Esther Friedman

Host:
Mixed Rain Productions Inc

Date:
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Time:
4:00pm - 5:45pm
Location:
Minas
Street:
815 West 36th Street
City/Town:
Baltimore, MD
More info: http://www.minasgalleryandboutique.com/events.html

Jet Magazine 1952 - Article on Mixed Race Marriage

2009-05-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

My cousin Sabrina sent me a link to the Jet magazine archives, an amazing collection. I found several issues discussing mixed race marriages which I found fascinating Go to Pages 12 - 17. Plus they have so many more articles of interest from issues all over the world to one about modern furniture.
Copy & Past the Direct Link Below into your browser to view the Jet Archive issues - go to page 12 - 17:
http://books.google.com/books?id=lEMDAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=En&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0_0#PPA1,M1

Check out Photos from Lynx Theater Benefit Gala Event

2008-12-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

http://www.lynxtheater.org/

LIVE Performance at GALA EVENT December 3, 2008

2008-11-19T12:38:00.000-08:00

December 3, 2008
Come out for a live performance in New York City for the Lynx Theater Benefit Gala. I will be performing excerpts from Random Sharp Objects: How I Got the Past Out of My Ass
www.lynxtheater.org
Please join Lynx Ensemble Theater on Wednesday, December 3rd for a gorgeous gala celebration to support our new season. The benefit at Gina Gallery on Manhattan's Upper West Side will be styled by Alison Stewart and will feature performances by the extraordinary Bill Bowers, Esther Friedman, and Vanessa Hidary, delicious drinks and finger foods, a scintillating silent auction, delightful gift bags, and a sensational crowd. The only thing that will make this event more fabulous is if YOU come.

Tickets can be purchased using this link:http://www.nycharities.org/event/event.asp?CE_ID=3279

Fully tax-deductible donations can be made to Lynx Ensemble here:
http://www.nycharities.org/donate/c_donate.asp?CharityCode=2387

Join us to meet the Ensemble, share your ideas, and raise a glass to celebrate truly terrific theater! Thank you in advance for your support.

Looking forward to seeing you!

I will be interviewed LIVE

2008-11-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

I will be interviewed LIVE Wednesday November 19,2008 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific to discuss all aspects of the Mixed experience.

Mixed Chicks Chat is the only live weekly show about being racially and culturally mixed. Join your hosts Fanshen Cox and Heidi Durrow LIVE each Wednesday at 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific to discuss all aspects of the Mixed experience.

Don't miss this great weekly podcast on www.talkshoe.com. (Keywords: Mixed Chicks)
Subscribe on www.itunes.com FREE and listen whenever you want.

http://www.mixedchickschat.com/

Watch Multiracial Comedians on PBS

2008-11-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

The documentary Crossing the Line: Multiracial Comedians is being made available to all PBS starting Sunday, November 16, 2008 for the next four years. Scheduling is done by each station independently. Please contact your local PBS station and ask them to schedule it.

Learn more AND WATCH pilot video about Multiracial Comedians HERE

A great blog about Mixed folks

2008-09-08T10:29:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Mixed Roots Film & Literary Participant Esther Friedman.
Click on Link Mixed Chick Chat

Go see a fabulous talent and bad ass chick Rain Pryor.

2008-09-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

While I am preparing to tour, go see a fabulous talent and bad ass woman Rain Pryor. Below are dates for upcoming shows in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Texas.
More info at www.RainPryor.com

September 24,
Fried Chicken & Latkes @ Women's Department - Lion Of Judah - Annual Celebration
THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, MD

"Fried Chicken & Latkes" is told through song and characters. Solo performance about growing up Black and Jewish in the 1970's. The story takes us on a journey of racial identity, family, career, spiritual growth and love. Rain gives us a glimpse into the universe that was her childhood and is her life, morphing effortlessly, into the people around her. Winner of the NAACP Theatre Award, Nominated for the LA Ovations Awards

October 1, Fried Chicken & Latkes @ CCBC-Dundalk, Baltimore, MD
"Fried Chicken & Latkes"

October 4 & 5 Pryor Experience @ Painted Bride, Philadelphia
Jazz Comedy Cabaret -The Pryor Experience
Performance in the Present Tense
Saturday, October 4, 8pm and Sunday, October 5, 3pm
$35/$17.50 for members
Rain Pryor returns to the Bride in a jazz inspired cabaret featuring Pryor’s signature comedic interludes. Growing up in Beverly Hills as the daughter of a classic Jewish mother and the African American humorist Richard Pryor, Rain brings a sharp wit to fundamental questions of race, faith, and identity. Her stunning voice in a musical performance with arrangements from Grammy-nominated Keith Killgo.
for tickets
http://www.PaintedBride.org

October 14 Pryor Experience, Austin Texas
Jazz Comedy Cabaret

One Person Show Workshop in NYC - Aug 3, 2008

2008-07-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

One-Person Show Workshop in NYC!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Put away your fears and learn how to
create and produce your own solo show .

Ruth Otero helped me put my show together
Ruthy has written, performed, and produced several solo shows in New York and Los Angeles. In 2002 she was chosen as one of Variety's "10 Comics to Watch" for her 2nd show "Dancing With My Demons". Her latest show "OOOPS! I Killed My Mother" was developed as part of the John Ford Amphitheatre Latino Play reading Series, and was presented at the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival.
For More Info Click here

Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival in Los Angeles

2008-05-12T21:30:00.000-07:00

Please visit www.mixedrootsfilmandliteraryfestival.org for more information.

Hope all is well and you are ready to enjoy the summer.

Another opportunity to check out an excerpt of my show. I am in LA for 3 days this week and you and a guest are invited to attend for Free.

The Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival celebrates those who have created and continue to create works addressing the Mixed racial and cultural experience through film screenings, readings and workshops. All events will be held at the Japanese American National Museum - 369 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 – Sign up at : www.mixedrootsfilmandliteraryfestival.org

June 13 - Mixed Unplugged: Live Performance of the Mixed Experience (Mature Subject Matter)

Host: Victoria Tilford
• Joe Hernandez-Kolski & Joshua RKB Silverstein: So Fresh and So Clean
• Maya Lilly: Mixed
• Warren Hutcherson, stand-up
• Kaypri, Babygirl, the coming-of-age sitcom/drama/confessions of a media-codependa-lova-holic
• Esther Friedman, 4525 Henry Hudson Parkway

June 14 - The Process of Writing a Solo Show

Esther Friedman (10:15am-11:15am)
National Center Conference Room:

Curtain Rising Magazine Review on Pages 34 & 35

2008-05-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

Click on Photos below to read latest reviews for Random Sharp Objects

An Audience member gave me black and white cupcakes

2008-04-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

A lovely lady whose name is Diane heard about my show and what it was about and after she introduced herself she gave me these as a gift I took a picture of them before I ate them all by myself.