Fat Lip Readers Theater [FLRT] Papers, 1981-1998

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Summary

Title:
Fat Lip Readers Theater [FLRT] Papers
Dates:
1981-1998
Creators:
Fat Lip Readers Theater
Abstract:
Extent:
2 linear feet (2 archival cartons)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Fat Lip Readers Theater [FLRT] Papers. Bay Area Lesbian Archives

Background

Scope and content:

The collection spans the years 1981-1998, and is arranged in three series: Administrative files, Performance Materials / Scripts, and Ephemera

Biographical / historical:

Fat Lip Readers Theater was one of several feminist political theater collectives active in the San Francisco Bay Area from the late 1970’s to the 2000’s. These included Fat Chance, which showcased fat women in performance doing aerial and acrobatic movements in Sonoma County. Mother Tongue Feminist Theater Collective performed widely in the Bay Area writing scripts on every issue important to women and still performs today. Brown Bag Readers Theater was a group of women writing and performing on the topic of alcoholism in the women’s community. Wry Crips was a performance company of women writing and revealing on stage their lives as people with disabilities. FLRT took its inspiration from Mother Tongue and Brown Bag and in turn was said to have inspired Wry Crips. It was thought that “political theater” was a compelling format in which to criticize the status quo and present new paradigms when it came to the oppression of women, girls, elders, people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, and people with disabilities. FLRT entertained using spoken word, songs, and creative choreography to promote fat acceptance with a feminist and “fat politics” analysis. Started in 1981, ten fat women gathered in an Oakland, California apartment to choose a way in which to express themselves as fat activists. They chose political theater and started writing as a group about their lives as fat women. Each week they wrote to a different prompt or topic. At the end of their first year, they had honed their writing skills and built trust and friendships. Their first several performances were for friends and family. Over the subsequent eighteen years, FLRT performed widely in the Bay Area on proscenium stages, parks and street corners, classrooms, conferences, festivals and work sites. In addition, they toured to Portland, Oregon, Seattle/Tacoma Washington area, Los Angeles, and Sacramento giving performances, workshops, and interviews. They extended their reach far and wide with their video “Nothing to Lose”. FLRT appeared on Bay Area radio, television and was flown to Chicago for the nationally syndicated Phil Donahue Show in 1983. They received much attention in local print media, and national and international press. Over the years new members were added as they looked for a company manager, a sign language interpreter and to increase their diversity by welcoming women of color, straight women, and young women. From time to time, they looked to outside mediators to help address painful disputes amongst the diverse members. The original ten members were white, gay/bisexual, predominately middle aged and middle class. As time went on some of the original members found themselves challenged by the newer generations as each one brought their own perspectives to the mix. During the 2000’s FLRT offered several reunion performances to the Bay A rea, bringing back the old favorites to their fans and to a new younger audience.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Susan Takalo, collected from several FLRT members

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Fat Politics
Fat and Feminism
Radical Feminist Theater
Fat Liberation Movement
SF Bay Area Second Wave Women's Movement
A Feminist performing company comprised of fat women portraying their lives and concepts of size acceptance and fat politics
Organizing
Writing
Choreography
Directing
Touring
Giving media interviews
Making a video
Presenting at conferences and University/Colleges
Sign Language interpretation
Workshops and classes
Administrative files
Promotional materials
Media
Scripts
Individual pieces
Ephemera including costume, T-shirt, and a "fat lip fan"
Names:
Fat Lip Readers Theater
Fat Underground
National Association to Advancement of Fat Acceptance [NAAFA]
Fat Lip Readers Theater members: Chupoo Alaphonte, B. Avalon, Judith Black, Laura Bock, Karen Bourque, Donna Dreiss, Sema Dudum, Judy Freespirit, Theresa Frieden, Susie Gerard, Ada Grenoble, Leah Kushner, Bernice Soohoo Lee, Sherrin Lloyd, Lauren Lundgren, Judith Masur, Susan McAllister, April Miller, Elena Moser, Edith Peck, Marilyn Schneider, Shanju, Shirley Sheffield, Kathleen Sheil, Carol Squires, Nancy Thomas, Cath Thompson, Heather Urban, Susan Williams (Takalo), Peggy Wilson, Louise Wolfe, Maggie York, and Anonymous
Judy Freespirit
Laura Bock
Judith Masur
Nancy Thomas
Fat Lip Reader Theater members: Chupoo Alaphonte, B. Avalon, Judith Black, Laura Bock, Karen Bourque, Donna Dreiss, Sema Dudum, Judy Freespirit, Theresa Frieden, Susie Gerard, Ada Grenoble, Leah Kushner, Bernice Soohoo Lee, Sherrin Loyd, Lauren Lundgren, Judith Masur, Susan McAllister, April Miller, Elena Moser, Edith Peck, Marilyn Schneider, Shanju, Shirley Sheffield, Kathleen Sheil, Carol Squires, Nancy Thomas, Cath Thompson, Heather Urban, Susan Williams (Takalo), Peggy Wilson, Louise Wolfe, Maggie York
Fat Lip Readers Theater members: Chupoo Alaphonte, B. Avalon, Judith Black, Laura Bock, Karen Bourque, Donna Dreiss, Sema Dudum, Judy Freespirit, Theresa Frieden, Susie Gerard, Ada Grenoble, Leah Kushner, Bernice Soohoo Lee, Sherrin Loyd, Lauren Lundgren, Judith Masur, Susan McAllister, April Miller, Elena Moser, Edith Peck, Marilyn Schneider, Shanju, Shirley Sheffield, Kathleen Sheil, Carol Squires, Nancy Thomas, Cath Thompson, Heather Urban, Susan Williams (Takalo), Peggy Wilson, Louise Wolfe, Maggie York, and Anonymous
Places:
San Francisco Bay Area
A Variety of Touring Destinations

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Bay Area Lesbian Archives staff.
Date Prepared:
1981-1998
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. Advance appointment is required.

Terms of access:

The owner of the collection is Bay Area Lesbian Archives (BALA). All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be obtained from BALA staff.

Preferred citation:

Fat Lip Readers Theater [FLRT] Papers. Bay Area Lesbian Archives

Location of this collection:
P.O. Box 18684
Oakland, CA 94619-0684, US