By: KATIE V. JONES
As the founder of Venus Theatre, a regional woman’s theatre, Deb Randall helped produce more than 70 plays by women in its first 22 years. Many of those productions took place on C-Street in Laurel, where Venus Theatre called home for 15 years, from 2007 to 2022.
“I love everything we did there,” Randall said. “I am grateful for everything, including where I am now.”
Theater, Randall said, is not “made of brick and mortar,” rather, it is “made of people.” And while Venus no longer has its physical space, it lives on through traveling productions, retreats and, in celebration of the theatre’s 25th birthday this year, Randall wrote not one, but two books,
“venUs,” Randall’s memoir, and “Frozen Women/Flowing Thoughts,” an anthology of 76 monologues for women.
“Instead of producing plays, I started to finish a project that took 10 years,” Randall said of her memoir, which a friend told her was a “love letter to theater.”
The anthology came naturally together, she said, as she reflected on Venus’ past productions.
“To hear all the different voices in one book is really cool,” Randall said. “I love it.”
Randall will be reading from her book at a book signing hosted by The Crystal Fox at 311 Main Street on May 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. She will be joined by four Venus veterans, Ann Fraistat, Myrrh, Rebecca Herron and Ellie Nicoll, who will each do readings from “Frozen Women/Flowing Thoughts.
