This week, Leonora is totally thrilled to welcome actress, director, producer, and the Artistic Director of the Independent Shakespeare Company, Melissa Chalsma! Melissa is a true leader in the Los Angeles theater community and is a true genius in theater-making. The ISC brings FREE Shakespeare in the Park to tens of thousands Angelenos every summer, their world-class productions are engaging, hilarious, moving, and beautiful. Leonora and Melissa discuss why theater and storytelling matter, how we need to be intentional and consistent when incorporating diversity, inclusion, and access, and why we still want to watch plays by a man who lived 500 years ago.  Also, Leonora appears in Charlie Day’s upcoming directorial debut feature, Fool’s Paradise, opening May 12th, and you really need to see it because it’s great.  The ISC needs your help in bringing FREE and wonderful theater to Los Angeles this summer! To contribute any amount, please visit http://iscla.org/contribute-2023. To get tickets to the Midsummer Saturday Night’s Fever Dream gala event that Leonora is emceeing and performing at, go to https://iscla.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0S5c00000INUy3EAH. And don’t forget to tell everyone you know that you are loving Mothering Heights! You’re doing a great job.