A Women-Led Performing Arts Collective Said Goodbye to 2019 With a Wake at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Last Thursday evening, co-founders of the non-profit performing arts collective We The Women, Nathalie Love and Samantha Ressler, hosted an immersive live theater experience to say goodbye to 2019 inside the historic Masonic Lodge at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

The two gathered a group of all-female comedy writers to pen the script for all of the things that died over the past year. Among the group was Bess Kalb, Jocelyn Richard, and Broti Gupta. Writer/comedians Ayo Edebiri, Patti Harrison Stacy Osei- Kuffour wrote and performed their own eulogies. Chloe Fineman (of SNL) eulogized The Glass Ceiling, playing both Ivanka Melania Trump. Zoe Chao eulogized Privacy, while Mishel Prada eulogized Reproductive Rights. Melanie Field played an old-guard Republican memorializing the good old days of The GOP.

The night began and ended with music arranged by HAIM member Este Haim. Joined by Mereki, Miya Folick, Raphaelle, Alex Lilly, Biianco Jen Furches, the all-female band opened with Britney Spears s "Stronger" and closed with Sarah McLachlan s “I Will Remember You” Joni Mitchell s “The Circle Game.”

Arriving guests were greeted with Gia Coppola Wine curated cocktails by Yola Mezcal cleverly named "Death Becomes Her" and "Better off Dead" in the Eastern Star room. Cellist Katt Newlon played while guests mingled and musician Annie Trousseau kicked off the show with a dramatic processional into the Masonic Lodge. Goop and Vital Proteins generously provided gifts for all guests and the evening was made possible by Spotify, Vince, and the Herzer Foundation

The after-party was deejayed by Denise Hewett and included guests Francis Ford Coppola, Gia Coppola, Ashlee Marie Preston, Harley Viera-Newton, Lisa Love, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, Jane Moseley, Rainey Qualley, Kendall Conrad Vince Creative Director Caroline Belhumer. Everyone enjoyed bites from Tacos 1986, Dina s Dumplings, drinks dancing. Mourning turned to merriment in this beautiful room, with flowers by Joseph Free, and a show seamlessly directed by Maureen Bharoocha.