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Where: Cite Des Arts Downtown Lafayette 109 Vine Street
When: December 14 3:00-7:30
Who: Dennis Ward Author of "Mademoiselle GiGi", and a variety of visual artists presented by Acadiana Pride Festival
About the Book--The journey to write the historical fiction novel, Mademoiselle Gigi began in July 2008 when Gisele “Gigi” Carriton lay dying on the cancer ward of Lafayette General hospital. I had written a play, Chez Gisele, about the years she owned the first gay cabaret nightclub in Lafayette in the 1960s-1970s. I arranged a reading of the play in Gigi’s hospital room, attended by family, friends, and even some doctors and nurses. Gigi was ecstatic and even revived for a few days. “As soon as I get out of this place, I have friends that will produce the play.” Gigi died two weeks later.
Chez Gisele premiered at the Cite des Arts Theater, May 28, 2010, and ran for three weeks. Nine performances were sold out. The play had a successful encore run in 2011 and won as a finalist in the New Orleans Saints and Sinners Theater Festival, competing against hundreds of plays. And in 2014, Chez Gisele will be produced by Acadiana Pride for a three week run, the opening event of the inaugural Acadiana Pride Festival.
During these Chez Gisele productions, many family and friends told me many interesting stories about Gigi’s life beyond the gay bar years. I decided to write a book, not a memoire, because at that point, Gigi had passed, but a fictional account of her life based on tenants of her life during the war.
Here is a snippet of Mademoiselle Gigi.
Gigi, a fun-loving Jewish girl about to marry a Louisiana Cajun soldier at the end of World War II, reminisces about the war years and her family’s struggle to survive them. Gigi’s impeccable world of loving family, friends, and her plans to attend art school is shattered as the German army approaches Paris. Along with millions of other refugees, the family takes the decision to flee the advancing Nazis. Marked as rich Parisian Jews, her family is subject to people’s scorn while the French Republic crumbles around them. During the next four years, they will endure isolation, starvation, deportations of family and friends, and the horrors of the gestapo. Despite living through the grim realities of war, Gigi emerges from girlhood adolescence to become a beautiful young woman with a monumental sense of humor and lightness of being.
Sometimes comic, sometimes tragic, Mademoiselle Gigi is an emotional rollercoaster that takes the reader on a page-turning journey from pure joy and laughter to despair and tears. Gigi’s indomitable spirit will inspire and capture your heart. Dennis Ward’s debut novel is based on the true life events of Gisele “Gigi” Carriton.
About the Art Opening:
“Classical to Contemporary” art show/sale; part of the Rythms & Visions series presented by Acadiana Pride Festival.
Opening reception December 14, 4:30-7:30 at Cite des Arts 109 Vine St.
Featuring the works of local artists exploring various styles of art from classical to contemporary.
Benefits Faith House, Acadiana Cares, and Freedom House.
For more information: www.AcadianaPrideFestival.com.
Image Credit: Cite des Arts
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