In Eenie Meanie a black man approaches Teresa and asks, “Why did you write this?” “Because it’s mine,” she answers. Eenie Meanie was conceived by performance poet Teresa Willis in 2001. Having developed an engaging voice and a performance style through her activity in the LA Poetry scene since 1990, she yearned for a way to delve into a topic in a longer format that brought together all her artistic passions: writing, acting, and singing. Eenie Meanie answered this yearning and allowed Teresa to explore a topic that she has been fiercely committed to since childhood – the eradication of racism.

Teresa was fascinated by the memories of her own innocent reactions to African-Americans as a child. Her sense of indignation for their social plight seemed surprising given her lily-white upbringing in Kentucky during the 1960’s. In Teresa’s examination of the thread of that innocent fascination as it wound its way throughout her life, she discovered a story that needed to be told.

Eenie Meanie had its first preview performance on July 26, 2003 at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock in Eagle Rock California. Later that summer on August 29, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center hosted a  workshop performance at Ed Gould Plaza in West Hollywood. From there Eenie Meanie was booked for subsequent performances at The Performance Loft in Redlands, California, as well as two separate performances at California Polytechnic Institute, Pomona. In March of 2005, Teresa was chosen from hundreds of applicants to appear at the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival where she performed an excerpt of Eenie Meanie. And in August of 2005, Teresa, Elizabeth and the Eenie Meanie production team wowed audiences at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In 2006, Eenie Meanie was invited back to the LA Women’s Theatre Festival and Teresa performed another excerpt for the Festival=. The show also toured Kentucky and made an appearance at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. In Cincinnati, Eenie Meanie was the only Fringe entry to be awarded the prestigious Acclaim Award for excellence in theatre. Eenie Meanie was also accepted from thousands of applicants into the New York International Fringe Festival, where the show opened to rave reviews in August of 2006.  From there Eenie Meanie continued a run in Los Angeles at the Open Fist in 2007, a fabulous booking at the Escondido Center for the Arts in 2008, one of 10 shows chosen to pitch at the California Presenters Conference in 2009, and a rave run in the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2010.  Now Eenie Meanie is being pitched to colleges and universities all over the nation through Adilah Barnes Productions
Audience response to Eenie Meanie is universally enthusiastic. Teresa’s personal journey evokes a deep sense of identification in many who see the show. The show often inspires intense emotion and lengthy discussion. The messages of personal responsibility and the connectedness of all are timely and timeless. It is this facet of the show that lifts it above normal theatrical productions. Eenie Meanie is activism. For this reason, many who have seen it are inspired to support it.

Tax-deductible donations are being accepted to help defray production costs. Checks can be made payable to OFTC and given to Teresa or mailed to the address below.

The Open Fist Theatre Company
6209 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Be sure and note that the funds are for Eenie Meanie!