Steamboat Pilot & Today

To Barbi Bonfiglio, chocolate says it all.

To that end, the Paradigm Theater in Oak Creek on Friday and Saturday will host the "Chocolate Monologues," an evening of women's poetry, prose and music. "The Chocolate Monologues is more a play on the (Vagina Monologues) title, than its actual content.

"I chose to make it the 'Chocolate Monologues' because I was searching for something female," she said.

Bonfiglio, who owns the Par-adigm Theater, said she hoped the event would empower women of South Routt County and provide them an opportunity to hear selections of literature they might not otherwise hear.

Bonfiglio said she recruited the help of critically acclaimed local writer Kate Kraut Kramer, whose work has been published in National Geographic magazine and read on National Public Radio, to write and read some original work. Bonfiglio also will be reading some of her original writings.

Bonfiglio said she was surprised how many local women agreed to read.

"It was interesting to me that every single person I called to read did not hesitate to say yes," she said. "They were all ready to go."

Bonfiglio said the selected readings come from famous American authors that include Kate Chopin, Maureen Seaton, Mary Oliver and Diane Diprima.

"The readings will span such topics as the coming of age, cancer, feminism and motherhood," she said.

"The topics are truthful, honest, comedic and hard-hitting realities that touch every woman, at every age and cross every socio-economic group."

The 12 women who have agreed to read the passages will be reading excerpts in poetry, journal and diary form, as well as some fiction and nonfiction and short stories.

"I want to expose the community to all art forms.

"I think reading these works will be enthralling," Bonfiglio said.

Bonfiglio said although the night is geared toward literature, she encourages any member of the community to attend the event.

"Anybody who wants to hear good literature in all forms should come," she said. "This is a chance for the community to take in the information and contemplate what is being read."

The next weekend, Jan 13 and 14, will be a similar event focusing on male literature, Bonfiglio said.

"We will have another set of readings, read just by South Routt men," she said.

Bonfiglio said she has rec-eived the same excitement from the men in the community about the readings as she has from the women.

"One man even asked me if I wanted to use his own works in the show.

"It was amusing to me because writing is not his trade, but he was so excited about it. It's awesome," she said.

Bonfiglio said not a day had passed since the theater opened that she hasn't received some sort of positive feedback from someone in the community.

"Our audiences continue to grow. I am hopeful that we will continue to expand well into 2006," she said.

The Paradigm Theater is the first arts venue of its kind in not only South Routt, but the entire county.

Bonfiglio began working on remodeling the theater in the fall and finished it just a short time later. The theater has hosted a murder mystery, a photography show, concerts, a New Year's Eve party and more.

"Nobody else has ever done anything like this before. There's no other place for people to gather and be creative," said Alana Rothstein, who helps Bonfiglio with the theater.

Bonfiglio hopes to bring local musician Cary Kampershroer back to the theater, as well as feature another photography show and a jazz band.

Tickets for all events are available by phone or at Bonfiglio Drug in Oak Creek.