Dinner and cocktail seating and service begins 1 hour before showtimes. An Audacious Variety Show Amplifying Women’s Voices! We will be celebrating International Women’s Day by Standing up and Accelerating Action for Equality locally and globally! Thrilled that Marlene Johnson, MN’s first female Lt. Gov. will join us as our special guest for the conversation segment of the show! Our musical guest, Follow the Firefly will bring their unique blend of female empowered music encompassing a wide variety of styles. Our guest storyteller, Aamera Siddiqui will share her experiences with those questioning her resume in, “The Perks of Being a Diversity Hire.” PLUS actor/writer Dae Yang, singer/songwriter Zippy Laske & host Sue Scott! Sue Scott Host Marlene Johnson Special guest Follow the Firefly Musical guest Aamera Siddiqui Guest Storyteller Dae Yang Actor/Writer Zippy Laske Singer/songwriter + Live Real-Time Captioning available at this show. Bring your smartphones! Creator, host Sue Scott is a veteran actor, who for 24 years was the female cast member on the public radio show A Prairie Home Companion. Since 2019, Sue has been thoroughly immersed in producing Island of Discarded Women live show & podcast. Special guest Marlene Johnson was the first female Lt. Governor of Minnesota, serving with Gov. Rudy Perpich from 1983 to 1991. She is cofounder of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Minnesota Women’s Campaign Fund and was executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators for nearly two decades. Her memoir, released in September 2024, “Rise to the Challenge: A Memoir of Politics, Leadership, and Love,” encapsulates her inspiring life breaking political ground, navigating patriarchal tradition, and persevering through great personal loss following her husband’s traumatic brain injury. Musical guest Follow the Firefly is an imaginative chamber pop trio, comprised of guitar, bass, harp, and voices, whose varied stylistic influences include female empowering singer-songwriter originals, composed instrumentals, musical haikus and traditional music from Eastern Europe. Guest storyteller, Aamera Siddiqui, is an actor, storyteller and playwright whose plays have been produced here in the Twin Cities and at international festivals around the world. The Co-Artistic Director of Exposed Brick Theatre, dedicated to telling untold stories, centering omitted narratives & creating art at the intersection of identities, Aamera has also worked as an Equity, Diversity & Inclusion professional. “Island of Discarded Women…a popular happening dedicated to the idea that women’s voices must be heard.” –Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune IslandOfDiscardedWomen.com