“I turned 75 this March and have been deeply asking,’What can I offer that will be an antidote to these times? What would I most want to devote myself to if this is the last Theater of Witness’ piece I create? I saw a diverse group of elder women’s spirits lighting up the stage. I heard voices of wisdom and love. And I saw a communal prayer for peace that will inspire us all to become our best selves with courage, truth, and beauty. I saw GrandWomen.”
– Teya Sepinuck
Buy your tickets:
June 11, 7:00pm
June 12, 1:00pm
June 13, 8:00pm
Suzanne Roberts Theatre
480 S Broad St, Philadelphia
The Project
In these wild and frightening times, what can a diverse group of elder women offer us all? GrandWomen, is an inspiring new Theater of Witness production and film, created and performed by women in their 70’s and 80’s from diverse racial, cultural and economic backgrounds. They share their own life stories, and wisdom in spoken word, movement, and music, offering us a new paradigm for peace.
GrandWomen will premiere June 11-13th 2026 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre for the general public as well as for groups of teen girls as part of an ongoing mentoring project. The intergenerational connections between the two groups will inspire and deepen relationships of understanding and possibility. It is being created and directed by Artistic Director Teya Sepinuck, composer Niyonu Spann, and the performers.
The GrandWomen Performers
Some are grandmothers or great grandmothers, others, single and proud. They have; knit families and communities together, survived illness, loss and heartbreak, lived with racism, poverty, sexism xenophobia and fear. Some were born in the US, others from far away. They’ve been caretakers, friends and lovers. They have fought for justice, and dared to live small and large dreams. They’ve been pathfinders, artists, service workers, healthcare providers, caregivers, crafts people, spiritual leaders and teachers. What wisdom can this group of GrandWomen pass on to all of us?
“You can’t let someone else determine your destiny.”
Hilda Campbell
Methodist Minister, Police Chaplain, Youth Advocate, Poet and Grandmother
Hilda is a 76-year-old United Methodist minister, police chaplain, youth advocate, poet, grandmother and great grandmother. Born in her grandmother’s house in Georgia, raised, and residing still in Chester, Hilda was the first female union carpenter in Local 626, where she survived extensive racism and sexism. She lost her grandson Jamar to gun violence in 2020 and dedicates GrandWomen to him. Hilda has performed in two other Theater of Witness productions.
“As an attorney, I always listened and told other people’s stories. This is the first time in eighty-six years that I’m telling mine.”
Jean (Regina) Coyne
Retired Criminal Justice Attorney, Writer, and Grandmother
Jean is an 86-year-old retired Defense Attorney who put herself through college, and law school after marrying and having children young. She has loved to tell stories since age six, when she would stand on a box at the International Ladies’ Garment Worker Union meetings, reciting the ‘Song of the Shirt.’ Her storytelling continued in the courtroom, where she implored juries not to impose the death penalty on her clients. She retired at age 79 and recently traveled with her granddaughter to Ireland, where they both sang and danced joyfully in pubs all over the country.
“I want to honor my mother and mother-in-law who lived hard lives and poured compassion into me and my husband.”
Kim Nguyen
Former Refugee and Retired – NJ Council on the Arts
Kim is a 69-year-old former refugee from Vietnam who came to the US at age seventeen on the first army transport plane leaving Saigon during the Vietnam War. She worked for the NJ Council on the Arts before retiring last year, supporting folk and traditional arts and artists. She is always looking for ways to give back to the society that took her in and gave her a second life. She now works as an arts consultant for the DE State Arts Council. Kim and her husband have a son who was brought up in a non-traditional household. She has performed in two previous Theater of Witness productions.
“I was always a dreamer with wide imaginings.”
Judith Palmer
Furniture Maker, Founding Member of the Anna Cruisis Choir, and Grandmother
Judith is an 80-year-old former piano technician, wood crafter, and founding member of the Anna Cruisis Feminist Choir, where she is a singer, composer, and arranger. The choir’s commitment to LGBTQ+ issues has provided a place for reflection on her own personal journey. She and her wife have two children and two grandchildren.
“I was born in 1946 which is significant because it was one year after 1.5 million Jewish children were killed. My life is dedicated to justice and peace.”
Rabbi Sheila Pelz Weinberg
Rabbi, Author, Speaker and Spiritual Director
Sheila is an 80 year old Rabbi, author, speaker and spiritual director. She co-founded the Institute for Jewish Spirituality where she taught mindfulness meditation and yoga for many years. A passionate activist involved in peace and justice causes her entire life, Sheila and her husband Maynard, are leaders in the American Friends for Combatants for Peace – supporting ex-combatants from Israel and Palestine working for peace and justice. She is the grandmother of six.
“All my life is to help people.”
Tiguida Kaba
Immigrant and Founder of AFAHO
Tiguida is a 71-year-old immigrant from Senegal. She came to the US following the shame and taboo of being a divorced African Muslim woman. Before learning to speak English, she worked as a cook, eventually opening an African restaurant in West Philadelphia. Later, she became a public health outreach coordinator, serving clients with HIV-AIDS. She founded AFAHO – the African Family Health Organization in Darby in 2001 as a way to bring free healthcare to those from African and Caribbean countries. She is the grandmother of twin boys.
Mentoring Girls
We will be working closely AFAHO (African Family Health Organization) and CAPA (The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts) – two organizations that support girls and young women from various backgrounds. A small group of teens and young adults will work with us in year one of the project as we develop the production and film with the grand women, connecting with the elder performers. In year two, Teya will create a new Theater of Witness piece with the young women, centered on the themes of their own stories as well as how they can grow into becoming Grand Women in their lives.
Thank you to all the generous individuals who contributed so lovingly to GrandWomen.
Special Thanks to The Rochelle Tuzman Sauber Tzedakah Fund
We are currently seeking further funding for this exciting and unique project. Your tax-deductible contribution can be in honor or memory of a grand woman in your life.
IF you’d rather write a check, please make it out to Theater of Witness of Culture Trust Philadelphia and put GrandWomen in the note.
Mail it to:
Theater of Witness of Culture Trust Greater Philadelphia
1315 Walnut Street, Suite 300
Philadelphia PA 19107
1315 Walnut Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia PA 19107