Putting the Last Girl First

Dianne “Dee” Clarke. Founder of Survivor Speak USA.

Super excited to announce that I’ll be a playing ALDO and BUCKY in the world premiere re-telling of the true story of a survivor of sex trafficking in Dee Clarke’s memory play The Last Girl First produced by The Ensemble of Color in partnership with Portland Ovations.

It was a one-night only event at the massive Westbrook PAC where I can proudly say over 450 people came to show their support for this amazing project!! Following the reading of the play, there was a discussion where survivors came to speak on their experiences with sex trafficking and “the life”. Multiple people came forward to share their stories. It was one of the most powerful theatrical moments I’ve ever been blessed to be a party to. To be honest, I never thought I would ever be a part of something so meaningful in my theatrical career. I never thought I would have the chance to participate in theatre for social change, and I’m so grateful to have had that chance. Rest in power, Dee.

The cast, creative, and survivors of The Last Girl First!

A note from René Johnson, co-director of TLGF, and founder of The Ensemble of Color.

The term “last girl,” was used by Indian activist Ruchira Gupta in a 1996 documentary film, “The Selling of Innocents,” to describe girls and women of color who have been ignored or forgotten in the fight to combat sex trafficking. Clarke went to India in 2017 to meet Gupta and talk about her own work.

Place said Clarke came to fully understand the degree to which Black, brown and Indigenous survivors of trafficking have been marginalized.

“There is a lot of shame around being trafficked or exploited,” she said. “Through working with Dee and my own recovery process, I am pretty much free of that shame and guilt today. And that’s where Dee was. She was really able to own her story.”

It was Johnson, a performer for most of her life, who helped persuade Clarke to turn that into a play.

I think in addition to everything thing else that she was, she really was a remarkable artist,” Johnson said.

ADVOCACY THROUGH ART

The narrative style of the “The Last Girl” mirrors Clarke’s life. At its core is her own story, but intertwined are many other survivors whose stories she helped elevate.

The cast features more than 40 parts.

As Clarke was writing it, she leaned on Johnson and others to recruit actors who might bring it to life. Johnson is one of the co-founders of Ensemble of Color, a local nonprofit theater and performance collective.

“Before she passed, she talked a lot about her vision for the play and all of it coming together,” said Place, who will be performing on stage for the first time alongside professional actors. “I think she would be happy with the cast. She wanted survivors to be involved. She wanted the play to be something that generates conversation.”

"Telling her own story helped to heal her,” she said. “I think it speaks to the power of story to heal our lives and make the world a better place.”