Welcome to the world of Smart Gals, a nonprofit, public benefit organization based in Los Angeles. Dedicated to developing the greater arts community in the city, and to constructing original theater in unlikely places, Smart Gals is known for creating transformative events and social gatherings through The Reading Preserve™, our site-specific performance series Are You Interested?™ and our one-of-a-kind semi-literary salon, The Speakeasy™. Now in its tenth year, Smart Gals has been featured in the LA Weekly, Los Angeles City Beat, LA Alternative Press, The Los Angeles Times, Bitch, Los Angeles magazine and on KPFK radio. Smart Gals’ visionary approach to collaborative work has introduced audiences and artists to a wide array of alternative venues, from a local church basement, to a machine shop in El Segundo, to Cleveland High in Reseda, to the land and sites along the Metro Gold Line. Want to stay extra up-to-date and get the inside scoop on who we are and what we do? Find us on Facebook and become a fan.

Christine Louise Berry, Founding Artistic Director
Way back in the day, before there was valet parking in Silverlake, Christine wrote and performed a solo show called Smart Gals Are Going Places, an homage to the “new woman” of the 1940s, riding the Red Car and making her solitary way around post-war LA. That show planted the seed for Smart Gals Productions, steeped in the same newfound independent spirit. Christine received her BA in Theater with a minor in Art History from UC San Diego, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, and is an MFA candidate in Film Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts where she was honored with a 2007 National Association of Theater Owners Scholarship. She has worked extensively in the Los Angeles literary scene, and is the former Publicity Director of Book Soup Bookstore, where she hosted one of Hunter S. Thompson’s final public appearances. An original member of the Rachel Rosenthal Company, Christine has been featured in the films of Babette Mangolte and Eleanor Antin. Her last solo performance work, CUR, was directed by writer Aimee Bender, and premiered at the Panorama in Hollywood. Next to the care and feeding of Smart Gals, Christine is most proud of the fact that she recently joined the ranks of the car-free. A devoted train and bus commuter, she believes wholeheartedly in the power of public transit to bring this city together. She hopes in her heart of hearts that Smart Gals brings joy, intrigue and, of course, conversation to the community. As she looks forward to a rewarding career “below the line” as a film editor, she knows Smart Gals will keep her above water and beyond the fray.

Katy Hickman, Board of Directors
“And, in this milieu of overdone caricature, Katy Hickman dares to underplay her role as a starlet on the lam from too many “Sex Kitten” sequels.” Written about her performance in Psycho Beach Party, it could apply to her approach to the world around her: outwardly serene, vigilant, and trying to find a way out.
OG Hometown: San Francisco
Current Hometown: Eagle Rock
Farthest place traveled: West: Inverness East: Macau
Favorite reviews as actress: otherworldly, funny
Favorite reviews of writing: moving, funny
Favorite evaluation as teacher: demonstrates a strong commitment to excellent attendance
Likes: kids, nature, provocateurs
Dislikes: nincompoops, mental illness, large bureaucracies.
Plays by Katy Hickman: Meteor Girl, Layered Bob, Nomenclature, Bright Boy: The Passion of Robert McNamara, What I Did For Art, Chillin’, Open Enrollment, Lucky, Pity Party. Movies by Katy Hickman: Godly.
Favorite quote of the summer: " You may pleased to know that I recently introduced the 'Long-Range Sniper Rifle Safety Act'"
from letter to Ms. Hickman from Senator Dianne Feinstein 6/25/07
Yes, Senator, she is pleased.

Sierra Pecheur, Board of Directors
Sierra Pecheur is president of the board of Smart Gals Productions. She met Christine, creator of Smart Gals, in 1999, which began a series galvanizing creative conversations. She became involved in Smart Gals when asked to design a bookmark for the Speakeasy series many moons ago. In 1967 she became an actress Off Broadway in New York as an adjunct to being an artist. In 1973 she moved to Los Angeles and has had an accomplished career in film and television. She has worked with Bob Altman and Clint Eastwood. In 2004 she returned to her roots as a sculptor devoting herself to creating an on going project An Imagined Archeological Dig which will have its premier exhibition at the XIEM Gallery, in Pasadena, February of 2008. She is thrilled to be able to support and be one of the Smart Gals.

Amy Trulock, Gal Friday
Amy Trulock is the creator of HYP Radio at HipYoungParent.com. Her alternative children’s internet radio station has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times. When not sporting her apron collection at Smart Gals events, she is also a Fids & Kamily awards judge, guest blogger at JuniorSociety.com., and co-founder of LA Reconnaissance scavenger hunts. Amy is also involved in bringing the Spectacular Music Festival to Los Angeles, committed to supporting children and families in need through the universal language of music.

Carolyn Davidson, Web Designer

Lisa Dee, Music Programming
Besides a background in opera studies, classical, gospel and jazz, and besides singing with the Evangenitals, Evangina, Killsonic, Las Panchas, Fifteen, Verdi Opera Chorus and Hollywood Master Chorale, Lisa also sang a song called "bones" while performing the role of a skeleton in the 4th grade Halloween play at Pleasant Hill Elementary school. If you ask her she can probably still remember how the chorus goes and isn't too cool to sing it for you.