What do you do when “the right thing” isn’t a black or white answer, but rather, a compromise somewhere in the shades of gray in between? Amy Oppenheimer’s new one woman show, “Looking for Justice (in all the Wrong Places)” explores this issue through the lens of Amy’s life and career as a lesbian feminist lawyer who has spent over 45 years speaking truth to power. Amy’s lifelong search for justice starts in the wild days of the 1960’s and blossoms in the inspiring times of the 1970’s second wave feminism. But despite her becoming a lawyer and a judge, she can’t stop revisiting her first experience with the criminal justice system when she accompanied a friend to a trial.
“An important part of this show is the issue of listening to survivors, which are often ignored in the ‘“justice’” process,” Amy says. “Taking away their voices makes the system worse, not better. I want people who see my show to come away feeling that all people, even those who do bad things, are human and deserve a second chance.” Amy hopes that the show, which will be featured in this year’s DC Fringe Festival, inspires people to fight for more nuance and an improved legal system.
Amy is generously donating a portion of the show’s proceeds to The Sentencing Project, to support our work advocating for alternatives to incarceration for youth and adults. “I’m very happy to use my performance as a way to connect with local nonprofits,” Amy shared on a recent call.
Amy’s show will be running July 12 - 14 as part of the DC Fringe Festival. Please be advised that the content of the production includes topics and events that may be triggering to some people, including moments of sexual violence, sexual harassment, racism, and familial violence.