Drama queens rule the stage during the fourth annual FemFest celebration of women in theatre Oct. 20 - 29.

Dubbed Breakin' Out, the 10-day fest expands to two venues this year -- locally produced productions play at Colin Jackson Studio Theatre at Prairie Theatre Exchange, and touring shows and cabarets play at WCD Studio.

Artistic director Hope McIntyre says the festival is broadening its horizons in other ways, too.

For the first time, hot-draw performance artists Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan grace a FemFest stage in a new take on consumerism called Target Marketing, Oct. 24 at 9 p.m. and Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. The duo will also lead a performance workshop.

Local actor-writer Cairn Moore's first solo work -- she's written with a collective in the past -- debuts Oct. 26. The play, Absolute Perfection, is about two sisters, and McIntyre swears it's packed with funny bits, even though one of the sisters is diagnosed with lung cancer.

Minnedosa writer Lori Gwyer's play Home for Unwed Fathers, playing Oct. 22, 24 & 27, imagines what life would be for teenage boys if they manifested obvious signs of teen pregnancy along with their girlfriends. Fringe Fest regular Eileen Longfield directs Joseph Aragon and other well-known local actors.

The festival is also becoming a magnet for out-of-province productions that are using Winnipeg as a springboard for tours.

Ontario-based Fringe Festival regular Rita Deverell is reading a new work in progress. Quebec's Theatre Voxtrot performs a bilingual show, and Halifax writer Catherine Banks' brings comic drama Bitter Rose, about a woman who considers the wisdom of her life choices and sacrifices after her professor husband leaves to meet a female student.

The festival originated to showcase female playwrights who write for male and female audiences but who might not otherwise have an opportunity to see their plays in workshops or full performances.

Opening night Thursday at WCD Studio includes a cabaret and a presentation of a report on the status women in Canadian theatre.

Findings show that while female directors, playwrights and artistic directors are in the minority, women have made substantial gains during the past 20 years. Substantial enough? Discuss.

Tickets for cabarets and shows cost $8, $20 for three, $50 for a festival pass at 586-22326.

See www.sarasvati.ca for a full fest schedule or pick one up at PTE.