A year ago, I was nervously trying to figure out how to be an almost 40-year-old mother who was trying to get over two surprisingly devastating miscarriages and produce a live show about motherhood.
It was all new stuff, scary stuff. The weird pain of grief, and the whole hello you're getting old-ness of turning 40 and um, the panicky fear of producing a real live show for the first time that would have a real live audience (at least I hoped it would).
As a co-producer/co-director and reader in Listen To Your Mother Metro Detroit, my two new best friends Angela and Jessica and I set out to put on a show of live readings on stage. Not one of us had any experience doing anything like that. Luckily, being part of the national Listen To Your Mother family (there were shows in over 30 cities nationwide last year) was extremely helpful and supportive and everything you could want from a family.
The three of us picked the venue, worked with sponsors and printers, hustled and cold called and sold ad space in our program and talked with photographers and the media. We did approximately 154 Google chats. We hosted auditions and rehearsals.
It was frustrating, exhilarating and fascinating.
During the audition, we sat in a coffee shop and women read their stories for us. Women shared some of their darkest moments in their lives, they opened their hearts and we all cried. They also shared funny moments, relatable moments, surprising revelations, lessons they've learned. These women shared their humanity.
It was humbling, inspiring, raw and utterly beautiful.
Not everyone's stories made it into the show but they were told. These women shared their lives, their stories and they were heard.
The actual show was pretty damn amazing. The women on stage were brave and smart and hilarious and real. Each story that was read seemed to connect with the audience and there was indeed an audience.
In fact, there was a line out the door to get inside. The mic worked, the photographer was incredible, the sponsors were satisfied, the videographer knew everything he needed to do and I loved the sound guy.
The venue was accustomed to indie rock bands and hip hop acts, so the stories about motherhood might not have seemed like the perfect fit. But my god, it was.
Scrawled on the dressing room bathroom walls and backstage were words and quotes from other acts that had performed over the years. Oh man, the walls had some stories to tell. Just like the women who braved the stage in our show. Oh man did those women have stories to tell.
That's what it's all about right? We all have stories we can write on the walls like a rock star badass or quietly but oh so bravely share in coffee shops. I am so happy to have been a part of giving some of those people a stage to share their stories, their humanity, their badassery.
Producing this show about motherhood actually helped me heal from the weird grief and guilt and devastation of two miscarriages. It helped me feel alive and connected and creative and hopeful. It helped me see getting older as an opportunity to understand more and connect more and grow more and create more.
So here I am, in the last half of the first year of my forties preparing to produce another live show. Our 2015 Listen To Your Mother show is on Sunday, April 26th at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit.
I'm older and wiser and more confident and I cannot wait to hold auditions, rehearse, work with the cool kids at the rock 'n roll venue and hear ALL the stories.
Click here to stay connected with all the latest announcements about auditions and when tickets go on sale!
And oh yeah, if you want to watch my story from last year, please go ahead and do that.
It was all new stuff, scary stuff. The weird pain of grief, and the whole hello you're getting old-ness of turning 40 and um, the panicky fear of producing a real live show for the first time that would have a real live audience (at least I hoped it would).
As a co-producer/co-director and reader in Listen To Your Mother Metro Detroit, my two new best friends Angela and Jessica and I set out to put on a show of live readings on stage. Not one of us had any experience doing anything like that. Luckily, being part of the national Listen To Your Mother family (there were shows in over 30 cities nationwide last year) was extremely helpful and supportive and everything you could want from a family.
The three of us picked the venue, worked with sponsors and printers, hustled and cold called and sold ad space in our program and talked with photographers and the media. We did approximately 154 Google chats. We hosted auditions and rehearsals.
It was frustrating, exhilarating and fascinating.
During the audition, we sat in a coffee shop and women read their stories for us. Women shared some of their darkest moments in their lives, they opened their hearts and we all cried. They also shared funny moments, relatable moments, surprising revelations, lessons they've learned. These women shared their humanity.
It was humbling, inspiring, raw and utterly beautiful.
Not everyone's stories made it into the show but they were told. These women shared their lives, their stories and they were heard.
The actual show was pretty damn amazing. The women on stage were brave and smart and hilarious and real. Each story that was read seemed to connect with the audience and there was indeed an audience.
In fact, there was a line out the door to get inside. The mic worked, the photographer was incredible, the sponsors were satisfied, the videographer knew everything he needed to do and I loved the sound guy.
The venue was accustomed to indie rock bands and hip hop acts, so the stories about motherhood might not have seemed like the perfect fit. But my god, it was.
Scrawled on the dressing room bathroom walls and backstage were words and quotes from other acts that had performed over the years. Oh man, the walls had some stories to tell. Just like the women who braved the stage in our show. Oh man did those women have stories to tell.
That's what it's all about right? We all have stories we can write on the walls like a rock star badass or quietly but oh so bravely share in coffee shops. I am so happy to have been a part of giving some of those people a stage to share their stories, their humanity, their badassery.
Producing this show about motherhood actually helped me heal from the weird grief and guilt and devastation of two miscarriages. It helped me feel alive and connected and creative and hopeful. It helped me see getting older as an opportunity to understand more and connect more and grow more and create more.
So here I am, in the last half of the first year of my forties preparing to produce another live show. Our 2015 Listen To Your Mother show is on Sunday, April 26th at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit.
I'm older and wiser and more confident and I cannot wait to hold auditions, rehearse, work with the cool kids at the rock 'n roll venue and hear ALL the stories.
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| I'm teaming up again with my buds Angela and Jessica to do all the co-producing/directing together. We are so excited to be a part of the national Listen To Your Mother family--there are shows in 39 cities this year!!! |
And oh yeah, if you want to watch my story from last year, please go ahead and do that.
(click here to watch the video)
If you'd like to watch all of the stories from our show last year, click here.
After watching your performance from last year I am committed to seeing this year's performance live. You were amazing, Angela.
ReplyDeleteThat's good stuff. You've got all kinds of badassery going on and I applaud you.
ReplyDeleteGood job, momma!
-Angie
You're just incredible. GO GIRL.
ReplyDeleteYes! Yes! Yes! To everything in this post. Just YES!
ReplyDeleteYES...love this!
ReplyDeleteBadassery. All kinds.
I am so proud to be a LTYM alum.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best things I have ever done.
BADASSERY is going to be my new word.
Love this, you, and the women who will be sharing their stories this year.
ReplyDelete