What is motherhood? Stories of inspiration, the trials of parenthood, tragedies past, and laughter enjoyed. All of this and more encompass what it is to be a mother, and on May 12th at the Hobart Art Theatre, the audience will get to hear these varied stories as part of the Listen to Your Mother series which features live performances about motherhood.
Began in Madison, Wisconsin in 2010, the series has been a hit in cities across the nation and allows mothers, and their children, to share the stories that matter most to them in an entertaining, heartwarming, and thought-provoking setting. For more information or how to purchase your tickets, click here.
Without further ado, here are the cast members from the upcoming event and what motivated them to tell their stories!
The Cast:
Bennett Gallivan - “I auditioned to scratch my itch for performing. I gave up that dream when I became a mother…or so I thought.”
Lisa Winstead – “I heard about Listen to Your Mother right before auditions and decided to audition to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone. I loved what it stood for. I almost backed out because I usually don’t like to speak about personal things. Then I realized the show is so important because it gives us all a chance to say, “me too,” and that is okay. It is a good way for women and mothers to unite and learn from each other.”
Melissa Sickinger – “I’ve always enjoyed writing and only recently realized, as I’ve been teaching rhetorical analysis to my seniors, how powerful narrative writing can be. I auditioned in hopes of sharing some of my struggles in motherhood to highlight both how stressful it is for mothers to care for children as well as the amazing moments that make it all worth it. My overall message is that there is no recipe for motherhood and everyone’s tastes are different.”
Julia Wilson – “I wrote my piece three years ago, not for a show…just for myself. I posted it online in some forums, but always used pseudonyms for my true story. LTYM offered me the opportunity to claim my story with my name and the names of my family. Out load. In Hobart, the place where it all began.”
Heidi Van Howe – “I was excited to audition and become part of this great event. I believe sharing stories keeps us connected. It also preserves our history, which is key when we look for answers to our own issues. Looking back at others before us who have faced similar circumstances helps us cope and realize we’re not alone.”
Nicole Raber – “I have always been told that I should tell my story. LTYM is giving me the opportunity I have been waiting for!”
Albert Mora Escobedo – “I auditioned because I felt my performance material about my mom was unique and funny. The idea was to show how I’ve grown to appreciate all that my mom has done for me, even though I couldn’t understand how hard it must’ve been to raise three kids on her own. I felt I had a perspective that would bring a new light to the show. I think it’s important for moms to know that we don’t always focus on the negative. That us kids mature and love our mothers for doing their best.”
Megan Drozd – “This is my second time taking the LTYM stage. My first time was with a difficult story that had to be told. I worried relentlessly about what would happen after telling it and learned the unbridled power of telling the truth and admitting your mistakes. I learned how your truth can help someone with their own truth. I wanted a chance to tell a different story this time, one that wasn’t so hard but just as truthful. Motherhood is this big beautiful thing that unites us all, be it through tears or laughter (and sometimes both in rapid succession!)”
Rose Murphy-Gordon – “I originally planned to audition for LTYM to make that next step to professional speaking. If I made it, it was to be a gift to my biggest fan, my mother. My mother passed away a few weeks ago and I had to hold to my commitment despite my loss. It is now in tribute to my mother that I will speak…she would have wanted that and would have been very proud of me for following through. This show is important because it empowers mothers and women in general to know that whether you birthed the child, adopted the child, nannied the child, or brought home to love…the fur baby: being a mom is one of the most important jobs you will ever have, and perfection is not a prerequisite…It barely ever looks perfect or the same as others. But, we will all find out own normal.”
Amelia Kowalisyn – “I auditioned because even before I was a mother, I was drawn to this show. I shared my story because I believe that mothers who have experienced the loss of a child need to know that their story matters. That even though they don’t have a child here on earth, their voice, their journey, deserves to be heard.”
Carrie Miller Bedwell – “When I auditioned for the show in 2014, I did so to overcome my fear of speaking in front of large, adult audiences, which is ironic since I speak in front of high school students for a living. As a cast member, I relished the bond that was formed among us in the show and was over the moon to share my story of becoming a mother via adoption. The show is an amazing catalyst to bring talented local writers together under the guise of motherhood to create community and raise funds for charity. The stories shared are far-reaching which helps each of us to know that we are not alone in this crazy, yet amazing, journey that is motherhood.”
Tina Porter – “This is my third time on the LTYM stage. I did it the first time just to get back into writing and get practice on a big stage. I did it the second time and this time because I experiences first hand how truth telling about motherhood opens doors for mothers of all types to claim their own stories. When women approached me after the show with tears in their eyes saying, ‘that’s just what happened to me, I thought no one else felt that way.’ I knew the power of LTYM was much more than tears or laughter, but of communion.”