Listen to Your Mother
Written by Angie Albright
Pop culture and decades of women’s magazines, and oh yeah, centuries of Western culture, have painted motherhood as a rather saintly business. What children and mothers alike have known all along is that we are made of regular human stuff, and canonization is an unlikely scenario for most of us (though playing the part of martyr on more than one occasion, no doubt). In other words, June Cleaver, Carol Brady, Shirley Patridge and Mother Theresa we ain’t. In spite of all our imperfections and flawed humanity, mothers and the children they love still manage to experience great joy, triumph, and even a miracle or two.
To celebrate motherhood and in honor of Mother’s Day, Ann Imig, creator of Listen to Your Mother (LTYM), produced the first event for bloggers and online writers in Madison, Wisconsin a couple of years ago. LTYM is now a national series of live readings by local writers on the subject of motherhood in celebration of Mother’s Day. The mission, according to its founders, is for each “production is to take the audience on a well-crafted journey that celebrates and validates mothering through giving voice to motherhood–in all of its complexity, diversity, and humor.” Cities with LYTM productions include New York; Chicago; Austin; Madison; Washington, D.C.; Spokane, Wash.; San Francisco and Philadelphia.
Last year NWA writer and blogger Lela Davidson heard about LTYM and was determined to bring the production to NWA. She applied last fall on behalf of the region and found out in November, 2011 that NWA had been selected as one of only ten locations in 2012 and that Davidson herself would be the show’s producer and director. She added another local blogger Evolved Mommy’s author Stephanie McCratic, as assistant director. A call went out for submissions in February, and after two rounds of screenings, fourteen writers were selected to appear in NWA’s inaugural event.
I am thrilled and honored to be among the writers chosen, and I think I can speak for the other 13 in saying that we are excited and nervous and just a bit giddy about this opportunity. I’ve heard all the stories. Attendees (and it will eventually appear on YouTube) will be blown away by the hilarity, emotion, and heartache. These fourteen stories represent the full range of motherhood, and the writing is fantastic.
Oh, who are we kidding? Let me say what I’m really thinking. It’s just so freakin’ cool to have this show in Northwest Arkansas! And it’s just so freakin’ cool that our local writers have a new and unique forum in which to tell their stories. I can’t believe I get to be a part of all this!
Join us on Sunday, April 29th at 2:00 pm for a great afternoon of celebrating motherhood. Get tickets from the Walton Arts Center box office, and bring a tissue or two with you.
The 2012 cast includes these terrific voices:
Proud to be taking the stage with you, Angie!!
Maybe Kleenex should be a sponsor next year?!?!
Can’t wait to sit with my friends Erin and Mike in the audience, while I watch my friends Angie, Kelly, Lela, Shannon, and Jasmine on stage!
Can’t wait!!!!
Thank you for helping get the word out, Angie, and for lending your voice and story to the NWA show!