Listen to Your Mother & My Inner Voice

A couple of weeks ago I went with a close friend of mine to audition for the show Listen To Your Mother (LTYM). It was a year ago when I heard of LTYM through the same friend when another friend of hers auditioned and was cast. LTYM is something like the Vagina Monologues with two big differences; 1. obviously the show’s central theme isn’t about the vagina, but it might be a factor as the overarching theme is motherhood. 2. cast members are not reciting their essay or piece from memory. They are reading. The show is a reading where people share their thoughts on motherhood, their relationship with their mother and even their relationships with their children. A few major cities have shows, including D.C. and Baltimore. I auditioned for the D.C. show, which is interestingly taking place across the way in a small theater in Crystal City, VA.

The producer and director loved my piece, but in the end I wasn’t chosen. I was sent a lovely and encouraging personal note that the essay, more than likely wouldn’t have worked as a performance piece as it is layered with a couple of themes. Even though I connected the themes, it looks great on paper, but may not translate verbally for the audience listening. I get it. I was advised to revisit the piece and edit a bit more. I was also strongly encouraged to auditioned for the show in Baltimore (with my essay as is or with edits), but after looking at Baltimore’s schedule for rehearsals and such and knowing what I have coming up I opted to just sit back and try again next year.  Even though the D.C. show seems so ideal with it taking place on my grandmother’s 81st birthday, perhaps it just isn’t the time to share what I want to say with that piece yet.  Then I wonder if it’s fear of another rejection.

Though the beginning of the year caught me in a sluggish mode – with the snow, ice and bitter cold not making it any better – I still managed to do my thing as a freelancer and pitch away.  It has been slow with pitch after pitch declined or radio silence from the other end, even with a spotted follow up on my part. The PR “day job” is even more grueling as I’ve been pitching media in other cities for a client. It’s not so bad on that front. But when you receive numerous bounced emails from your contact roster that you just cleaned up…. it’s enough to make you roll your eyes and slam the laptop shut for a minute.

I would be lying if I said the rejections (for the journalist/creative writer me) don’t pinch me the slightest bit. I know it’s nothing personal, but yeah it stings just a tiny bit. I do turn those rejected ideas and rehash them to re-pitch or make it stronger. In the case of the essay I auditioned with for LTYM I haven’t done anything with it yet, but it was the diving board I needed for a personal side project.

This side project I knew what I wanted to do and what I wanted the end result to be, but finding a theme or a centralized idea I had no clue.  For several weeks I’ve been nagged by the theme of care giving and care taking. Journalistic wise I’ve been trying to find the right angle to pitch. My inspiration is coming from personal experience as my family is pulling together to care for my grandmother who has Alzheimer’s. The other part of this inspiration is coming from another close friend who is not only helping to care for her grandmother whose Alzheimer’s is far too advanced, but she also became the guardian of her cousin’s two children. Her days are chaotic at best.

Needless to say, my inner voice wouldn’t let me give up neither; the topic at hand and the side project. So now in the wee hours of the morning I’m working on the project. I’m not giving a release or share date as I hate those. When it’s ready I will alert you. Just know, it’s dear to my heart and I hope I deliver nothing but all of me to this. I’m not sure if I’m including the essay I auditioned with for LTYM, but I am taking thematic elements from it.

My friend that I auditioned with was chosen! (YAAY!) As much as I want to promote her part in LTYM, I know she isn’t ready to promote that just yet. I know this is SOMETHING for her too. This is definitely her time to discuss what she has to share and I’ll be right there in the audience to support!

To learn more about Listen to Your Mother, in particular the DC show and cast visit: http://listentoyourmothershow.com/dc/

Special thank you to Kate Hood, producer of the LYTM. Your note meant a lot.

Tagged: Kate Hood, Listen to your mother, motherhood, Washington DC

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