It’s been less than a week since we took our final bow and I’m still on cloud nine. Show day went beautifully–from the sunny weather to the production itself, to our cast party at AJ Bomber’s.

We were such a calm collected group that we seemed to have lots of time before the show to get some great cast photos outside.  Our deepest thanks to the supremely talented and generous Melissa Austin at 2nd Street Photography for capturing all of the moments below.

 

FROM LEFT, TOP ROW: DARCY DEDERICH, ANN WERTZ GARVIN, PATRICIA MELKA, BRITT WANTA, DEANNA SCHNEIDER, KRIS ADAMS, LEISL TESTWUIDE.FROM LEFT, BOTTOM ROW: JOHN KIBLER, ISABEL DUNKERLY, ANN IMIG, TAKEYLA BENTON, NYDIA ROJAS, JOLEITH MCINTOSH, TERRY VISGER, SARA SLAYTON, BECKY SEWELL

Our gorgeous stage was graciously designed, furnished, and set by Jacob Harlow of  The Century House.

As we walked out on stage we heard the woooots and applause from our audience of over 400.

John Kibler began the afternoon with his hilarious and heartwarming piece called “Ethel Ann Says” about his southern mama and her original words of wisdom, like “Ya’ll, I’ve had two cosmopolitans. I might need a little help getting dinner on the table.”

Ann Wertz Garvin read “Come As Your Favorite Saint” about the hilarity that comes with trying to answers those hard questions from your young kids enrolled in Catholic school… “What’s a virgin?”

Kris Adams shared her piece “Pushing Beauty” about changing body and mind when becoming a mother, and finally finding her place in the universe.

Takeyla Benton recited two moving poems; one about facing the insecurity of new motherhood  “What To Expect,” and the other about her experience with teenaged pregnancy–ultimately prizing responsible mom over “Cool Mom.”

As this was my second time reading in LTYM, my nerves didn’t hit until Ann introduced me. As you can see, I found my groove and had a blast up there reading about my husband adopting my son last year.

Patricia Melka’s piece reduced me to a puddle of tears during the auditions, but drew some unexpected laughs as well. In “Dear Mom” she read letters about caretaking her mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s.

Nydia Rojas’ gorgeous poems “Shadow Games” about her grandson, and “Wishes” about her own mother and grandmother, were spoken with such love.

We were so lucky to have Sara Slayton who came all the way from Lacrosse, WI for the audition, two rehearsals and the show. As a storyteller by trade, she had us all on the edges of our seats with her tales of being “Child of A Gangster” in Wisconsin in the 1950′s.

Deanna Schneider’s piece “Just The One” about how her sweet boy almost didn’t make it, never ceased to give me goosebumps no matter how many times I heard it.

Jolieth McIntosh enraptured us with two poems “Mother, Your Spirit Moves On” and “Child, I Love You” delivered in her lilting Jamaican accent.

Liesl Testwuide brought the house down–literally stopped the show– with “I’ve Got Something In My Pocket” chronicling her single mom life raising three boys.

Terry Visger, a fellow a story teller with Sara Slayton from Lacrosse, shared her humorous and moving piece “Lessons From My Mothers” about her mom, grandma, aunts–all of the women who raised her and the wisdom they imparted to her along the way.

Our last reader, Britt Wanta,  left everyone breathless with her story of “Nursing Grace” literally and figuratively. How we all need to nurse a little grace back into our lives, especially mothers.

Ann Imig, our sweet Ann, our fearless leader–director of LTYM: Madison and Listen To Your Mother in twenty four cities–not only MC’ed the show but we were lucky to have her read again this year. Her piece “One Wine Glass” closed the show with the perfect mix of humor and sweetness.

From the entire production crew, well done ladies and gentlemen. LTYM: Madison 2013 flew by and we won’t soon forget it.

Perhaps, best of all, between donating 10% of our ticket proceeds and fundraising day of show,

LTYM: Madison raised $1400 for Domestic Abuse Intervention Services’ Capital Campaign!

 
And that folks is a wrap on Listen To Your Mother Madison 2013 show.

Thank you to our National Media Sponsor BlogHer, our Supporting Media Sponsor One2One Network, our Regional Sponsor AJ Bombers, and our local sponsors The Century House, 2nd Street Photography, Dragonfly Hot Yoga, elements therapeutic massage, Half-pint Resale, Happy Bambino, Lakeside Press, Tex Tubbs, The Roman Candle, and The Purple Goose for making our show possible!

A special shout-out to AJ Bombers for throwing the cast and families a cast party after the show complete with Mimosas and their delectable food–buffalo chicken egg rolls, sweet potato chips, THREE kinds of burgers, fries–PERFECT for the post-show munchies.

AJ Bombers – Madison from Frank Datzer (DCP Video) on Vimeo.

See you in 2014!

 

 

{ 3 comments }