Bigger Than A Show-- Listen To Your Mother Detroit

313 --- Detroit!

The first year I co-produced Listen To Your Mother I had no idea what I was doing. Zero. And I felt like I had a lot to prove. I sort of felt like that the second year too. But the this year was different. It was more hectic because I was working full time and that was pretty intense.  This year, I had less time but I had more of an idea of what to do and what I wanted to do. The whole project became less about what I had to prove and more about providing an amazing experience for the cast and the audience. 

Before the show started.

It's kind of like I grew up a little bit as a producer...I became less the insecure teenager who mutters I'll show you but at the same time wanting everyone to like them; and more middle-age woman who has lived some life and wants to help create opportunities for people to connect and be inspired and feel more alive, a woman who confidently strides through the room un-apologetically inviting people to the experience.

The screens before people walked into the show room say it all. Two previous years of LTYM Detroit casts.
We are building something. 

The stories, the LTYM alumni, the generous sponsors, the cast....it was amazing. But not without hiccups and problems. Our photographer had a medical emergency two days before the show, a couple sponsorships didn't come through and our ticket sales were lower.  If even one of those things had happened in year one, or even year two, it would've thrown me off so badly. I would have freaked out and lost focus. My insecurity and desire "to show you" would have crushed my ability to bounce back or work through problems or see any kind of bigger picture. But this year? There was only a little bit of freaking. 

Maybe it's because I'm older and wiser. Maybe it's because I just get it more now. 

This year was about making sure the cast felt appreciated and safe. Safe to tell their stories and be brave on stage. This year was about honoring and including the women, and man, that were a part of the other Listen To Your Mother Detroit casts.

This year it hit me more than ever before, we are building something here more than an amazing show. We are building a community. A community that feels like family and supports each other and lifts each other up. A community where people can network and reach out to each other for creative inspiration and connection. A sisterhood (with a one brother) that feels like home--full of "remember whens" and good hugs and "we got you's" and "what do you need?" and love and connection and understanding.

This vibe of inspired connectivity hopefully radiated out to the smaller yet passionate and supportive audience. The stories were full of love and gratitude and hope. At first we worried that we needed more angst, more pain, more grief, but then we realized that maybe a show full of gratitude and hope is just what we needed right now. Maybe there's enough angst, pain and grief in the news and online and so many places. Maybe a show about being authentic and living with intention and appreciating motherhood in all forms is just what we ALL need.  

Just chilling, eating lunch from Avalon and talking before the sound check and the show.
Picture by Monroe Fox Photography 

The cast got their make up done in the Green Room. So fun!

Picture by Monroe Fox Photography 

Sound check.

Picture by Monroe Fox Photography 

Champagne toast in the Green Room before the show.Picture by Monroe Fox Photography 

Toasting to us with a "hell yeah! we are going to do this!"

Picture by Monroe Fox Photography 

Big Al, one of our sound guys at St. Andrews. He was so funny. And kind. He brought us waters backstage and reminded us to watch our step, and after the show he said "I love the stories!" 

Picture by Monroe Fox Photography 

Photo by Monroe Fox Photography 

THE 2016 cast of readers in the Detroit Listen To Your Mother show.

Photo by Monroe Fox Photography

Telling everyone to take a deep breath and have a zen moment before we go onto the stage. 

Picture by Monroe Fox Photography 

Photo by Monroe Fox Photography

Picture by Chris Ahern Photography.

Picture by Chris Ahern Photography.
Stay tuned for the videos of the stories to come out this July!!!!!

Photo by Monroe Fox Photography

Photo by Monroe Fox Photography

The bow! Picture by Chris Ahern Photography.

If you want to be a part of the Listen To Your Mother family--audition for or be in the audience of next year's show!  Go to the Listen To Your Mother Detroit website and sign up for the newsletter to stay updated.  If you don't live in Detroit go to this site to find a Listen To Your Mother show in a city near you!