We've all been given the sage advice at some critical juncture in our lives to "Listen to your mother!" Then, along came stay-at-home humorist Ann Imig who wanted a place to tell the great, poignant, sometimes funny and often heartwarming experiences of motherhood. So she launched a stand-alone show in Madison, Wisconsin six years ago. Now, the celebration of Mother's Day shows encouraging everyone to Listen to Your Mother is being showcased in 41 cities across North America, including one right here at home in St. Joseph.
Producer and Co-Directors Kim Jorgensen Gane and Beth Haire-Lewis have teamed up again this year to bring the show to Michigan's Great Southwest for a second straight season this Friday, April 29th at 7pm in the St. Joseph High School Howard Performing Arts Center.
Thirteen local readers are set to celebrate Mother's Day be entertaining you with their true stories and experiences. When Ann Imig began the first project in 2010, she invited others to audition, and had the good sense to record them on video and put them on YouTube, where there are currently more than 1,500 video stories. Thus the movement — part live local stage performance, part global social media project, and part charity fundraiser — was born.
Each city in the lineup works with a deserving local charity that supports women and families. To date the project overall has raised more than $80,000. The Southwest Michigan production team has selected Emergency Shelter Services, Inc. in Benton Harbor as the beneficiary of a portion of the ticket proceeds this year. So grab your girlfriends, or bring along your favorite motherly person to enjoy a PG-13 show that gives motherhood a microphone — because motherhood deserves more than a simple brunch. You do not have to be a mom or a woman to enjoy the show. Tickets are $16.95 online for general seating with group discounts available at the link listed below. Tickets at the door will be $20 each. It's grassroots theater on the homefront.
Cast members include the following:
- Debra Basham
- Sarah Fuste
- Kim Jorgensen Gane
- Elnora Gavin
- Stacey Gleiss
- Erin Hamilton
- Tracy-Ann Jennings
- Pam Marsh
- Loren Michaels-Harris
- Cecilia (Ceci) Redmond
- Christine Sherene
- Katie Sluiter
- Kathryn Schultz Zerler
- Beth Haire-Lewis
