Describing herself as both “a teacher” and “a lifelong Hobartarian,” Carrie Bedwell has also been wearing the halo of being a “producer and director” for the past seven years, carrying the tradition of an annual Northwest Indiana stage presentation of “Listen to Your Mother.”
“The goal of every ‘Listen to Your Mother’ production is to take the audience on a well-crafted, 90-minute journey of diverse true stories about motherhood,” Bedwell explains.
“Being a mom, having a mom, losing a mom, finding a mom, or as many interpretations on the theme of mothering as you can imagine, comprises these annual sharing presentations. From hilarious and heartwarming, to emotionally intense and profound, ‘Listen to Your Mother” entertains, energizes, brings community together and leaves everyone feeling a little less alone and a little more understood.”
This year’s event is at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 27, and is once again on the mainstage of Hobart Art Theater at 230 Main St. Tickets are $25 and available at the door or call 219-942-1670 or www.brickartlive.com. A portion of funds raised this year benefits Meal on Wheels Northwest Indiana.
“The show will include reading, songs, and poetry, including Nancy Hejna reading poems from her memoir ‘Rainbow Hair’ throughout the show, sharing her unique story of losing her sons,” Bedwell said.
“This year’s themes include parenting the parent, the many roles moms play, generational trauma, leaving a legacy, domestic violence, not being sure about motherhood, not letting family move on, a mother’s unconditional love, adoption, losing one’s mom, being a pet mom, gaining a daughter via marriage, suicide/don’t always listen to your mother, and grandparenting a spirited 8-year-old-teenager.”
The stage idea for the annual production came from “Give Motherhood A Microphone,” created by Ann Imig, who is credited with founding the concept for “Listen to Your Mother,” which debuted with the first performance on Mother’s Day 2010 at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin.
Within less than a decade, the show became a localized hit as word spread via creative producers and grew into a grassroots movement, which now spans 50-plus cities and 250 productions staged across North America and still adhering to the key of donating a portion of ticket sales to local nonprofit organizations supporting women and families in need.
Bedwell, who has worked as an English teacher for 31 years, was first cast in one of the productions in 2014 and then took over producing the annual event in 2018. She will be a guest on my weekly radio show “Of Notoriety” this Thursday at 11 a.m. on WJOB 1230 AM.
In addition to poet Hejna, other presenters this year are Buffy Adams, who works for IYG, North America’s longest-running LGBTQ+ youth organization, Mary Lu Cowley, a grandmother and recent widow, Bennett Gallivan, a financial aid advisor at Ivy Tech, Erin Higy, a behavioral therapist, Eunice Jarrett, a retired elementary teacher, Chris Kamstra, an underground singer/songwriter, Amy Lavalley, a lifelong journalist and editor for The Post-Tribune and Chicago Tribune Media, Leena Meisberger, the founder of Light The Way, Gloria “GoGo” Morris, a technologist and social cause advocate, Alexandra Shloss, a high school teacher and mental health counselor, Marquita Tigner, owner of Super Scholars Learning Academy Childcare Center and Heidi Van Howe, blogger at Pizza-For-Breakfast.com.
Ryan Elinkowski, CEO of Meal on Wheels of NWI, will serve as the afternoon’s emcee.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and radio show host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at PhilPotempa@gmail.com.
