By Laurelle Walsh
Last spring, Twisp writer Rose Weagant was one of 12 regional writers selected to present original work at the Spokane performance of Listen to Your Mother, one of a series of live events across the nation designed to “give motherhood a microphone,” according to the organization’s website.
The experience of reading her own humorous essay, “Unexpected Discoveries,” before an audience was “very validating,” and spurred her to develop a similar event in the Methow, Weagant said.
“It made me realize that our voices and our stories are worthy of being shared, heard and celebrated,” she said.
As a result, Weagant and fellow writer and performer Lexi Koch decided a Methow Valley version — which they have dubbed the Mother Experience Project, or MEP — “would be a perfect fit for our community,” Koch said.
“It’s a platform for people to have a voice about the experience of being a mother, or having a mother,” Koch said. “We all have some pretty wild stories of what motherhood is.”
Mother’s Day, 2014, will mark the first performance of the Motherhood Experience Project. The organizers are calling for community members — male and female — to share their own stories in a public venue.
“We want people from all different walks of life to be involved. Everybody’s story needs to be shared,” said Koch.
Submissions must be no longer than 550 words and performances shorter than five minutes, said Koch. Written works of comedy, poetry, short stories or memoir will be considered, as well as visual art and dance.
Auditions will be held on Feb. 15 and 16 by appointment only. Koch encourages people to audition, even if they don’t have a “polished piece,” she said. “We want people to know that they will have support along the way to polish their writing and gain confidence in performance,” she added.
An informational session will be held this Thursday (Feb. 6) at 5 p.m. at Door No. 3 in the Methow Valley Community Center. “Anybody with questions is encouraged to attend,” said Koch.
For more information, call Koch at 997-0664 or email simplytrust@yahoo.com.
