Audition Season Is Here: “Making Your Unknown Known”

“Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant…making your unknown known is the important thing.”

- Georgia O’ Keeffe

I love this quote in part because of who shared it with me–Deb Nies, a woman entirely phobic of public speaking until she auditioned on a dare from her daughter, and ended up reading at the podium in front of nearly 400 people last Mother’s Day in Madison. I also love it because to me it speaks to the power of sharing your story at an LTYM audition. Everyone has a story.

Over the past week nearly all 10 of the 2012 LTYM cities announced their call for auditions and/or submissions. I must admit I did not anticipate the immediate and overwhelming response–especially in Chicago, DC, and NYC where spots filled up on day 1. We did not see this onslaught last season. For anyone who wishes to audition and did not get a slot, waiting lists are open and in some cases more slots are becoming available.

This response demonstrates that the number of people compelled to share and be heard is even stronger than we could imagine.

LTYM serves to make your unknown known, and connect mothers, women, and communities both online and off in the process. Whether you express yourself creatively through words, music, or visual arts–whether you sit down and tell your heart to a friend or blog or tuck it away in a journal–maybe you express yourself through kicking butt at your job or nourishing your family. However you can–especially for women, as we do so much of the caretaking of others–I urge you to find your way toward self-expression. Let yourself shine. Spring your story from your soul and share your voice. Give us the gift of that knowing laugh or enlighten us with your unique perspective. Free yourself and others for a Mother’s Day event that breaks the isolation of motherhood and brings your community together for the specific purpose of paying homage to the work of mothering and the inevitable hilarity, heartbreak and  joy therein.

If your heart is screaming YES YES PICK ME PICK ME! But you suffer from stage fright or an evil inner-critic (but I’m not a real writer) read this post by Stacey Conner (LTYM: Spokane Director) about her journey to the LTYM stage.

We cannot wait to meet some of you at auditions, and more of you in audiences. We feel so honored by your enthusiasm and anxiously anticipate hearing your stories. Thank you for lending your voice to LTYM, giving Mother’s Day a microphone in 2012!

For More Audition Information:
Austin
Chicago
DC
Madison
Northwest Arkansas
Northwest Indiana
New York City
Philadelphia (Coming Soon)
San Francisco
Spokane