On Saturday, May 13, Gadsden, Alabama’s own Joy Tilley Perryman and a cast of locals will take to the stage of Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center on the campus of Gadsden State Community College (1001 George Wallace Dr, Gadsden, AL 35903) to present Listen to Your Mother, an evening of storytelling celebrating motherhood. Back in 2010, Ann Imig debuted Listen to Your Mother. In the years since, Listen to Your Mother has become a nationwide favorite with more than 60 local theatre companies not only performing the original stories shared, but often times presenting new and unique monologues on the subject of mothers and motherhood. As Perryman and her fellow Gadsden-area storytellers fine-tuned their monologues and readied themselves for the May 13 one-night-only event, I had the opportunity to chat with members of the cast for my latest Rapid Fire 20Q.
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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST MEMBERS OF GADSDEN’s PREMIERE PRESENTATION OF LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER
RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’s JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN
JHPENTERTAINMENT: For those not familiar with the show, what do audiences need to know about Listen to Your Mother?
JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: That this event is so so very real and true. We have real people from all walks of life telling their true stories. It relates to and resonates with everyone. You do not have to be a Mother to enjoy this event and it is most certainly not just for women. It is a great night of entertainment for everybody!
JHPENTERTAINMENT: While this is a Gadsden premiere, it not your first time being part of a production of Listen to Your Mother. What keeps you revisiting this show and how excited are you to be bringing it to your hometown?
JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: So, I was part of the original Nashville, TN cast and that show worked the same way this show is working. In other words, these are true stories being read by the people who wrote them. Then, when I did the show at Chaffin’s Barn Theatre, I used the actual licensed scripted show and had actors performing stories that were written by other people. It is a delicate balance finding the rhythm of the stories and the order in which they need to go. That is what brings me back, it is always changing and becoming something different. I am over the moon to bring this show to Alabama and to my hometown. I think people are going to be blown away by it.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Speaking of Gadsden being your hometown, I understand you won your first acting award on the very stage where Listen to Your Mother is being performed. What was the award and what was the performance that garnered you the accolade?
JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: The stage at Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center located on the campus of Gadsden State Community College is like home to me. I saw my first play there and when it was over I did not want to leave. My Daddy had to pry my fingers off the armrest and carry me to the car. But to answer your question, it was Best Actress for my portrayal of Elena in Checkov‘s The Boor, for the Etowah County Schools annual skit competition. The next year we did Moliére. Did I mention I had some great theatre teachers in high school?
JHPENTERTAINMENT: They say you can’t go home again, but you have. What’s been the most rewarding aspect of returning to Gadsden and what’s next for your new performing arts organization, Joy’s Jubilations after you close Listen to Your Mother?
JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: As most people may know, I lost my beloved Dean very unexpectedly last July, so the most rewarding thing has been being here with my family. I could not have gotten through this time of life without them. Next up, is going to be a murder mystery dinner theatre event, some summer kids programming and then late summer/early fall, a recounting of the Minnie Pearl story, All the News from Grinder’s Switch.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Listen to Your Mother is a one-night-only event. Is it too early to ask if you’re planning to make it an annual event?
JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: Never too early, and yes. You can’t get rid of me that easily! We will be back!
RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’s ROBIN WALLACE
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Were you familiar with this show prior to Joy revealing she was bringing it to Gadsden?
ROBIN WALLACE: I was not familiar with the show, but once I learned of it, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Your bio mentions that Listen to Your Mother is something you felt compelled to be part of. What drew you to the project.
ROBIN WALLACE: My story is one that I’ve not shared in the 45 years since it occurred and I hoped it would be cathartic for me, and it most definitely was.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand this performance is also special to you because you’ll be taking to the stage for this one-night-only event on the anniversary of your own mother’s birth. Whether part of what you’ll share onstage or not, what’s a piece of advice, or a saying you remember from your mother?
ROBIN WALLACE: She always stressed that my brother and I were to protect and take care of each other. We listened. We have always been each other’s protectors and still are best friends today.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: A portion of all Listen to Your Mother ticket sales for this performance will benefit New Centurions, a rehab facility for women located in Gadsden. How rewarding is it to not only be part of a show that will entertain audience members, but also benefit women in need?
ROBIN WALLACE: This will be a very emotional night for me because of my story. I’m glad to share it if it helps just one woman.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Like Joy, you’re also an Alabama native, though you hail a bit further south, from Montgomery. Just between us, is there a difference between Northern Alabama folks and Montgomery Alabamians?
ROBIN WALLACE: I absolutely love this area and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else! The Montgomery I knew as a teenager is no more, so I’m extremely happy I wound up in North Alabama after my Army career.
RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’s TABITHA BOZEMAN
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Were you familiar with Listen to Your Mother prior to joining this production?
TABITHA BOZEMAN: I was not.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: A little social media peek as I was researching to chat with you revealed both you and your husband are educators. Is there any advice that’s helped you in your interactions with students?
TABITHA BOZEMAN: We are! I think the most important part of being an effective educator is having empathy. You can have all the knowledge of your field, but if you can’t empathize with how students learn, and the challenges they face, you will not be an effective teacher.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Further stalking of your social media revealed you’re involved in Gadsden State Community College’s Cardinal Arts Journal, so shameless plug time…What can you tell me about that?
TABITHA BOZEMAN: Yay! I love chatting about this! Yes, I am the editor in Chief for the Cardinal Arts Journal, which is an arts journal that Gadsden State produces, and that is open to the community, students and employees at GSCC, and to the public in general. That means we accept submissions from pretty much anyone, anywhere, and those submissions are considered for publication by our board of editors. Our editors are community writers and artists, GSCC employees and students, and writers and artists from all over the United States. There are 3 issues a year, published at the end of each semester, and we are always looking for new writing and art to publish! We accept creative writing, art, photography, music, performance, and digital art and music, as well. The Cardinal Arts Journal is an online publication. That is also the address to visit if you are interested in submitting your work. We accept submissions from all ages, as well, and there is usually a theme posted on our Facebook page and Instagram for each issue. This Spring’s issue has the theme Telling Our Stories: Fairytales, Myths, Legends, and Folklore, and will be out soon!
JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand Listen to Your Mother will mark your return to the stage after a lengthy absence. What was the last show you were in and how are you feeling about returning to the stage?
TABITHA BOZEMAN: Wow. It has been so long since I’ve been onstage for anything other than academics, I honestly am not sure what my last performance was—I believe it was either Arsenic and Old Lace or The Man Who Came to Dinner, with Theatre of Gadsden, and probably 25 years ago. I have, however, stayed somewhat involved as a theatre parent . My girls have grown up backstage because my husband, Jason teaches theatre.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Quite often productions of Listen to Your Mother use monologues written for the show’s original mounting. For Gadsden’s premiere presentation, and given the fact that you’re a writer, yourself, I’m guessing you will be performing an original monologue?
TABITHA BOZEMAN: Yes, I have written a brief piece about how motherhood helped teach me to listen to myself.
RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’s BILLY JENKINS
JHPENTERTAINMENT: I’ll start with an obvious question. It would appear you’re the sole male storyteller in this presentation of Listen to Your Mother. How’s that going for you?
BILLY JENKINS: LOL… it’s going well. Although I don’t share the same sex as the other performers, we all have something in common: we all have a mother. I’m used to being the lone male because I was an elementary school teacher and male elementary teachers are few and far between, so being the only male is not a big thing.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: While doing a little digging to chat with you and a few of your cast mates, I couldn’t help but be moved by a mention of your late mother in the bio Joy provided to me. Being a proud and self-professed Mama’s Boy myself…she’s 81 and going strong…I totally get it. What do you think your Mom would tell you about taking to the stage and sharing your memories of her for Listen to Your Mother?
BILLY JENKINS: First of all, my mom would be so proud of my life accomplishments. She passed when I was just 21 years old and a lot has happened since then. As far as sharing memories of her, she’d probably tell me not to make her sound bad and to not tell any stories of her whipping me when I was a child. She’d also be excited that I’m participating in this because she always said that behind every great man is an even greater woman.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: You teach both Psychology and Philosophy at Gadsden, so a two-parter…what’s the craziest excuse you’ve heard from a student on why they missed class or an assignment deadline? AND…just because I’m curious…What’s one thing Psychology and Philosophy have in common?
BILLY JENKINS: The craziest excuse that I’ve encountered about missing class or missed assignments would have to be the dead grandmother excuse. Often times, she’s died twice during the semester and the students forgot they already used that excuse.
Psychology and philosophy share the same roots: both of them study human conditions and behaviors. Philosophy revolves around WHAT the human condition is, while Psychology revolves around the WHY the human condition is. Psychology arose from the discipline of Philosophy. The word ‘psychology’ refers to the study of souls and the word ‘philosophy’ refers to the study of wisdom.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: From your bio, I understand your first show was a 1990 production of A Chorus Line, and you readily admit you still have trouble remembering your lines. What’s a bit of dialogue from A Chorus Line that you still remember?
BILLY JENKINS: Really? Ok here goes: “I was in the back seat with Sally Ketchum and I was feeling her boobs and feeling her boobs. She said, “Don’t you want to feel anything else?” and I suddenly thought to myself, “No, I don’t.”
JHPENTERTAINMENT: It’s sort of become my sign-off while doing these Rapid Fire Q&As to close with some version of the following…What do you hope the audience remembers about the Alabama premiere performance of Listen to Your Mother?
BILLY JENKINS: I hope the audience will listen to the different stories that are onstage and realize that although our stories are totally different, we all share the good and the bad about our mothers and those have shaped us into the people that we are today.
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This Mother’s Day weekend, the Alabama debut of Joy’s Jubilations’ presentation of Listen to Your Mother takes to the stage of Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center at Gadsden State Community College for a one-night-only performance on Saturday, May 13. The show begins at 7:30p.m. Tickets are $23. All tickets are general admission. CLICK HERE or HERE to purchase your tickets. To keep up with Joy’s Jubilations and find out what’s next, follow them on Facebook.
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