Much of Carol Lynn’s life has been devoted to the search for the feminine divine, a search that culminated in writing Mother Wove the Morning. The play is made up of sixteen women throughout history searching for the female face of God – the feminine divine. The original script was a one-woman-show. But it has now been adapted for multiple performers with subsequent productions as an “equity showcase” in New York City, as well as by high schools, colleges and community theatres across the country. It all began in 1989 when Carol Lynn rented her local community theater in Walnut Creek (CA) for two weekends, sent out press releases, sold tickets, and opened the play, believing at least her friends would show up. They did. And lots of other people. The event sold out and she extended again and again. Subsequently she played across the country and abroad, ultimately doing over 300 performances, one on Crete for the International Partnership Conference, invited by Margarita Papandreo, first lady of Greece, and author Riane Eisler. Carol Lynn learned that the hunger in her own heart for the Mother was matched by the hunger in the hearts of thousands of other women and men. A filmed version of her performance won an award from Booklist as one of the best fifteen videos of the year.
PLAY DETAILS:
- 16W (+ supporting characters, some male, played by the women) (Can all be played by 1 Woman, if desired)
- About 90 mins
- Simple setting, props and costumes.
- Order # 3153
Available for ALL producing groups.
REVIEWS and COMMENTS:
About the original one-woman show:
“What an extraordinary piece of work!” — Olympia Dukakis, Academy Award winning actress, author of Ask Me Again Tomorrow.
“An amazing experience, a passionate performance of theater at its best. It makes us cry, laugh, and remember what we did not even know we knew. I wish everyone could see it and be inspired by it.” — Riane Eisler, author of The Chalice and the Blade
“Intellectual awareness of the repression of feminine divinity becomes experiential in this profound and poignantly human drama. I strongly recommend this wonderful and powerful play.” — Jean Shinoda Bolen, author of Goddesses in Every Woman
“Take a train, take a plane, ride a bus or a bike, but go to Mother Wove the Morning…a magnificent, emotionally charged performance. Bravo!” —Evening Press, Dublin, Ireland
“A powerhouse! And with such terrific humor.” — Joan Baez
“…an experience I will always cherish. Carl Jung said that the most important psychological task humankind faces in our century is the reintegration of the feminine divine into our religious experience. Mother Wove the Morning is an important way-pointing of our task.” Thomas Patrick Lavin, Ph.D., Senior Training Analyst, C.J. Jung Institute of Chicago
About the 16 character adaptation:
Equity Showcase Production in New York City, May 2005
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to produce ‘Mother.’ It has been an amazing experience. The cast has been so excited to be part of this project, and truly reverent of the work they know we are doing. They didn’t want the run to end. Audiences have responded with all the enthusiasm we had hoped for. May ‘Mother’ have a long and happy life!” — Sarah Jebian, ProducerGlendale High School, Glendale, California:
“We opened the play last night. It was stone quiet, not a peep, except where there should be a peep or laughter or a gasp. The teens did not squirm or whisper to their neighbors. And my young women were amazing! They were focused, intent in the work and eager to perform. None of them will look at being a woman in the same way as they did eight weeks ago. Thanks so much for giving us this remarkable experience!” — Mack Duggar, DirectorRainbow Repertory Company, Canton, Ohio:
“I cannot tell you how lucky I feel having come across your play and being given the chance to work with it. It is one of the most important theatre pieces I will do in my life….Our performances reached 278 people. The first weekend we saw only 60. Our local paper did not print anything, but because of word of mouth, our second weekend saw over 200. I have a growing list of those who have contacted me and want to know when it will be performed again…I look forward to the other bookings I am planning.” — Deb Lemire, Drector“Your play was the highlight of our Women’s History Month! It introduced a cross-cultural, historical exploration of the role of women and the social understanding of the divine.” — Kathryn M. Feltey, Ph.D, Director of Women’s Studies University of Akron
Method Acting Workshops, Mill Valley, California:
“Thank you so much for allowing me to use this awesome play….We got a standing ovation. The performance was combined with an acting workshop. I coached audience volunteers to speak their own truth and explore the resurrection of the feminine divine bringing insight from their own lives to perform scenes from the play themselves!” — Shelley Mitchell, acting teacher to Bay area professionals, trained with Lee Strasberg at the Actors StudioYWCA of Lewiston/Clarkston, Idaho:
“Thanks so much for letting us do your play. We were moved and honored by your boldness and your generous gift. This is a very important work. Huge! We had a grand audience who wept and laughed with us. Your work is that of a true pioneer.” — Jeanmarie Simpson, DirectorEmergence Theatre, Fringe Festival of Canada:
“The play was a great success, with over 300 people seeing it and lots of deep feelings and feedback. The company is very excited and honored to spread your work and the inspiration of women’s spirituality to the public.” — Beth Cruise, DirectorSt. Peter Catholic Church, Social Justice Task Force, Pacifica, California:
“Thank you for your beautiful play! As we rehearsed, I became more and more aware of how you balanced out the horror and the humor. Your research was so thorough, your artistry in interpreting and presenting the history so evident. My life has been enriched and enlightened by having been a part of it. It’s been over six weeks since we put on Mother Wove the Morning, and we are still hearing about it…The Director of the Pacifica Resource Center is delighted with the over $3800 that we earned for them.” — Mary Brown, Director“I LOVE YOUR PLAY!!!!!! It has taught me so much. Some of my friends saw the play today and they wanted to say thank you for writing this piece. I think they too are really inspired. Every time I read the play or listen to my fellow actors I just feel like crying. I feel like the characters are all my sisters and we share a bond and trust and we share our happiness and fears and all. So thank you, thank you.” – Angela
Welcome Table Productions, Provo, Utah 2017
“Many, many thanks from all of us Carol Lynn. Working on this show has healed my heart, and been a priceless gift to our team of women. We are so grateful that you wrote it 25 years ago. So, so, grateful.” –Amber Richardson
“In May, I produced Carol Pearson’s Mother Wove the Morning with women from my church community (Unity Minneapolis). Our production was a great success and people have been asking for us to bring it back. I am currently looking into the possibility of producing it again. This time, I would like to bring it to my hometown theater, the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts in Menomonie Wisconsin…I believe I have the personnel to recreate this wonderful piece again.” — Ann Salt, Unity Minneapolis
PERUSAL MATERIALS
- Perusal Pages File Available here: Mother Wove the Morning PERUSAL (The PDF file contains the first half of the play along with all background information.)
- An award winning DVD [with an accompanying script of the one-woman version of MOTHER WOVE THE MORNING] is available of Carol Lynn Pearson in her original world tour performance for $29.95 (buy it below in the PURCHASING section)
(DVD cover)
- EMAIL us for rights and information. Be sure to give us anticipated performance dates and the address of your group and, if different, your theatre. Please also include a contact name and phone number.
PURCHASING REHEARSAL MATERIALS:
(Any PDF purchased will be emailed to your email address — if you need to provide that to us (not the one on your PayPal account?), email us. CDs will be mailed to a snail mail address. Before we ship any rehearsal material we will need your performance dates, the name of your organization and the theatre where you will perform.
- Script in PDF format — Order #3153a : $25.00 (will be sent to you by email, from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3150d : $65
- Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3150e : $55
- Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application
- The DVD (and script [no performance rights included]) of Carol Lynn Pearson in her one-woman performance — $29.95
PRODUCTIONS:
- Welcome Table Productions — Canyon Glen Amphitheater, Provo, Utah June 15, 16, 17, 2017 (Trailer here:)
- Glendale High School — Glendale, California
- Rainbow Repertory Company — Canton, Ohio
- Method Acting Workshops — Bay Area
- Emergence Theatre — Canada
- St. Peter’s Catholic Church — Pacifica, California
- YWCA of Lewiston — Idaho
- High Schools and Community Theatre across the world since 1989
- Equity Showcase — NYC, 2005
- PREMIERE: Community Theatre — Walnut Creek, California, 1989
BILLING CREDITS
The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
Mother Wove the Morning
a play in two acts by
Carol Lynn Pearson
NOTE: The names of the Playwright(s), Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter shall be equal in size, type, coloring, boldness, and prominence. No billing shall appear in type larger or more prominent than the billing to the Authors except for the title of the play.
ALSO:
THIS NOTICE MUST APPEAR IN ALL PROGRAMS, ON ALL POSTERS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS AND INTERNET ADVERTISING/WEBPAGES FOR THE PLAY:
“Mother Wove The Morning is presented through special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
from the catalog of
