LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER TWIN CITIES SUMMER ALUMNI PANDEMIC SHOW 2021
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT -- GRATEFULLY -- TO ANN MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY
LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER TWIN CITIES
2021 SUMMER ALUMNI PANDEMIC SHOW CAST
ROBYN AWEND
2018 CAST ALUMNI
Robyn Awend is an art director, visual artist, and activist. Her background in fine arts and art curation has led her work in the local non-profit arts community for the past fifteen years. Robyn’s personal artwork uses words and word fragments to inspire her prints and mixed-media installations, exploring identity through cultural and societal influences. Awend’s recent work, handmade paper from discarded clothing, features the quote, “It Takes Courage To Be Who You Really Are.” Robyn lives in the burbs with her witty husband and three perfectly behaved children.
In 2018 Robyn read, “It Takes Courage” from the LTYM stage.
LUCI BYRNE
2016 CAST ALUMNI
Luci Byrne is known as the Cliff Clavin among her friends. Cursed with speed reading and a propensity to research things to death, she spends hours on her current obsession: BTS. An engineer by education, her professors told her she would never be rich if she became a writer. They were right. After years as a project leader, she left the official workforce to focus on mommyhood. She recently took up her pen and began writing cheesy romance stories for fun for her ten readers worldwide. She remains convinced that Chris Hemsworth is one of her avid readers.
In 2016 Luci read, “Hush” from the LTYM stage.
DANIELLE DANIEL
2017 CAST ALUMNI
2018 HOLIDAY SHOW CAST ALUMNI
2019 HOLIDAY SHOW CAST ALUMNI
Danielle Daniel is a motivational storyteller, creative writer, and teaching artist. She believes our stories can nurture, inspire, and heal; they are like air and water — we need them to survive. Her Connecting through Stories programs and tour shows have been presented in Europe and the United States. She has worked and performed in many schools, colleges, corporations, and community organizations. Danielle uses the art of storytelling and drama to entertain, educate, motivate, and empower people of all ages. Her plays highlight experiences of African American women over 50, who are often unheard, and are unsung heroes.
In 2017 Danielle read, “A Mother’s Love” from the LTYM stage. In December 2018 she read, “Best Christmas Ever” in the first alumni holiday show and in December 2019 she read, “White Christmas” at the second alumni holiday show.
EMILY HEINIS
2017 CAST ALUMNI
Emily Heinis is a mother to Olivia and Nathan, a dog mom to her Great Dane, Samson, a spouse to Patrick, a reader, a writer, a baker, an activist, and a really great friend. Emily has a BST in Communication Arts and Literature, an MA in Communication Studies, and is currently working on her MFA in Creative Writing–all from MSU, Mankato (Go, Mavs!). She is also a Communication and Marketing Manager for a local nonprofit. You can read her writing and see what she’s up to on her website emilyheinis.com.
In 2017 Emily read, “Do As I Say, Not As I Do” from the LTYM stage.
LINDSEY HENKE
2015 CAST ALUMNI
2019 HOLIDAY SHOW CAST ALUMNI
Lindsey Henke is the founder and Executive Director of Pregnancy After Loss Support, writer, clinical social worker specializing in maternal mental health, wife, and most importantly a mother to two beautiful daughters and one sweet-smiling little boy. Her writing about the hard parts of motherhood can be found at Still Breathing and her work has been featured on, Listen to Your Mother, Scary Mommy, Healthline, and The New York Times. She is currently working on her first book.
In 2015 Lindsey read, “Invisible Motherhood” from the LTYM stage and in 2019 she read, “Dear Santa” at the second alumni holiday show.
AMOKE KUBAT
2017 CAST ALUMNI
2019 HOLIDAY SHOW CAST ALUMNI
Amoke Kubat is a multidisciplinary artist curious about self, the natural world, and the Sacred. Self taught, Amoke uses artmaking to define and hold a position of wellness in an America sick with inequalities and inequities. Her writings include her memoir, “Missing Mama: My Story of Loss, Sorrow and Healing” and the plays, “ANGRY BLACK WOMAN & Well-Intentioned White Girl” and, “Old Good Pussy and Good Old Pussy.” Amoke is the creator of YO MAMA LLC that offers “Art of Mothering Workshops” and YO MAMA’S House Cooperative, a shared (nonresidential) space for mothers who are artists, community activists or healers.
In 2017 Amoke read, “Missing Mama, Her Name Is Ernestine” from the LTYM stage and in 2019 she read, “Porn Turkey” at the second alumni holiday show.
LESLIE LAGERSTROM
2014 CAST ALUMNI
2018 HOLIDAY SHOW CAST ALUMNI
2019 HOLIDAY SHOW CAST ALUMNI
Leslie Lagerstrom’s motto has always been, “You gotta find the funny,” which proved to be especially helpful during the pandemic. Believing even the darkest days can be brightened by a laugh, she relies on humor to provide everyone around her with therapeutic chuckles. The last year offered plenty of material, including adopting Olive, a pandemic puppy who was supposed to only be 20 pounds, but now weighs in at 60. Part Rottweiler, Chow Chow, and Alabama-Surprise, you can always find Olive by her side as they enjoy Leslie’s favorite activity — a daily walk around Lake Harriet any time of the year.
In 2014 Leslie read, “The Dance” from the LTYM stage. In December 2018 she read, “The Magic In A Name” in the first alumni holiday show and in December 2019 she read, “The Pie Incident of 2005” in the second alumni holiday show.
MELISSA NIELSEN
2013 CAST ALUMNI
Melissa Nielsen has been busy finishing a masters degree, teaching elementary music and band, and directing the Lakeville South Color Guard. Melissa is passionate about using music and the arts to make great kids who become strong leaders. When she isn’t at school, Melissa actively avoids cooking and baking — except apple pies — opting instead to read, quilt, or do anything not involving the oven. Melissa, her husband, their four kids, a cat named Elsa, and a 90 pound Doberdane named Miles all enjoy eating apple pies together.
In 2013 Melissa read, “Sweet Caroline” from the LTYM stage.
KELLY O’SULLIVAN
2013 CAST ALUMNI
2019 HOLIDAY SHOW CAST ALUMNI
Kelly O’Sullivan is a modern day (and hopelessly flawed) feminist, parent, and partner. She was the author of the How I Learned to Wear a Dress blog where she opined about sexism, equality, parenting, and even politics and religion (yikes!). Kelly occasionally finds herself on local stages as an actor and singer. She remains notoriously incapable of using commas correctly, but will fight to the death for her right to use the Oxford comma. Kelly enjoys the outdoors in a “waiter, I’ll have my tea on the terrace” kind of way. She shares her home with her loving family and their cats who are sitting on her keyboard right now.
In 2013 Kelly read, “I Wanted a Gloria Steinem Barbie but I Got a Baby Alive Instead” from the LTYM stage and in 2019 she read, “If Mrs. Edelman Could See Me Now” in the second alumni holiday show.
SARAH PELINKA
2015 CAST ALUMNI
2019 HOLIDAY SHOW CAST ALUMNI
Sarah Pelinka is a collector of stories + wayward junk and mother of two spirited kids, Poppy and Holiday - they are her heart. Married to her high school sweetheart, she and Travis remain as tight as the Girbaud jeans that first caught his attention. Each day is a gift and Sarah surely lives by this. So much so, it remains the only gift she hasn’t yet tried to return without a receipt. While Sarah finds great joy in teaching science to middle schoolers, her passion for the arts is immense. She seeks and appreciates the meaning, beauty, and laughter within every situation.
In 2015 Sarah read, “The Science of Hope and Happenstance” from the LTYM stage and in 2019 she read, “Mission Accomplished” in the second alumni holiday show.
AMANDA ROSAS
2018 CAST ALUMNI
Amanda Rosas is a mother, runner, teacher, and poet. She draws beauty, strength, and creativity from the Latina women in her family and from her husband and three young daughters. Originally from San Antonio, Amanda works to preserve the memories of her Mexican-American ancestors. She teaches Spanish and Women’s Studies at Visitation School and has designed the Activism and Latino/a/x Identity courses for One Schoolhouse. As an educator, Amanda infuses social justice, storytelling, BIPOC history, and youth empowerment into her lessons. In her writing and teaching, Amanda emphasizes our human connections to one another, building unity for future generations.
In 2018 Amanda read, “Carta A Mi Abuela” from the LTYM stage.
SUSAN TRIEMERT
2017 CAST ALUMNI
Susan Triemert’s collection of essays, Guess What’s Different, was published in May of 2022 by Malarkey Books. She is an assistant non-fiction editor at Pithead Chapel. Nominated for Best of the Net, twice for a Pushcart (2017, 2022), and twice for Best Microfiction, her work was selected to appear in the 2022 Best Microfiction Anthology. She holds an MA in Education and an MFA from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. She now tutors and occasionally teaches. You can find her work at susantriemert.com.
In 2017 Susan read, “Matroyshka Dolls” from the LTYM stage.
LAURA ZIMMERMANN
2018 CAST ALUMNI
2018 HOLIDAY SHOW CAST ALUMNI
2019 HOLIDAY SHOW CAST ALUMNI
Laura Zimmermann is a writer, a reader, and a connoisseur of cookies. When there’s not a global pandemic, you might find her onstage at a story slam, in the bleachers at a softball game, or in the audience at a jazz concert. Her debut YA novel, My Eyes Are Up Here (Dutton, 2020) won a Minnesota Book Award and is available in five languages, even though she can only read one of them. She lives in Minneapolis with her family.
In 2018 Laura read, “Reading Lessons” from the LTYM stage. In December 2018 she read, “Hanukkah Fish” in the first alumni holiday show and in December 2019 she read, “Heritage Night” in the second alumni holiday show.
