Mom, How Did You Meet the Beatles?

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Ross Zentner

Marti Gobel in the Forward Theater production of "Mom, How Did You Meet the Beatles?"

In the mid-1960s, poet and playwright Adrienne Kennedy co-wrote a stage adaptation of two books written by John Lennon. Titled after the first, In His Own Write, the play premiered in London later that decade. Kennedy's memories of the time are also now a play, written in an interview-style format with her son, Adam Kennedy. Mom, How Did You Meet the Beatles? is making its regional premiere in a production by Forward Theater. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, plus 2 p.m. on Sept. 18 and 25.

9/9-26, Overture Center-Playhouse, at 7:30 pm Wednesdays-Saturdays and 2 pm Sundays, plus 2 pm, 9/18 & 25. $49-$34.

media release: By Adrienne Kennedy, Adam P. Kennedy.

September 9-26, 2021

Wisconsin Premiere

Directed by Baron Kelly; featuring Marti Gobel & Jamaica Gobel

It’s the Swinging ‘60s in London, and American playwright Adrienne Kennedy finds herself among the rich and ultra-famous when she’s hired to write a stage version of John Lennon’s new book. Told in an interview-style conversation between Kennedy and her son, this autobiographical play shares her sense of awed wonder as she tries to hold her artistic ground in a patriarchal world of show business luminaries.

 “Allows us effortless access into Adrienne’s memory, which has been painted with a loving faithfulness that makes London into newly explored territory... …the writing is impressively detailed and echoes with the same poetry of the prosaic that defines (her) best works.” - Talkin' Broadway

Also: Symposium series with dramaturg Khalid Long

- Streaming for free on forwardtheater.com, Facebook, and YouTube.

September 19 at 6:00pm: Topic: Adrienne Kennedy and Black Women Playwrights. Participants: Sandra Adell, La Donna Forsgren, and Nicole Hodges Persley

September 20 at 6:00pm: Topic: Popular Culture and the 1960s. Participants: Donald Gagnon and Christen Mandracchia

September 21 at 5:00pm: Topic: Writing Ourselves into History: Black Women and Autobiographical Writing. Participants: Omiyemi Green and Joanne Braxton

Sponsored by: Custer Financial Services, SVA, Cap Times Idea Fest  

2021-22 Season Sponsors: Madison Community Foundation, Evjue Foundation, Wisconsin Arts Board - with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts, The Madison Concourse Hotel, Distillery Design, Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin  

Sept. 2 update: We are excited to welcome audiences back to in-person performances at Overture Center, and we take the safety of our artists and audiences very seriously. We're grateful to operate in a county that supports and adheres to health and safety mandates, including the current Dane County mask mandate.

NOTE: In consultation with Dane County Public Health, and in accordance with exemption (1.b.ii) of the current mask mandate, the two actors in the production will not be wearing masks while performing on stage, to provide accessibility to our patrons that experience hearing issues.

If you are a current ticket holder or considering purchasing an in-person ticket, here is some important and helpful information regarding what to expect.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT OVERTURE:

- In alignment with Overture Center's policy, proof of vaccination is required to enter the building. For those unable to be vaccinated, proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test up to 72 hours prior to the performance will be accepted. Masks are required at all times.

- Please visit Overture's Safety Policy for full details on what is required to enter, and what to expect when you arrive at the building.

IN THE PLAYHOUSE: 

- As mentioned above, the two actors in the production will not be wearing masks while performing on stage, to provide accessibility to our patrons that experience hearing issues. However, masks are required for all other attendees at all times.

- Social distancing will not be applied to seating. Patrons will be seated according to their ticketed location.

- The bar will be closed for all performances. 

More comfortable viewing at home? Beatles will be filmed and available for digital on-demand viewing beginning on September 15th. Patrons may purchase virtual tickets now.

Still on the fence? Patrons with in-person tickets may choose to view the digital option instead at any time during the run of the show! Just contact the Overture Center Box Office at (608) 258-4141, and you can exchange your ticket to the digital option.