Mom, How Did You Meet The Beatles?

Regional Premiere

Mom, How Did You Meet The Beatles?

September 9 - 26, 2021

WRITTEN BY Adrienne Kennedy & Adam P. Kennedy

DIRECTED BY Baron Kelly

“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

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.

Overture Center for the Arts

201 State St,
Madison, WI 53703

Sponsored By:

Custer Financial Services

SVA

Cap Times Idea Fest

About the show

Runtime:
N/A

Performance Dates:
September 9 – 26, 2021

Age Recommendations:
N/A

Accessibility

We strive to make our performances available to the entire community. This guiding principle captures the theater we aim to be.

We’re proud to be a resident company at Overture Center, which provides practical accessibility for a variety of needs.

Visit accessibility page >

LEARN MORE

SYMPOSIUM SERIES WITH DRAMATURG KHALID Y. LONG

Forward Theater is excited to host three unique symposiums with Dramaturg Khalid Y. Long, each one offering a deeper dive into Adrienne Kennedy’s work, the 1960’s, and the impact of Black women playwrights. Each discussion will be held virtually and is free to the public.

How to watch:

Watch using the viewer below, or join us on the Forward Theater Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Pro tip: if the viewer below does not begin broadcasting at the appropriate time, refresh this web page and click “play” again.

Discussion 1: Adrienne Kennedy and Black Women Playwrights
Participants: Sandra Adell, La Donna Forsgren, and Nicole Hodges Persley
Moderator: Khalid Y. Long, production dramaturg
Recorded on September 19th, 2021 – WATCH NOW

Discussion 2: Popular Culture and the 1960s
Participants: Donald Gagnon and Christen Mandracchia
(No formal moderator: Christen will pose questions and engage in dialogue with Donald)
Recorded on September 20th, 2021 – WATCH NOW

Discussion #3: Writing Ourselves into History: Black Women and Autobiographical Writing
Participants: Omiyemi Green and Joanne Braxton
Moderator: Khalid Y. Long, production dramaturg
September 21, 2021 | 5:00pm CST

ONE-ON-ONE WITH PLAYWRIGHT ADAM P. KENNEDY | WITH DRAMATURG KHALID Y. LONG

Cast

Marti Gobel

Adrienne

Jamaica Gobel

Adam

Samra Teferra

Adrienne Understudy

Walker Stephenson

Adam Understudy

Creative Team

Kevin Gawley

Scenic Designer

Kevin Gawley

Lighting Designer and Art Director

Jason Orlenko

Costume Designer

Christie Chiles Twillie

Sound Designer and Composer

Pam Miles

Props Designer

Khalid Y. Long

Dramaturg

Sarah Deming-Henes

Stage Manager

Abbi Hess

Stage Manager

Kevin Zimmer

Technical Director

Forward Theater’s “Mom, How Did You Meet the Beatles?” is intimate and riveting
– By Ayomi Wolff | Madison365

John, Paul, George and me: Forward Theater’s ‘Meet The Beatles?’ tells true story with verve and honesty
– By Rob Thomas | Madison.com/The Cap Times

In Search of Fame and Fortune: Adrienne Kennedy and Adam Kennedy’s “Mom, How Did You Meet the Beatles?
– By Dramaturg Khalid Y. Long, Ph.D. | Madison365

PRESHOW LECTURE W/ ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE KAREN MOELLER Our preshow lectures are presented live on Thursdays (6:30pm) and Sundays (1:00pm) in the Playhouse lobby. You can also view a video of the lecture below, and dive deeper into the themes, history, and creation of our production.

Regional Premiere