Moms in the Theatre EP 18

In today’s episode of Parents at Work, Tom Spiggle and co-host, Lori Mihalich-Levin, introduce us to two moms in the performing arts, Rachel Spencer Hewitt and Roberta Pereira.

Rachel details her personal challenges as a working mom and the logistics of trying to find acting work while juggling new motherhood. Roberta addresses common practices in the theatre industry that previously haven’t been questioned. Join us as they share insight, tips, and resources for theatre moms, on today’s Parents at Work Podcast.

Rachel Spencer Hewitt received her MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama. Her credits include Broadway, off-Broadway and regional theatre. She is mom of 2 children, a 4 year old and a 2 year old, the Founder and Executive Director of The National Organization for Individual Caregivers in Institutional Support, and the Founder of the Parent-Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) for the performing arts.

Roberta Pereira is a Tony-nominated, Olivier-award winning theatre producer. She’s currently the producing director of “The Playwrights Realm”, an off-Broadway theatre company committed to amplifying the voices of emerging playwrights. She’s the solo mom of 20-month old Bianca.

Show Highlights:

Scheduled craziness and chaos of hours
The need for invisible labor, contingency plans, creative problem-solver
Saying yes to opportunities that may have a 24-hour notice and then prioritizing that opportunity over everything, no matter how healthy (or unhealthy) that decision is for everyone
Reaching out and receiving help from family
Broadway Babysitters based in NYC, composed primarily of artists who are used to long hours and understand industry norms
Urban Sitter, an online database that will show locations for caregivers while traveling
Washington D.C. just passed a paid-leave law
FMLA applies to some people, but doesn’t require paid leave
Celebrating the individual and saying yes to everything that they are
Hostile work culture can break an individual, because of their needs outside of the industry
Prioritizing the health and independence of the individual Rachel and Roberta’s goal is to make the industry better for everyone
When you’re home, be focused on home
The Radical Parent Inclusion (RPI) project - providing childcare at auditions
Sometimes not being able to afford being seen is the reason people don’t get the job, and not because they are not capable or don’t want to work.
Changing rehearsal dates to coincide with a child’s holiday from school, so that it becomes a day off for both the parent and the child
The idea of the “disposable artist”: you work until you’re burned out. Once you burn out, you’re replaceable. If we care about longevity, we need to care about practices that are sustainable.
Caring about inclusion through the lens of parenting
What lessons can we learn that are transferable?
Hiring parents can be an asset
Providing a child-care matinee, where children do activities while parents watch a play
Being an agent of change within the industry and leading by example
Find community! Don’t underestimate the value of resource-sharing.