A HISTORY
"Say farewell to shame-filled whispers about menopause! In her extraordinary
Menopause Mama, Rose Weaver uses her beautiful voice and dramatic flair to help us understand, appreciate, and laugh at the change of life." -- Barbara Flinker Ruttenberg , Special Education Mediator, Women's Prison Mentor
The idea for Menopause Mama was conceived when Rose Weaver was at Brown University in 1999 working on her MFA in creative writing (the degree was her 50th birthday present to herself). At the time she had just begun to experience memory loss and confusion. Being a writer, her response was to compose lyrics and prose and, later, monologues to express what she was feeling, not knowing right away that she was going through menopause. Once she understood what was happening and encouraged by Kathy Jellison and Patricia Birkes, Rose began to focus solely on her menopause stories and those of other women.
By the end of 2000 she had gathered and dramatized enough menopause stories to perform her work in public. The audience greeted Weaver's frank and often humorous forays into the underbelly of menopause with enthusiasm and affection. They were clearly hungry for an artistic representation that honestly depicted what they were feeling and welcomed the opportunity to talk about their experiences in the Q&A's Weaver hosted after her performances.
o They appreciated the information Weaver imparted in her monologues
o They grew teary when she poignantly reflected their struggle
o They roared when she found the humor in menopause
In 2001 and through the spring of 2002 Weaver continued to develop the Menopause Mama script and performed it at a number of locations in Providence, RI. During this time, it became apparent that Menopause Mama had several discreet audiences. In addition to those seeking entertainment and catharsis through the theatrical production, some women wanted medical facts 
and answers to their healthcare concerns about menopause. For this constituency, Weaver teamed up with a panel of healthcare experts to put a human face on menopause prior to an informational discussion about the subject.
In the summer of 2002 Weaver began working on the show with director Bob Jaffe, who recently completed a successful run of his off-Broadway show, ...and then you go on, about Samuel Beckett. She also began working with Jill Jaffe as co-producer. Thanks to their comittment to Rose and a collective goal to create a memorable theatrical experience, the show is now enjoying sold out houses and increasing demand for performances.
Menopause Mama is:
o A solo performance by Rose Weaver.
o A lecture with several monologues tailored for your time frame.
o An 80 minute theatrical version with full set and lights for an extended run.
o Available as a 50 or 80 minute performance for conventions, conferences, retreats, or colleges using simple production elements.