We had the good fortune of connecting with Lindsay Kavet and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lindsay, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Expressing Motherhood was founded in 2008 between myself and Jessica Cribbs. I was a stay at home mom at the time and desperately wanted to be a part of the creative world. I have always been passionate about female stories and once I became a mom, my interest then become honed in on mothers and their stories. I thought I needed to make this show work for me, being a SAHM with no help. The idea to have people share their stories about motherhood on stage was born! Within a year the show was performing Off-Off Broadway for a sold out small run. Everything I did was honed in on making the experience for the performer and audience member, mostly moms, enjoyable. Down to the fact that I start the shows much earlier than traditional shows, we moms get tired early.

Expressing Motherhood was found in 2008, I was a stay at home mom at the time and desperately wanted to be a part of the creative world. I have always been passionate about female stories and once I became a mom, my interest then become honed in on mothers and their stories. I thought I needed to make this show work for me, being a SAHM with no help. The idea to have people share their stories about motherhood on stage was born! Within a year the show was performing Off-Off Broadway for a sold out small run. Everything I did was honed in on making the experience for the performer and audience member, mostly moms, enjoyable. Down to the fact that I start the shows much earlier than traditional shows, we moms get tired early.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am very proud of the fact that Expressing Motherhood is a pioneer show in that it has been showcasing stories about motherhood, mainly from the female perspective, for 12 years. There was such a lack of stories about mothers being told, the stories that were being told were often one dimensional. The show has given hundreds of being a stage to share their story. Often books and one woman shows come from the show. I worked on the show every time my oldest napped, it’s a cliche but true. I worked on it daily. I plowed ahead and just booked theaters without knowing what I was getting myself into. There was a huge learning curve. When I started I was younger and looked it, the theatre scene is quite male dominated so I dealt with a lot of masochistic behavior. Now, that I’m a seasoned, 43 year-old, it’s nice to roll in as the “mom” who packs the theatre. I always tell the theatre staff to get ready, the audience comes thirsty. Everything about the show has a lot of heart and thought behind it. My old neighbor and friends, Marcel Langenegger, hand wrote the Expressing Motherhood logo. His wife, Nete Oernsholt, would do my graphic design, in exchange for watching her daughter. It really has a small community of neighbors and friends behind it, from Hollywood, sort of the story you’d hear from a smaller town back in the MidWest.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I always say less is best here, pick one thing a day. I love taking people on hikes here. La Canada has gorgeous hikes and of course it’s fun to hike up to the Observatory. I swear by Joan’s on Third for sighting a celebrity. I also, just love cooking food for them out on the porch and taking in the SoCal weather. Descanso Gardens around Christmas, with the light installation, impressed even my kermudgity father in law from Boston!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m grateful to everyone who has ever shared a story on stage. This show has always been a family and friend affair. Thank you to my co-founder Jessica Cribbs, my in-laws for flying out from Boston in the shows infancy to help out, thank you to my mom and husband, Gary Gray of Tech Haven and my wonderful Lighting/Tech woman Caitlyn Rucker.

Website: www.expressingmotherhood.com
Instagram: expressing motherhood
Twitter: exmoshow
Facebook: expressing motherhood
Youtube: ExpressingMotherhood

Image Credits
Jeremy Jackson L.A. Momma Rachel Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.