MatraSpeak
About the Play
MatraSpeak is a verbatim documentary play that amplifies the voices of working mothers, bringing their real stories to life on stage. Built from 150 surveys, three focus groups, and 40 in-depth interviews with New York mothers, the play reveals how women speak about success, ambition, identity, and career.
Through a feminist lens, these voices are woven into a powerful performance that challenges stereotypes, disrupts expectations, and reframes how we understand motherhood today. Performed by award-winning Broadway actors, educators, and theatre makers, MatraSpeak merges research with artistry to illuminate the everyday experiences of mothers—and the strength, humor, and truth behind their stories.
Transform Workplace Culture Through
Story
MatraSpeak brings the voices of working mothers to the stage—highlighting the intersection of ambition and motherhood while sparking awareness, empathy, and honest dialogue in the workplace. In a moment when record numbers of women are leaving the workforce, MatraSpeak offers more than a performance; it’s an invitation to build a more supportive, understanding, and inclusive work environment.
After experiencing the play, mothers report feeling seen, validated, and newly empowered to embrace their choices with confidence and compassion. Colleagues and leaders walk away with a deeper appreciation of the unseen challenges women navigate every day—and the insight needed to create a more compassionate, equitable workplace culture.
About the Researcher
With nearly 20 years of experience in the arts, Dr. Lauren Gorelov is an artist-researcher specializing in verbatim performance and its intersections with identity, motherhood, and lived experience. As a passionate educator, Lauren serves as a student teaching supervisor and an adjunct professor at NYU, where she mentors emerging drama educators and leads workshops on culturally responsive approaches to drama in education. Through both artistic practice and pedagogy, Lauren is committed to fostering inclusive, reflective spaces for dialogue in the arts and education.
Dr. Lauren Gorelov
“MatraSpeak is not just a script. It is a portrait in progress—of mothers, of self, of survival, agency, and community. And it is a reminder that the most powerful work often begins from within."
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
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