Mother of Monsters

“May we always remain soft in defiance of all that is harsh and uncaring!” - Elizabeth, Mother of Monsters

Created by Elaine Elizabeth Clifford

Co - Writers/ Directors: Elaine Elizabeth Clifford & Shelly Verden

Note from the Writers/ Directors

Everyone’s heard of Frankenstein. They may confuse the character of Victor Frankenstein with the Creature itself, but they’ve heard the name nonetheless. They know the work. At 19 years old, despite many hardships in a difficult world, Mary Shelley not only created an iconic story that would resonate for years to come, she invented a genre that 200 years later would remain many people’s genre of choice - science fiction.

What is not often discussed is the juxtaposition between her tragic damsel-in-distress, Elizabeth Lavenza, and Mary’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, who would come to be known as the mother of modern feminism. Wollstonecraft’s political essay “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” was among the first codified arguments for women’s equal rights to education and personal freedom. In preparing to write “Mother of Monsters”, we found it very interesting that Wollstonecraft’s daughter, upon receiving a perhaps controversial education, would go on to write a damsel-in-distress character AT ALL.

In today’s world, when women’s rights are still a consistent subject of debate and division, we sought to find the common ground between Mary Shelley - an educated and passionate forward thinker - and Elizabeth Lavenza - an affectionate and defenseless lover of Mary’s own creation. These two characters experience very different lives and backgrounds that surely form their ambitions and opinions of one another. In our divisive world filled with trauma, both acknowledged and neglected, is there a way to heal ourselves through forgiveness - not only forgiving each other, but ourselves? Is it possible to face the ugliness of life with love and compassion?

Stage Manager: Makenzie Hinrichs

Assistant Stage Manager: Katee Belle Imlay

Movement Choreographer: Vanessa Severo

Sound Design: Jeff Eubank

Lighting Design: Kimberly Ransdell

Costume & Props Design: Elaine Elizabeth Clifford

Front of House/ Box Office: Courtney Perry

Photographer: Ashley Jones Rivers

Producing Artistic Director: Korey Childs

DESIGNERS AND STAFF

Makenzie Hinrichs

Makenzie is a stage manager who has been making her way into the KC scene over the last couple years via her friends’ various passion projects. She’s so honored and proud to be supporting her bestie, Elaine, in another one of her productions, and has enjoyed meeting and working with such a talented group of artists in the process. Recent shows include: Ope! A Play & Cabaret (a musicbyskippy production); Brighter Days Ahead (Summit Theatre); Spindle Bound and At The Altar Of Diana (Clifford/Bice productions); The Grapes of Wrath (a Fortney/Clifford production).

Katee Belle Imlay

Katee Belle Imlay is unable to properly express her joy on working on this show (Mary Shelley and Elaine Clifford are her heroes, so this is a dream come true). Previous stage management credits include The Disappointments, The Head of Medusa (Kansas City Public Theatre), Tartuffe, The Trojan Women (Benedictine College), Hippolytus (International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama), Cinderella (Theatre Atchison), and Julius Caesar (HASF, production asst.). She graduated from Benedictine College with degrees in English and Theatre. Outside of stage management, she is a playwright, dramaturg, and librarian. 

Vanessa Severo

Vanessa Severo has studied at Missouri State University, as well as The American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco. Vanessa is the recipient of the TCG 11th Round of the Fox Foundation resident Actor Fellowships, 2017, as well as the Carlsbad, CA Artist in Residency, 2022, as well as the winner of Dramatist Guild Grant 2022. She is certified in Suzuki Method, and Viewpoints under the instruction of Ellen Lauren, SITI company. She is the playwright and actor of Frida...A Self Portrait (2020 Kilroys List). Other original works include; Dracula (World Premiere at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 2024)-Playwright/ Movement Director, Rubik (World Premiere, Spinning Tree Theatre, 2024)-Playwright/ Movement Director. VanessaSevero.com

Jeff Eubank

Jeff Eubank has been designing sound for over 20 years in Kansas City for theater companies as varied as The Arts Asylum,  Spinning Tree Theater, The Black Repertory Theater of Kansas City, The American Heartland Theater, The Black Box, White Theater at JCC, Just Off Broadway, Off Center Theatre,  Egads! Theatre Company (Resident Sound Designer) and many others with over 40 plays and musicals to his credit.  He recently returned from designing an "Off Broadway" show in NYC.

Kimberly Ransdell

Kimberly is a theatre professional based out of the Kansas City area. She has worked with Carnival Cruise Line: Entertainment, worked on various light and sound design projects, and most recently light designed Cyclopedic Ensemble's production of Dracula: a Comedy of Terrors at the Arts Asylum. As always, all the thanks to Cody Jones for the love and support.  I can't wait for this show to come to life!

SPECIAL THANKS

The Arts Asylum

A to Z Theatrical Staff

Korey Childs & Courtney Perry

Arts KC

Ashley Jones Rivers

Rusty Sneary