Notes from the founders

CARRIE:

When I finally learned I was in perimenopause after months of debilitating and confusing symptoms, I felt a deep need to share what I learned with as many women as possible. I wanted every woman to be empowered and educated to advocate for her own health. This desire gave birth to The Menopause Monologues, and with the support of my incredible friends, Lisa and Lulu, we turned a wild idea into a reality. We launched a website, invited women to submit their stories, and were quickly (and happily!) overwhelmed by the response. Since February 2024, we’ve been meeting weekly to curate and edit submissions, making room for diverse forms of storytelling—poems, art, dance, spoken word, and more. Our shows in the Bay Area and LA are just the beginning; we plan to take it nationwide, inviting local contributors at each stop. The voices of our Wise Women are the heart of our mission: to break the silence around menopause and liberate future generations from harmful taboos and stigmas. It has been thrilling to witness the talent of our community, thank you to everyone who submitted material. I am deeply grateful to the magical creative collaboration amongst Lisa, Lulu, and myself. Working with them has been utter joy. Heartfelt thanks to my husband and life-improv partner, Matt, who has been yes-anding me since 2003. I’d like to thank my mom, Jean Fredericks, for always being positive and encouraging, no matter what chaotic things I’m currently up to. I love you, mom.

LISA:

Carrie reached out to me with the idea about putting on a show called The Menopause Monologues and creating a space for women to tell their menopause stories. I think I said yes before she finished her first sentence. This is all that my friends and I had been talking about! We had questions and concerns and were yearning for relief and enlightenment since we all had mothers who never even mentioned their menopause experiences. As a theater student at Cal Arts in the 90s, I was enamored with theater companies like Bread & Puppet, The Living Theatre and L.A.’s Cornerstone Theater Company. The Menopause Monologues aims to be like these historic companies as we put out a call to gather our material from our community, and the communities in which we perform. We have first time writers who are performing for you onstage for the first time ever mixed with seasoned theater professionals. Our hope is to bring The Menopause Monologues to many cities, promoting a cooperative and communal expression from women in the cities that we visit. Therefore making this not just a show, but a movement to give women the space and creative platform to tell their stories. Thanks to my husband, Mark, for knowing before I did how meaningful this whole endeavor would be.

LULU:

Working on this show has been absolutely delightful. Our ideas grew on long walks in the hills discussing our symptoms, marveling at the value found in sharing, and deciding to share our stories more broadly. The most compelling lesson I have learned is, like most things in life, there is no one "right" way to navigate the wide range of menopause symptoms, as every individual's experience is unique. The stories you'll hear tonight are the authentic, lived experiences of our contributors. Each one reflects personal truths and diverse perspectives on how they’ve faced and managed the physical, emotional, and mental challenges of menopause. We encourage everyone to honor their own journey and explore what feels best for their body. and... do push back if you are told you are “just tired, just depressed, just aging, or just going through menopause!” - though we are having fun putting on a show, this menopause thing “just ain’t no joke.” Thanks to you all for being brave - either by submitting pieces, acting, or just coming to the show.