Fort Greene Woman Featured in Mother's Day Reading Series

A Fort Greene-based actor will be adding her own perspective to a popular reading series this Mother's Day, May 12, to celebrate motherhood and parenting in her own unique way. 

Elizabeth "Kizz" Robinson will take to the stage at 5 p.m. on Sunday at Peter Norton Symphony Space on the Upper West Side as part of the Listen To Your Mother Reading Series, a national annual event that features an area's local writers and performers who share personal essays in front of live audiences, making for a unique way to celebrate Mother’s Day. 

The performance "gives Mother's Day a microphone," Robinson said, and includes a cast ready to relate moving, socially relevant and humorous stories about a range of modern mothering experiences. 

"What was interesting to me was the different styles [of readings]," Robinson said, who brings to the mix a unique take on the day traditionally meant for those with children of their own. 

 "I'm not a mom, so I'm one of the exceptions," she said. "I have a lot of kids who aren't 'mine,' who are part of my life. The idea of having an adult in your life who shapes your life is important, and there's something different about having someone guide your life who didn't have to like you."

In addition to having two supportive and loving parents, Robinson said she grew up with such an influence, and knowing that an adult who wasn't related to her cared made all the difference. 

"I'm going to be reading something about her, but really [it's] about me about what it feels like when you don't have children," she said. 

Not having children can lead to some less-than desirable conversations with people, she said. 

"I'm 44 years old, and people still say 'well that's ok, there's still time,' or, 'that's too bad.' And you get a certain amount of sympathy," Robinson said. "People tell you you're too picky, that if you were less picky, if you didn't care how it was going to turn out [it would be better], and that amazes me. You should be picky about it, because it would suck for everybody [involved] if you weren't."

So Robinson's essay will address those situations, she said. "I'm one of the people [in the series] who remind you that Mother's Day is actually for everybody," she said.

The New York cast also features a preschool teacher, day camp director, novelist, writers, additional actors and a playwright. The NYC production will be donating 10 percent of proceeds to the non-profit national hunger relief organization Family-to-Family and their Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. 

"There are still people not back in their homes, still people not recovered from it," Robinson said. "The importance of backing this charity this year, like so many other big events, it's really important to remind people that it's still going on." 

The Listen To Your Mother Reading Series NYC Show will take place this Sunday at 5 p.m. at Peter Norton Symphony Space, located at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, and can be purchased in advance online at the series' website here.