My Mother Had Two Faces: Reflections on Beauty, Aging, and Acceptance

 
My Mother Had Two Faces

An autobiographical one-woman dramatic comedy that dares to expose what lies beneath the mask of the perfect mother. Discovering her mother’s diaries after her death, Karin, the heroine, begins to examine the history of their complicated relationship from the gritty, urban streets of New York, to her Swiss mother’s manicured orderliness and fixation with beauty and outward appearances.

Presented in pseudo-fairytale style employing multimedia and theatrical masks, Karin embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Engaged in dialogue with her mirrored reflection, she wrestles with her own inner demons putting her Buddhist beliefs to the test.  What does the mirror uncover when the makeup is stripped away? Can Karin find closure and comfort in loving her mother’s vulnerabilities, strengths, and imperfections, or is that really what she’s seeking for herself?

Critics from Hollywood to Boston to Off-Broadway in New York City praised Ms. Trachtenberg’s performance as “riveting and poetic”, “nuanced and moving” and “an eye-opening journey”.

“Just as a mirror is indispensable for putting your face and hair in order, you need a mirror that reveals the depths of your life.”
— Daisaku Ikeda
 

WHAT'S NEXT?

Following a triumphant US multi-city tour, My Mother Had Two Faces heads across the pond to Edinburgh Fringe, the world's largest festival of arts and culture. Karin will be appearing at the Gilded Balloon, one of the festival's top venues.

Catch Karin’s Last Performance in the US before she heads to Edinburgh, Scotland!

What Critics Are Saying

Testimonials

“Karin’s performance, using mirrors, humor and dark Disney-esque stylings and mixed media was absolutely riveting.”
– Samantha Simmonds-Ronceros (NoHo Arts)

“...offers a beautiful example of Buddhist faith in action. …  Trachtenberg weaves between monologuing her inner life to the audience and living in flashes of the past, and the use of masks offers a dynamic transition through these opposing narrative styles.”
- All About Solo

“Engaging, bare, honest, and sincere…an eye opening journey accompanied only by the wise, sensible, and logical musings of the woman in the mirror exploring her most wonderful and toughest experiences.”
- The Sleepless Critic 

“Four and a Half Stars. A quiet, fun, frightening and beautiful performance…a complicated and universal story all can relate to.” 
- Front Row Center: New York Theatre

“Wonderfully constructed and beautifully executed, Trachtenberg is an incredible actress who played both parts, hers and her mothers, to perfection…not a line, movement or motion on stage was wasted”
- NiteLife Exchange: Where Broadway and Cabaret Meet

Rave Reviews

 

The Story Behind the Masks

Watch the Trailer

 
 
 

PRESS RELEASE & IMAGES

 
 
 
 

What Audiences are Saying

 
Audience Quotes

“I believe that many members of the audience have similar unresolved issues with their mother. You shined a light on the pathway to resolution…good theater should entertain, educate, and enlighten. That 3rd criteria is rarely seen, but you achieved all three.”
— ROY O.

“It was so deeply emotional. It brings out every individuals’ own memories in tiny flashes while still sitting on pins and needles waiting for what happened next…But I’m a man and just push that shit down.”
— STEPHEN M.

“I loved this show! Karin, you brought us on a wild ride of emotions and learning.”
— NICKY L.

“Everyone needs to see this performance, which was ultimately about forgiveness. A beautiful, beautiful love letter to her Mom”

— RUTH B.

 

The Team Behind My Mother Had Two Faces

Karin Trachtenberg

Writer & Performer

Karin was born and raised on the island of Manhattan and has dual US-Swiss citizenship.  She lives in Boston and has appeared in professional theatres throughout the U.S. and Europe performing major roles in Greek Drama and Shakespeare productions. Her film/tv and commercial credits include Showtime, NBC, and numerous industrials, web series and independent films. As an actor, director and producer, Karin has championed countless new plays from staged readings to full productions. She is particularly interested in creating more opportunities for women-centered storytelling which fosters healthy dialogue about difficult issues. This led her to make her film directorial debut, garnering awards throughout the film festival circuit.

Karin traveled to Greece for an experience of a lifetime performing the titular role in Euripides’ Phaedra at the Hydrama Theatre and Arts Center. It was there that she was determined to write her own one-woman show. Her first foray into writing, She found her way to the Soaring Solo community under the tutelage of Jessica Lynn Johnson.

Jessica Lynn Johnson

Director & Developer

Jessica is a published playwright, recipient of BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST AWARD, Advisory Board Member of the LA Women's Theatre Festival, Co-Executive Producer of both the Stars Solo Series and the Joshua Tree Solo Theatre Festival, and Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo Studios International. Jessica has aided in the development, direction and producing of over 150 solo shows (and still going strong)! As a performer, Jessica has “edutained” international audiences touring her own one person shows ZE and OBLIVIOUS TO EVERYONE for over 15 years.

Jessica's projects have taken home awards such as TOP OF FRINGE, HFF ENCORE PRODUCER AWARDS, TVOLUTION BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE, LARRY CORNWALL AWARD FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE & several other accolades! Jessica was also nominated for the Female Director of Distinction in Theatre by Girl Trip LLC at the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Jessica is so honored to collaborate with Karin on this impactful solo show! For more information please visit: www.SoaringSoloStudios.com

Eric Bornstein

Mask Maker

Award-winning artist Eric Bornstein of Behind the Mask Studio/Theatre studied mask making with masters Agung Suardana in Bali, and Donato Sartori in Italy. He received his MLA in Fine Arts (Art History) along with the Thomas Small prize from Harvard University. Eric was awarded a Fulbright award to revive and reinvigorate the art of giant puppet effigies in Jamaica 2017.  Over the last 30 years Eric’s masked characters have been the subject of numerous media features. Local and national media have described Eric as “Boston’s preeminent mask maker…a man of many talents,” and his masks as “phantasmagoric, magnificent, stunning, finely crafted, first-rate, eerie/enchanting, masterful, outstanding, and gorgeous.”

Behind the mask creations were a highlight of Boston’s First Night celebration for 15 years, as well as productions of Boston and Ft Wayne Ballets’ Nutcracker, Sugarloaf Ballet’s Beauty and the Beast, and Boston Lyric Opera’s Madame Butterfly. His masks have also appeared at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Fuller Craft Museum, the Kennedy Library/Museum, the Society of Arts & Crafts (Newbury Street), and The Peabody/Essex Museum. 

For more information please visit www.behindthemask.org or https://www.facebook.com/behindthemask1

Bobby Raps

Composer & Sound design

Bobby Raps is a Film and Video Game composer born and based in Boston, MA. He specializes in composition with virtual instruments, sound design, electric and classical guitar, and implementation of interactive music in video games. At the age of 15, he found his passion for music taking electric guitar lessons, and soon he was performing covers and original songs at local venues. He graduated Cum Laude from Berklee College of music where he studied with professors Duncan Watt, David Tronzo, Claudio Ragazzi, and Sheldon Mirowitz. Bobby is always searching for a unique emotional texture to bring out through his music, while also doing justice to the tender humanity that lies beneath all art. No matter the material, whether it be war, romance, victory or tragedy, Bobby is determined to find the common thread that connects all subjects and all people.

For more info visit: https://www.bobbyrapsmusic.com/