My Mother Had Two Faces had its world premiere at the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles on December 10th. Written and performed by Karin Trachtenberg, this autobiographical one-woman dramatic comedy dares to expose what lies beneath the mask of the perfect mother. Discovering her mother’s diaries after her passing, 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.

The story follows her mother’s exodus from her homeland to pursue stardom, and how her fixation with beauty and outward appearances influenced Karin’s sense of worth. Engaged in dialogue with her mirrored reflection, Karin wrestles with her own inner demons. What does the mirror uncover when we strip away the makeup?

Presented in a pseudo-fairytale style, utilizing multimedia and theatrical masks, My Mother Had Two Faces tips the Disney delusion on its head. Karin explains “In embodying my mother, an image of the Good Mother/Bad Mother emerged. Introducing theatrical masks is a powerful dramatization of those roles.” Karin commissioned fellow Clark U alumni, the award-winning artist Eric Bornstein of Behind the Mask Studio, to create the “two faces” of her mother. His stunningly eerie masks personify the Good Mother/Wicked Stepmother archetype. In working on this piece, Eric states “I couldn’t be more thrilled with the project and to be working with Karin, my old classmate. It’s just so satisfying to know someone at the beginning of their road as a professional artist and to see them still on that road decades later.”

Karin Trachtenberg, a classically trained actress, has appeared in professional theaters throughout New England and beyond performing major roles in Greek Drama and Shakespeare productions, most notably playing the titular role in Euripides’ Phaedra at the Hydrama Theater in Greece. Film/tv and commercial credits include Showtime, NBC, and numerous independent films. As an actor, director and producer, Karin has championed countless new plays from staged readings to full productions. She is focused on creating opportunities for women-centered storytelling which fosters healthy dialogue about difficult issues.

Doors at 1:30 PM
Show at 2:00 PM

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO LATE SEATING. Seating begins 30 minutes before show time. We sit center and front sections first, side sections last. If you want a central seat, please arrive early. 

Show will begin no later than 10 minutes of showtime.