Parity Productions: MY MOTHER THE SUN: A Staged Reading

by Paloma Monfiletto

Parity Productions is thrilled to announce our  FREE public staged reading of  2024 Parity Development Award Winner Paloma Monfiletto's  MY MOTHER THE SUN Directed by Parity Productions Artistic Director Ludovica Villar-Hauser When her mother goes missing in the desert between the US/Mexico border, Solana must journey out with a group of activists to bring her back. As her past begins to haunt her, Solana must overcome a lifetime of hurt and suspicion to undertake an extraordinary transformation in the hopes of keeping her family together. My Mother the Sun is a meditation on the way borders arrest grief, the transformative power of empathy, and the need for unconditional hospitality in the face of institutional cruelty. 🗓️ Friday Sept 26, 7 PM ET & Saturday Sept 27, 2 PM ET 📍New Perspectives Theatre Company 456 W 37TH ST Between 9th & 10th Ave (much closer to 10th)  Reserve Your Free Spot for MY MOTHER THE SUN The Rise Summit is fast approaching! Here is more information on the spectacular panelists for Access in Theory to Access in Practice, developed by Expand the Canon and Parity Productions! Lee Bynum (they/them) - Moderator - co-hosts the New York Times-recommended podcast, The Score, which considers theatre, music, film, and television from a queer Black perspective.  As a librettist, composer, and dramaturg, Lee has co-created works for Lincoln Center, Opera North (UK), Minnesota Opera, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, and American Opera Projects.  Their leadership in equity and education has resulted in more equitable commissioning practices, degendered pedagogies in music education, and increased investment in artist-driven digital technologies.  In 2025, they were named the first executive director of Maestra Music. Emily Lyon (she/her) - Panel Co-Host and Speaker - is a director & artistic director that carves out the humor and authenticity in new and classic texts. As Artistic Director, she leads Expand the Canon – a call to action to include a global intersection of historic women writers in the canon of classics. As a director, Emily has directed 10 world premieres, many classic plays, and worked with The Folger, The Brick, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, The Old Globe, Royal Shakespeare Company, University of Michigan, and more. Her productions have won Best Direction and Best Production (sheNYC), Best Ensemble (MITF), and Best Premiere (UnitedSolo). Barbara Whitman Award Finalist, Drama League Directing Fellow, SDC Associate. EmilyALyon.com, ExpandTheCanon.com  Maria Porto (she/her) - Special Guest Panelist - is an Disabled engineer, software developer, and founder of ACCESS Broadway NY, an organization built to ensure Disabled creatives lead the initiatives that directly shape their communities. She developed Act One Access, a pioneering accessibility platform implemented on the national tour of Into the Woods, expanding inclusion for both audiences and performers across the country. As the Disability Inclusion Consultant for UNICEF, Maria advises on global strategies that promote equitable access. Her theater industry collaborations include working with The Broadway League on Curtain Up in Times Square, coordinating Kimberly Akimbo's inaugural ASL-interpreted performance, and providing ASL interpretation for The Book of Mormon. Through her engineering expertise, Maria bridges technology and the arts, championing the belief that accessibility is not an add-on but a driver of creativity and innovation. Her work continues to transform stages, communities, and the broader cultural landscape toward a more inclusive future. Ludovica Villar-Hauser (she/her) - Panel Co-Host and Speaker - is the Founder and Artistic Director of Parity Productions, where she directs full productions and readings/workshops yearly. Other directing (selected): Final Analysis (Signature Theatre); The Countess (Lamb's Theatre); As It Is in Heaven (The Cherry Lane); This Will All Be Yours (The Barrow Group Theatre); Long Day's Journey Into Night on London's West End. Ludovica was one of the few women to own and operate her own theatre in NYC, The Greenwich Street Theatre, which she did for 17 years. Ludovica served on the Board of the League of Professional Theatre Women from 2009-2018, is the Producer of the Oral History Project, and was co-President from 2022-2023. Get Tickets to the Rise Summit ($10-$20)