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World Premiere

My Mama & The Full-Scale Invasion

September 11, 2023 - October 8, 2023

  

BY Sasha Denisova

translated by Misha Kachman

adapted by Kellie Mecleary
directed by Yury Urnov

Run Time

90 Minutes with no intermission

DIGITAL PLAYBILL

Seat Map

Resource Guide

How to get here

A co-production with The Wilma Theater

The Resistance of One Octogenarian

Sasha’s 82-year-old mother, Olga, is on the frontlines of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, having lived in Kyiv her whole life. Olga is thrust into increasingly fantastical situations: she strategizes with President Zelenskyy, strikes Russian drones with jars of pickles, and even debates with God. Inspired by online chats with her mother, playwright Sasha Denisova brings us this new play about a family’s connection and legacy amidst the present-day war and global crisis.  

Content Transparency

This play centers discussions and descriptions of the invasions of Ukraine by Russia and Nazi Germany military force, including discussions and descriptions of war, Nazi occupation, famine, mass murder, and guns/firearms. This play includes mentions of radiation sickness, nuclear war, bombings/explosions, post-war PTSD, alcoholism, and domestic violence. This play also includes profanity and epithets. The events in this play are in reference to real-life historical and present-day events. 

ENVIRONMENTAL WARNINGS

This play contains herbal cigarette smoke, haze, and flashing lights. This particularly affects the front row.

Accessibility Dates

ASL INTERPRETED PERFORMANCES

*Interpreters will be positioned at the front left-hand side of the audience (seats A114 and A113)

Saturday, September 23rd, 8pm
Sunday, October 1st, 2pm

OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES

*Caption screen will be positioned in Box 2 (left-hand side of the audience)

Wednesday, October 4th, 8pm
Thursday, October 5th, 8pm

Audio Described PERFORMANCES

Saturday, September 30th, 3pm
Saturday, October 7th, 3pm

Talk Backs (Immediately Following)

Golden Ticket Night Pre-Show Event:

Friday, September 22nd, 8pm

Matinee:

Sunday, October 1st, 2pm

…A study in the wonderful absurdity of a stubbornly resistant woman under fire.

Cast & Creative Team

Creative Team

Adaptor, Co-Dramaturg

Lighting Designer

Projection Designer

Co-Dramaturg

Costume Designer

Sound Designer, Composer

Stage Manager

Cast




Suli Holum as Daughter (L) and Holly Twyford as Mother (R) in My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Photo by DJ Corey Photography.



Holly Twyford as Mother (L) and Lindsay Smiling as Man (R) in My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Photo by DJ Corey Photography.



Holly Twyford as Mother (L), Suli Holum as Daughter (C), and Lindsay Smiling as Man (R) in My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion by Sasha Denisova at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Photo by DJ Corey Photography.



Holly Twyford as Mother in My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion by Sasha Denisova at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Photo by DJ Corey Photography.



Suli Holum as Daughter (L), Holly Twyford as Mother (C), and Lindsay Smiling as Man (R) in My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Set Design by Misha Kachman. Photo by Misha Kachman.



Holly Twyford as Mother (L) and Suli Holum as Daughter (R) in My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Photo by DJ Corey Photography.



Lindsay Smiling as Man in My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion by Sasha Denisova at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Photo by DJ Corey Photography.

Suli Holum as Daughter (L) and Holly Twyford as Mother (R) in My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Photo by DJ Corey Photography.

…The perfect cast…Yury Urnov’s direction, much like the piece itself, proves playfully frenetic and utterly refreshing.

This flamboyant production is theater at its most epic.

[Holly] Twyford’s masterful performance as Mother is a tour-de-force, a spitfire, and absolute electric fusion of the many stories and experiences that have made up her life…an early contender for DC’s best this theatrical season.