community theater - Boston Moms Blog

Like most parents, my life was vastly different pre-child. I slept in — a lot. I had the freedom and flexibility to change my schedule and plans at a moment’s notice. And I was very involved in the Boston theater community.

Within the theater world, I took on several different roles, sometimes frequently, other times as a one-time-only engagement. In some instances, I wore multiple hats at once — producer, director, costume designer, house manager. My two mainstays and favorites will always be playwright and actor. I’ve been writing for years, and it’s something I can pick up whenever I want and put aside easily. Acting, however, is a completely different beast. It’s a much more rigid commitment, it’s a team effort, and it involves performing for an audience.

Around the time I was acting in my last show, “Lost Girls,” I knew I wanted to be a mom. I decided that once the show closed, I would take a semi-retirement from acting. Meaning, I would no longer be actively auditioning, nor taking parts in full-length productions with an extensive rehearsal process and multiple weekend runs. I could do staged readings, 10-minute play festivals, and other opportunities that required little to no time commitment.

I started doing theater when I was about 12 years old, performing in plays at the local college that had a children’s theater program. Acting has been such a significant part of my life, and I know I can never really give it up completely. But I also realize that at this point, I simply don’t have the time or energy to devote myself to it like I used to. A kismet situation — right time, right place, right role — would need to happen for me to accept major gigs.

Earlier this year, my friend asked me if I would like to act in this year’s Boston Theater Marathon. The Theater Marathon is an annual event produced by the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre; 50 10-minute plays are performed one Sunday every May, all of them the work of New England-based playwrights. This fell under the minimalistic criteria I was up for.

I wondered if I was ready to jump back into it. Would my training and skills have diminished, or is it like riding a bike? Would my sleep-deprived mommy brain be able to remember all my lines and blocking on top of the zillion other things I juggle in my everyday life? Without knowing the answers, I said yes.

The script came, my role was assigned, and I memorized my lines between pumping sessions. At rehearsals, I saw how quickly it all came back to me. Because it was a 10-minute play, the rehearsal schedule and role size were very manageable. Additionally, I got to perform beside two of my very good friends. And it felt good to get back into doing something I loved after adjusting to all the changes motherhood brings. It was a great comfort to be doing something that was so familiar and enjoyable.

I know I’m never going to become a professional actor and win a Tony award, but that was never why I acted in the first place. It has always been a creative outlet for me. And while being a mother no longer allows me to partake in it regularly, I realize I should not turn down the right opportunities when they present themselves.


Lesley Moreau
Lesley grew up in New Bedford, MA, came to Boston for college, and stuck around. She holds a master's degree in criminal justice and an MFA in creative writing. Lesley is a playwright and has had her work produced in Boston, New York, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Texas. Lesley lives in Dorchester with her husband and 3-year-old son. She is a proud and unapologetic "one and done" mom. Lesley loves traveling, true crime docs and inspired scripted series, reading, coffee, face masks, and family game nights.