What is Living on the Moon, and how did it come to be?
Living on the Moon is a deeply personal and moving work that chronicles my 12-year journey caring for my mother, Marietta, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease in the 1980s through the 1990s. Through a blend of song, puppetry and theatrical storytelling, I worked on this to give voice to loss and love in poignant conversations with “Memory,” a puppet that embodies my mother. With equal parts humor and tenderness, the performance captures the challenges and resilience of families around the world facing Alzheimer’s. More than a show, Living on the Moon is an invitation to reflect, connect and discover hope in the midst of shared struggles.
What initially inspired you to grapple with dementia?
I’m living with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease — but I’m not letting it steal my hope or voice after losing my mom to Alzheimer’s. I am facing my own diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with courage, and I want to share the important message that you can fight back, change your lifestyle, and take medication to halt the progression of this disease.
Why give in when you can fight back?
Don’t give in to fear or embarrassment.
How has working on dementia-related art changed you?
At 72, acclaimed cabaret artist Molly McFadden lit up stages throughout the 1980s and ’90s. Hailed by The New York Times as “a stylist of note with a stunning voice.”
With my show, which I wrote and perform, I explore life’s most difficult questions with honesty, artistry and compassion.
Living on the Moon is a theatrical experience and a space for reflection, connection, sacrifice and hope. This vital work resonates deeply with caregivers, families affected by Alzheimer’s, and anyone drawn to powerful, innovative storytelling — making it essential viewing for theater lovers, and all who seek meaning through art.
How has the work been received?
Living on the Moon was recently showcased to much fanfare at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Attendees stated, for example:
“Molly weaves music and words together seamlessly. I cried, and I laughed, but mostly I was mesmerized.” – North West End UK Edinburgh Fringe Festival
“The tone here is whimsical, suffused by a bitter-sweet sense of loss, and McFadden’s former career as a cabaret singer comes to the fore. Has an impressive vocal range and delivers the songs with absolute authority. ‘Memory’ is a delightful creation, full of character and mischief.” -Bouquets and Brickbats
I was also interviewed for Women’s World magazine, and their publication dives further into my mother and my story and the making of Living on the Moon.
This work is dedicated to: My mom, Marietta
Find more from Molly McFadden, find her on Facebook and YouTube. New York audiences can catch Living on the Moon in a engagement on Wednesday, November 19, (talk back afterward at Luke’s Lutheran Church) and Thursday, November 20, at the Brick Room.
