Hot flashes, brain fog, night sweats — and now, a standing ovation.

Three Lamorinda women are bringing menopause to center stage with honesty, humor, and heart. “The Menopause Monologues,” built from real women’s stories, began in Lafayette, expanded to Los Angeles, and is now in New York City.

 Carrie Vanhouten of Moraga, and Lulu Braunstein and Lisa Anne Morrison of Lafayette, are the creative team behind the show. They met in a storytelling and acting class at Town Hall Theatre and have been collaborating ever since, including performing together in the improv group “Sorry, Wrong Thread,” directed by Lisa.

Between them, they have decades of experience in producing, directing, acting, visual art, and comedy. “We always bring a spirit of collaboration, an appreciation for each other’s strengths, and a hefty dose of humor when we work together,” they say.

Humor is intentional. While menopause can feel isolating or even taboo, laughter opens the door.

“The three of us are Gen X, and menopause wasn’t something our mothers talked about,” they say. They’ve found that many women, regardless of generation, carry a sense of shame around what’s happening and have learned not to talk about it. “Women are great at sharing, and given the opportunity to learn from each other, most will jump at the chance to be in the same space, laughing and commiserating.”

That openness comes to life through monologues, poetry, dance, puppetry, live painting and projections, all drawn from real experiences. Some cast members are seasoned performers, while others are stepping on stage for the first time.

“We are consistently blown away by our cast’s willingness to share such personal and vulnerable stories,” they say, adding that they’ve also been surprised by how many men have begun to attend. “Some have been moved to tears; others are the first to stand up and applaud.”

As the show travels, so does its sense of community — core to their mission of building connection around women’s menopause experiences. In each city, the team hosts creative workshops where women gather to tell their stories and help shape the material. After each performance, a menopause specialist joins the cast for a Q&A, giving audiences a chance to ask questions and continue the conversation.

Now, following success in Lafayette and Los Angeles, “The Menopause Monologues” is in New York for a limited run at HERE Arts Center — fittingly, the same venue where the 1996 play “The Vagina Monologues” was first developed.

Still, no matter where the show goes, its roots remain local. “The Lamorinda community has been our lifeblood,” they say. “We will forever be grateful to the hundreds of local women who gave us the confidence to take this show on the road, and who continue to show up with so much love and support.”