On Monday, April 14, Historical First Impressions actor Jessica Michna will present “Women Who Dared” at 6:00 p.m. in the Library’s Community Room.
Jessica Michna is no stranger to the Reedsburg Public Library, having visited in the past with portrayals of first ladies Edith Wilson and Eleanor Roosevelt. Since the founding of her company “Historical First Impressions” in 2000, she has been presenting history in an entertaining manner through theatrical narratives. A graduate of UW-Madison, she spent several years working as a researcher and lecturer before returning to her lifelong love of history and the theatrical arts. In 2016 Michna was awarded the Presidential Service Center’s Distinguished Service Award for her portrayal of first ladies.
The First Impressions website (historicalfirstimpressions.com) displays the number and variety of historical impressions Michna offers. Her First Ladies repertoire includes Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, Edith Wilson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Frances Cleveland and Mary Todd Lincoln. Additional characters that she portrays include Wisconsin’s own Cordelia Harvey and Golda Meir as well as Laura Ingalls Wilder, Jenny Appleseed and Goode Rebeka of the Salem Witch Trials. Michna consults newspapers of the day, private letters and other primary sources in bringing these characters to life. Each character is outfitted in costumes appropriate to the time period.
In the April 14th presentation, “Women Who Dared” Michna will cover champions of the women’s suffrage movement in this country and overseas in the late 19th and early 20th century. These include Cristabel and Emmeline Pankhurst, Susan B. Anthony, Emma Davisson, Elisabeth Cady Stanton, and others. You will learn of the protests, jailings, victories and defeats– culminating with the signature of President Woodrow Wilson that would give women the right to vote.
Event Description: