Four pioneering women come to life in GreenMan Theatre’s ‘History of Her’ performances
GreenMan Theatre Storytellers has added two new performance dates to commemorate the Chicago area women who helped shape American history across the decades.
“History of Her” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, in Room 201 of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, 125 W. Church St. in Elmhurst.
Done in costume, the performances will feature four biographical monologues of Bertha Honoré Palmer, Audrey Wagner, Frances Willard and Jane Addams. Three of these monologues were originally developed to be presented as an accompaniment to the Elmhurst History Museum’s exhibit, “History of Her: Women Who Shaped Chicagoland.” The exhibit ran most of the summer and just recently closed.
“GreenMan Theatre was delighted to be asked to partner with the EHM and created these monologues for presentation at the direction of the museum,” said Carolyn Thomas-Davidoff, GreenMan director. “GreenMan later decided to remount these three monologues and add a fourth to make it a complete presentation. We decided to add Jane Addams, because she was so important to the Chicagoland area.”
On Aug. 21 and 23, Debbie Proska will portray Bertha Honoré Palmer — one of the most powerful and influential women in Chicago high society. Palmer managed the Palmer Hotel, a wedding gift from her husband Potter Palmer. An avid art collector, Palmer was an early champion of Impressionist art. Many pieces in the Palmer Collection were purchased by the Art Institute of Chicago, thanks to monetary bequeathments from Palmer.
Lauren Visser will explore the life of professional baseball player Audrey Wagner of Bensenville. During and after World War II, Wagner was a member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and the National Girls Baseball League. She later became a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology, practicing in Crescent City, California.
Victoria Rebeck will portray Evanston resident Frances Willard, a renowned educator, proponent of the temperance movement and suffragette advocate. Longtime president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Willard was passionate in her beliefs in total abstinence from alcohol — and in women’s right to vote.
Mary-Carol Riehs will tell the life story of Jane Addams, a social reformer, activist, suffragette and peace proponent. Addams was the first American woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. She helped establish the field of social work and co-founded Hull House in Chicago, a settlement house offering social services to immigrants and the poor.
Cost is $10. Tickets can be purchased in advance at ticketpeak.com/go/GMTT/events. The performance space is on the church’s second floor, accessible by stairs or elevator.
In its 22nd season, GreenMan Theatre Troupe is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to provide a source of cultural enrichment and pride for the community by presenting diverse, quality productions and providing opportunities for personal growth in the theatrical arts. GreenMan has been presenting plays in Elmhurst since being founded in 2003. Past productions include “The Odd Couple,” “Dracula,” and “Pride and Prejudice.” GreenMan also offers classes and workshops for members and the community and welcomes new members and participants in all aspects of theater production. GreenMan programs are partially supported by Explore Elmhurst, as well as other individual and corporate donations.