46 PLAYS FOR AMERICA'S FIRST LADIES presented by Theatre Pro Rata

 

Pictured - Sif Oberon, Christy Johnson, Heather Meyer, Nissa Nordland Morgan, Anjeline Ramirez Credit Scott Pakudaitis; Graphic Design - Max Lindorfer

46 Plays for America’s First Ladies, is being produced by Theatre Pro Rata at The Crane Theatre in Minneapolis through October 16th.  

46 Plays for America’s First Ladies is a companion piece to the past Neo-Futurist script 43 Plays for 43 Presidents [originally produced in 2004, and remounted in 2012 as 44 Plays for 44 Presidents and re-published as 45 Plays for 45 Presidents in 2019].

This production consisted of one to five minute sketches that used a variety of theatrical conventions, including tableau and musical pieces with audience participation. Scenic projections helped the audience picture the first ladies, especially those whose roles were in the early 19th century for whom we had very little information available.

The insertion of comedy into the scenes was used to examine the roles of marginalized individuals who worked for the first families, many unrecognized and unrewarded.

Guitar music and songs were played to parody the First Ladies’ lives. These happened to be the most engaging scenes, as patrons bobbed their heads and clapped along. One may not associate the First Ladies with comedy, since a few of them died of tuberculosis, including Hannah Hoes Van Buren, wife of Martin. Others like Mary Todd Lincoln had a child die while at the White House. Some First Ladies were quite ambitious like Edith Roosevelt who hired her own staff and cultivated contacts in Britain. The juxtaposition between tragedy and comedy created this ebb and flow of emotion, where the bits of comic relief sustained the overall performance.

Lights cast down on patrons as they were asked by actors (Christy Johnson, Heather Meyer, Nissa Nordland Morgan, Sif Oberon, Anjeline Ramirez) to pause and think about some of the more traumatic moments in the First Ladies’ lives.This interpretation illuminated the roles the first ladies played in the White House-more than dressing fashionable and decorating. In some cases the scenes exaggerated stereotypes about the presidency that may have not been examined before, scenes that had to do with misogyny and interpersonal relationships. This production is written by Genevra Gallo-Bayiates, Sharon Greene, Chloe Johnston, Bilal Dardai, and Andy Bayiates(Neo-Futurists) and directed by Shanan Custer.

 Purchase tickets for 46 Plays for America’s First Ladies at https://www.theatreprorata.org/.  Orlando will be showing this spring at the Crane.