First Mothers: The Women Who Raised America’s Presidents
Produced by Pages of History, Inc.
Directed by Deb Guston
By L.E. McCullough
WHEN: Friday, Mar. 9, at 7:00 PM
WHERE:t Roseland Public Library, 20 Roseland Ave., Roseland NJ.
ADMISSION: free.
Despite the personal and political diversity of the men occupying the White House over the last two centuries, one common factor emerges — the essential ethical character and philosophical outlook of each were strongly shaped by his Mother.
Through compelling first-person dramatizations, FIRST MOTHERS presents crucial moments in the lives of 14 women who not only gave birth to Presidents. . . but helped set the destiny of the United States as we know it today.
These were women of action, no matter how remote they were from the centers of power or how humble or restricted their personal circumstances, says playwright McCullough. They all had deep religious conviction and an unshakeable belief that an individuals moral strength would create a better world.
First Mothers: The Women Who Raised Americas Presidents stars veteran New York actresses Wynne Anders, Lisa Bansavage, Laura Fois and Vivian Meisner.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT:
With 22 published books of original plays and monologues and more than 180 plays in print, L.E. McCullough is among the nations most prolific and widely-distributed historical dramatists.
His Plays of America from American Folklore has been named to Glencoe/McGraw-Hills Recommended Children’s Reading List, along with literary classics such as Great Expectations, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Separate Peace, Lord of the Flies, Our Town and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
McCullough’s historical playwriting commissions include works on WW II journalist Ernie Pyle, 1920s jazz bandleader Charlie Davis (Indiana Historical Society), pharmaceutical magnate Col. Eli Lilly (Ninteenth Star Productions), Ben Franklin (Historic Philadelphia, Inc.), U.S. Constitution (National Constitution Center), Galileo (First Run Productions) and Battle of Trenton (Magnet Theatre). His stage play on legendary African-American pianist Leroy Carr, Blues for Miss Buttercup, won the Urban Stages Emerging Playwrights Award for its New York City debut.
His most recent New York production was as book writer for Orphan Train, a searing look at Americas surplus children that premiered at the New York Musical Theatre Fest and was directed by Patricia Birch.
PAGES OF HISTORY, INC. LIVE THEATRE, LIVING HISTORY
Their mission is to create and produce presentations of original plays that promote the study of history, current events and social topics of contemporary interest, with a particular interest in bringing these presentations to schools and young audiences.
Pages of History is an affordable performance and workshop program that brings professional actors and playwrights into schools to show students and teachers how they can enhance their curriculum by creating and performing one-act plays.
