The Mercer Island Senior Foundation, an advocacy group, with its finger on the pulse of local senior citizen needs since 2002, is hosting “Soldiers in Petticoats,” performed by Tames Alan, actress, historian, costumer and lecturer, as part of her Living History Lectures on Saturday, May 12, at the Congregational Church, 4545 Island Crest Way, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. The hour-long presentation begins at 2 p.m. and will be preceded by a reception honoring Island residents over 80 years of age. It will be followed by a half hour question and answer period. Advance tickets will be available at $20 each for adults, $10 each for students with ID; and walk-in tickets will be available at $25 and $15, respectively.
The event’s focus is the struggles of the Suffragettes, who were disenfranchised from voting in 1867 by the Fourteenth Amendment, which defined a “citizen” as “male.” Through their struggle for voting rights enacted in 1919 by the Nineteenth Amendment, these brave women — such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott and Susan B. Anthony — exerted tremendous influence on major issues of their time, among them women’s rights and children’s labor laws.
This unique program is suitable for elementary grades on up. It has been given as a general history lecture, a cultural background lecture for students of social history, and as a clothing program for costume and design students who can enjoy the period costume worn by Alan. A speaker for the Washington State Commission for the Humanities in their Inquiring Minds series, Alan studied theater and history at Willamette University, the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, and the D’ell Arte School in California. She has also taught fashion history at the Art Institute of Seattle. Last fall she presented a sold-out performance for the University Women’s Club on “The Intrepid Victorian Traveler.”
Proceeds from the event will go toward community grants. The Senior Foundation of Mercer Island is currently examining proposals for a respite care area in Covenant Shores, a partnership with the Washington Parkinson’s organization. Grant proposals may be directed at any time to the Senior Foundation of Mercer Island, PO Box 51, Mercer Island, WA 98040.
Event reservations may be made by contacting Leslie Scott at (206) 232-4597 or las93236@earthlink.net. Honorary guests also need to register in advance.
