'Suffragette' Actor to Perform at MI Congregational Church May 12

announced it will co-host a "Living History Lecture" on the emergence of Women's Rights on May 12.

“Soldiers in Petticoats,” by Tames Alan, actress, historian, costumer, and lecturer, will appear Saturday, May 12th at the , 4545 Island Crest Way, Mercer Island, from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

The hour long presentation, beginning at 2 p.m., will be preceded by a reception honoring island residents 80+ years of age and 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; walk-in tickets will be available at $25 and $15, respectively.

In this election year we feel drawn to spotlight the struggles of the Suffragettes who had been disenfranchised from voting from 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 and courageous 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 Ms. Alan. A speaker for the WA State Commission for the Humanities in their Inquiring Minds series, Ms. Alan studied theatre and history at Willamette University, the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, and the D’ell Arte School in CA. 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 towards community grants. The is currently examining proposals for a respite care area in Covenant Shores, a partnership with the WA Parkinson’s organization, and a possible addition of a Wednesday Senior Social program. As always, we welcome grant proposals directed at any time to the Senior Foundation of Mercer Island, PO Box 51, Mercer Island WA 98040.

Reservations made be made to the event by phoning Leslie Scott, 206-232-4597, or e-mailing her at las93236@earthlink.net.    Honorary guests also need to register in advance.