First Ladies presentation series comes to Reedsburg Public Library

First Lady Edith Wilson, as portrayed by historical impressionist Jessica Michna, will appear at the Reedsburg Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. in the library’s community room. The performance is part of the Tuesdays with a First Lady series sponsored by the Sauk County Historical Society, with presentations held at various Sauk County venues in September and October. The series is appropriate for upper elementary students through senior citizens with an interest in history. Masks are required to be worn in all library programs and events.

Michna established her company, First Impressions, 20 years ago with the goal of presenting history in an entertaining manner through theatrical narratives. A graduate of UW-Madison, she spent several years working as a researcher and lecturer before returning to her lifelong love of history and the theatrical arts. In 2016 Michna was awarded the Presidential Service Center’s Distinguished Service Award for her portrayal of first ladies.

The First Impressions website (historicalfirstimpressions.com) displays the number and variety of historical impressions Michna offers. Her First Ladies repertoire includes Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, Edith Wilson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Frances Cleveland and Mary Todd Lincoln. Additional characters that she portrays include Wisconsin’s own Cordelia Harvey and Golda Meir as well as Laura Ingalls Wilder, Jenny Appleseed and Goode Rebeka of the Salem Witch Trials. Michna consults newspapers of the day, private letters and other primary sources in bringing these characters to life. Each character is outfitted in costumes appropriate to the time period.

Michna’s states that her interest in Edith Galt Wilson, second wife of Woodrow Wilson, stemmed from the fact that “she was a strong woman, successful business woman, before marrying President Wilson.” Edith married Wilson during his first year of his presidency, and would become indispensable to him following his severe stroke in 1919. Ironically, though Edith competently guided her husband through the remainder of his presidency, Michna discovered in her research that she was opposed to the women’s rights movement of the day.

Michna’s portrayal of Edith Wilson is the second in the First Ladies series, following her presentation of Mary Todd Lincoln in Baraboo on Sept. 7. On Oct. 5 Michna will play Eleanor Roosevelt at the Spring Green Community Library, and on Oct. 19 she will appear as Frances Cleveland at the George Culver Community Library in Sauk City. The series is sponsored by the Sauk County Historical Society, and supported in part by a grant from the Sauk County UW Extension, Arts & Culture Committee and Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for Arts.

For questions about the Edith Wilson program on Sept. 21 or any library program or service, call the library at 768-READ (7323).