Historical women depicted in play

American history includes long periods of struggle for equality, including that of women in the 1800s.

This Wednesday, the Jewish Theatre of Bloomington will present “Out of Our Father’s House,” which is based on the book “Growing Up Female in America” by Eve Merriam.

The book consists of text drawn from diaries, journals and letters of six American women seeking independence during the 19th century.

Director Darrell Ann Stone said theater staff decided to produce “Out of Our Father’s House” after long hours of reading
different plays.

“What we loved about it is that it’s kind of an actor and director’s dream,” Stone said. “It’s so creative. You can really sink your teeth into it as both an actress and director.”

The play is written by American theater, film and television director Jack Hofsiss, Eve Merriam and film producer and playwright Paula Wagner and is accompanied by music.

Women such as Anna Howard Shaw, the first ordained woman preacher, doctor and leader in the women’s suffrage movement, Maria Mitchell, the first woman recognized as a professional astronomer, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, founder of the woman suffrage movement and labor activist “Mother” Mary Jones will be depicted in the play.

Elizabeth Southgate, author of “A Girl’s Life Eighty Years Ago: Selections from the Letters of Eliza Southgate Bowne,” and Elizabeth Gertrude Stern, a journalist, essayist, novelist and early feminist, will be characterized.

Stone said what spoke to her about the play was “the common ground we have from history and as humans trying to exist on this planet.”

“These women are shining examples of women who, for the most part, did not shed or disparage their traditional roles as wives and mothers, but who were also looking for more to life, freedom from society’s limited expectations for women and who had the dreams, the ambition and stamina to emerge ‘out of their father’s house,’” a press release issued by the Jewish Theatre read.

Performances start Wednesday and end Sunday. There are a total of four performances, and they will be presented at the Bloomington Playwrights Project.

Tickets are $18 and can be purchased through the Buskirk-Chumley Theater box office.

Lara Weaver, vocals and accordion, and Anne Hurley, cello, will perform pre-show music in the lobby 30 minutes before the curtain call at each
performance.

There will be a talkback with the director and cast after the Saturday show.

­— Makenzie Holland