Mary will be doing two performances of Cordelia Harvey at the Racine Public library on April 16 -- at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
 This week is the City of Evanston's Victorian Camp. I'll be there two days to teach the kids dances from the mid-19th century. Then, I'll visit at the end of the week as H.M., where the campers will have an opportunity to apply some of what they've learned.
I'll try to engineer pictures of the event!  I can't even begin to convey how fulfilling my relationship with the City of Evanston's Art Camps has been over the last several years. This year, their lineup included the return of Princess Camp, described like this in the brochure:
"Women leaders are in the news. Explore what it’s like to be a leader-in-training. Being a princess isn’t all sparkles and glamour (though we will take a little time off for some fairy tale reading). We’ll look at Queens from ancient days to today and explore all the things a leader-in-training needs to know, from manners to the minuet!" I appeared as Queen Elizabeth I on the final day of their week-long camp. I taught the 6–11-year old princesses some dances and about deportment. I talked to them about "my" days as a Princess, including some of the most difficult times and what it required of the young Elizabeth Tudor to rise to the throne ("How haps it, Governor, yesterday my Lady Princess, and today but my Lady Elizabeth?") And then we all celebrated by having tea! I feel very passionately about the life of Queen Elizabeth I, who was a very complicated woman, and an incredibly successful ruler. It is always an honor to be asked to share some of what I know. To have the opportunity to appear as/teach about this specific historical figure, and to counter some of the negative connotations of "being a princess," are both very close to my heart. I look forward to hearing, in future years, about these young leaders as they meet their challenges and opportunities like the princesses they are! Thanks again, Evanston, for letting me be part of your programs! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A page will be coming elsewhere on this site about the various possibilities of bringing Queen Elizabeth and/or the Elizabethan period to your school, public library, historical society or civic group. In the meanwhile, inquire directly at bookings(at)marykababik(dot)com.  I introduced a large student group from Racine's Jefferson Lighthouse Elementary School to Cordelia Harvey last week.
The kids had a field trip to the Civil War Museum, saw the exhibits, learned a LOT and were a great audience for Mrs. Harvey! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am proud to say that I have been playing Cordelia Harvey, including helping to develop the content of the program, under the auspices of the Kenosha Civil War Museum since 2008. Inquire as to performances of Cordelia Harvey for your civic group, historical society, public library or school at bookings(at)marykababik(dot)com orblobello(at)kenosha(dot)org.  Last week, I had three Cordelia Harvey performances at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha. Two were for groups of school kids -- thanks for your attention and questions, students of Antioch Upper Grade School (Antioch, Illinois) and St. Mary's School (Burlington, Wisconsin)!
The Antioch students taught me to always find out whether or not my audience is from Wisconsin! There's a spot in the show where I throw it to the kids to give the year of Wisconsin's statehood. I threw...and waited...and waited...and said, "you're not from Wisconsin, are you?" It's always an adventure! (If you're not sure, the answer is 1848.) I also did a show for a group visiting from the Milwaukee Catholic Home. Thanks to them for trekking down to Kenosha to see the museum and meet with Mrs. Harvey. She was particularly pleased to tell them about her work! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am proud to say that I have been playing Cordelia Harvey, including helping to develop the content of the program, under the auspices of the Kenosha Civil War Museum since 2008. Inquire as to performances of Cordelia Harvey for your civic group, historical society, public library or school at bookings(at)marykababik(dot)com orblobello(at)kenosha(dot)org.  The University School of Milwaukee in River Hills and Hedberg Public Library in Janesville both had Cordelia Harvey to talk to them about her work for the sick and wounded Union soldiers.
The kids at the University School received me with great attentiveness and some particularly good questions. The public performance at the Hedberg Public Library was especially gratifying, not just for the fact that it had a very receptive audience, but also for the message I received afterwards from a friend who was there: "When I can watch a performance of someone that I've known for almost 20 years and not see the actor, but get lost in the character, that says a lot. And so did Mary Kababik as Cordelia Harvey today at Hedberg Public Library. Well done, Ms. Kababik. Bravo." And thank you, Jen Borlick, for coming and for giving me such a compliment. It's easy to lose perspective on "how it went" from the inside, and actors are our own worst critics, anyway. So your words are very meaningful. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am proud to say that I have been playing Cordelia Harvey, including helping to develop the content of the program, under the auspices of the Kenosha Civil War Museum since 2008. Inquire as to performances of Cordelia Harvey for your civic group, historical society, public library or school at bookings(at)marykababik(dot)com orblobello(at)kenosha(dot)org.  I had the unique opportunity earlier this week to appear as Mrs. Cordelia Harvey at the Kenosha elementary school that bears her name. Before her marriage, Miss Cordelia Perrine taught school in Southport, Wisconsin -- renamed Kenosha in 1850.
I presented Mrs. Harvey to an all-school assembly of +/-340 students. They stayed focused, they asked intelligent questions at the end, and (here's the kicker) they are in K through grade 5! I have a version of the show that I do for students 5th grade and up, and I planned even more changes to accommodate the youngest students, the age range, and the large size of the group. And then, I made changes on the fly as I was performing. I fit the show into the allotted time frame. No puppets, no music, no magic tricks. Just me, a costume, and history. And a lot of teachers sitting around the edges. The kids were great, the principal was pleased, a faculty member complimented me...BAM! WOOHOO! YES! I have performed Cordelia Harvey for some great groups of kids. But what a joyful thing to pull it off when the challenges going in were more than the usual! Of course, the kids would have been well prepared by their teachers. And, most likely, the personal connection gave them a particular investment in Mrs. Harvey's visit. Still, what a high! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am proud to say that I have been playing Cordelia Harvey, including helping to develop the content of the program, under the auspices of the Kenosha Civil War Museum since 2008. Inquire as to performances of Cordelia Harvey for your civic/professional/community group, historical society, public library or school at bookings(at)marykababik(dot)com orblobello(at)kenosha(dot)org.  I’m getting read for a busy week, shooting an industrial and doing a Cordelia Harvey performance.
Sorry I can’t invite everyone to this show, but this one’s for a private group. Of course, I’ll post public events with all of their details as they are booked. In the meantime, if you know or are part of a school or community group that might like a private event with Mrs. Harvey (or any of the other characters who present “Through Their Eyes”) at theKenosha Civil War Museum, let me know and I will be happy to put you in touch with the person who schedules those.  Thanks to everyone associated with the Pec Playhouse Theatre in Pecatonica, Illinois, who included Cordelia Harvey in their Historic Voices Series.
I had the honor to present Mrs. Harvey, “the Wisconsin Angel” to two audiences yesterday — a very fitting way to observe Veterans Day. I was happy with the shows, always gratified to introduce Cordelia Harvey to people who may not know about her work on behalf of Union Soldiers between 1862 and 1865. The Q&A at the end of the two shows were some of the best I’ve had (I’ve been doing this presentation since 2008). There were some really excellent questions, several of which I’ve never had before. Being able to do a portion of the Q&A as Mrs. Harvey is an excellent opportunity for me to use material that doesn’t fit easily into the show, but which I’ve retained just in case there is an opportunity to use it. Having those moments present themselves, especially when it allows me to share words directly from her letters, is what I imagine hitting a home run must feel like! So, again, thanks to those who made the event happen, and to everyone who turned out to see the shows. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am proud to say that I have been playing Cordelia Harvey, including helping to develop the content of the program, under the auspices of the Kenosha Civil War Museum since 2008. Inquire as to performances of Cordelia Harvey for your civic group, historical society, public library or school at bookings(at)marykababik(dot)com orblobello(at)kenosha(dot)org.  Spend an afternoon/evening with former First Lady of Wisconsin Cordelia Harvey, who will discuss her many efforts on behalf of our wounded soldiers in the present war of rebellion. Mrs. Harvey will make a presentation to the assembly, and then answer questions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yes, the show is “on the road!” At least to the Pec Playhouse Theatre in Pecatonica, Illinois (just northeast of Rockford). The Pec Playhouse Theatre, in cooperation with the Kenosha Civil War Museum, present Cordelia Harvey as part of the Historic Voices Series. Shows at 3:00 and 7:00 on Friday, 11 November Tickets are $5 and $10, respectively. Pec Playhouse Theatre 314 Main Street Pecatonica, IL Box Office: 815-239-1210 or toll free 877-732-7529 www.pecplayhouse.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am proud to say that I have been playing Cordelia Harvey, including helping to develop the content of the program, under the auspices of the Kenosha Civil War Museum since 2008. Inquire as to performances of Cordelia Harvey for your civic group, historical society, public library or school at bookings(at)marykababik(dot)com orblobello(at)kenosha(dot)org. |
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