Jessica Michna will perform as Mary Todd Lincoln at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb, 20, at The Timbers of Shorewood, 1100 N. River Rd., Shorewood. The performance is free and open to the public.
Michna, an actress and historian, is known for her memorable portrayals of famous First Ladies. After she saw a number of Mary Todd portrayals that fell short of the mark, she spent two years researching the character and drafting a script. She now proudly presents a one-woman drama titled, “Mary Todd Lincoln.”
Originally from Pennsylvania, Michna developed her love of American history at an early age while visiting the many Revolutionary and Civil War sites in the area. In high school her love of theater grew as she appeared in various theater productions. She was offered a scholarship to the Goodman School of Theater in Chicago, but put her aspirations on hold to raise a family of four daughters.
After working several years in the healthcare field, Michna retired and returned to her two great loves – history and the theater. She started her business, “First Impressions,” and has become widely known for her compelling and emotionally enthralling portrayals of famous First Ladies. Audiences laugh along with her humorous anecdotes and share in her tears as she relates how the horrors of war have impacted families.
She has performed at venues such as the Lincoln Boyhood Home, The Churchill Memorial Chapel, the National Railroad Museum and the Wisconsin State Historical Museum, taking the stage as Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison, Eleanor Roosevelt, Abigail Adams and Helen Keller, among others.
The Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
For more information, call Shelly Goggins at 815-609-0669.
