AN EQUAL VOICE: THE STORY OF VOTES FOR WOMEN
1515 SW Morrison Street Portland OR 97205
Dr. Constance Everly gets an opportunity to address City Council members and staff (that’s you, the audience) about the American movement for women’s voting rights, 1848 - 1920. Constance portrays the major leaders, presenting their ideals, strategies, frustrations and key events. But she can’t tell the whole story alone, and democracy is participatory.
Using the British system of “process drama,” audience members are offered opportunities to enter the story through 12 brief readings, 2 brief scenes, a chorus, and additional improvisational opportunities and sing-alongs. Speaking roles are assigned to those interested in advance (less than one minute with a script you can read). Want to volunteer as a reader? Please come 15 minutes early. Participants commonly say “it’s a fun way to learn.”
The history of voting rights is messy, complex, and essential to American democracy, and these years defined many of the issues. Why vote? Just ask history.
Randi Douglas is playwright and actor for this piece, which is based on a decade of experience touring a woman suffrage play in Michigan, plus designing and producing an award-winning process drama program called Detroit Storyliving for the Detroit Historical Museums. She has an MFA in Theatre Arts from Stanford, many years of acting/playwriting experience, and is a proud member of Actor’s Equity.