SUN CITY – Meet Abigail Adams!
She’s the wife of the second President of the United States, and Jessica Michna brings her to life in the Willow Room of Meadow View Lodge at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 1.
Historical dramatist Jessica Michna explores her love of history by portraying female American icons such as Mary Todd Lincoln and Abigail Adams, whom she’ll bring to life on April 1 in Sun City. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
Originally from Pennsylvania, Michna developed a love of American History at an early age, visiting the many Revolutionary and Civil War sites in the area. Her love of both history and the theater was encouraged by an older brother. During her high school years, she appeared in various productions and designed and fashioned costumes. She was offered an opportunity to receive a scholarship to the Goodman Theater but did not attend, as her mother felt at the age of 16 she needed more maturity.
By: Historical dramatist Jessica Michna
When: 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 1
Where: Willow room of Meadow View Lodge
Cost: $5 per person
Then came marriage and a family and the raising of four daughters. After several years working in the healthcare field, she decided to return to her two loves: history and theater.
Michna initially got started with her interest about eleven years ago, when she became very unhappy with the perception of Mary Lincoln and how she was represented.
“I wanted to tell her story,” said Michna.
When she portrays Mary, the program is longer, as she does a younger Mrs. Lincoln just entering the White House, with the second half of the program as a widow after Lincoln is assassinated. Mrs. Lincoln could be volatile. It was her husband, the President, who had difficulty with depression during his terms in government, but it was Mary who really suffered as a widow. Both of them were quite shaken with the passing of their young son Willie.
“Mr. Lincoln never got over his death,” said Michna.
Michna’s audiences, which range from young school children to senior citizens, loved Mary Lincoln and wanted more. A few years later, and along came Abigail Adams. As the wife of John Adams, the second President, Abigail was extremely active in her husband’s career in the decision-making that took place during that period.
Along with Abigail, Mary Lincoln, and Eleanor, Michna presents these fine ladies in the first person and gives a background of their lives: meeting their husbands, their marriages and lives together during the Revolutionary War years.
All her scripts are original, as are the costumes she wears in bringing these ladies to life for her audience.
Michna spent at least two years researching to get a feel for the period and continues to do extensive research on her characters as well as continually rewriting her scripts as she travels all over the United States and Canada.
“I never stop doing research, editing, and rewriting the script,” Michna said.
Michna performs at a variety of venues, including meet-and-greet, swap meets, fairs, senior citizen centers, historical societies, museums, churches, and even hosting birthday parties. In April, she will participate in a World War II weekend in Lowell, Indiana, and in June, Michna will be entertaining the 32nd Division up in Wisconsin, where “Mrs. Roosevelt will be the guest speaker.”
Michna has “always had an intense interest in Mary Lincoln. I try to present her in a positive light.”
Michna’s husband, who’s an engineer, plans her bookings, and when she travels, he tries to schedule a tour of a few appearances in an area.
