"Unconventional Women of the West" (Costumed Character Portrayals Available)
The group currently offers the stories
of over thirty different women, with new characters continually
added. The costumed
portrayals are presented in a production called “Unconventional
Women of the West,” offering performances by eight
characters in an hour-long program, and five characters in a half-hour
program. An announcer provides an introduction to what life
was like for women in the Victorian West, as well as a capella
music throughout. The organization can offer a total of
three hour-long performances without repeating a single character.
Joan Hemm founded The Shady Ladies in
1992, and acted as the organization’s president for 13 years
before moving to the state ofWashington. Joan was involved
in high school theater, studied costume design, and performed with
repertory theater companies. In creating The
Shady Ladies, she admits she really just wanted
an opportunity to dress up! However, her interest in women's
history and western history led her to create "Unconventional Women
of the West." The program successfully exemplifies "modular
theater,” in which the cast members create their own scripts,
learn their parts, and fabricate their own costume (or have one
made for them.) Joan directed each Legendary Lady presentation
one-on-one.
When a request for a presentation is received, members are scheduled for
a performance according to their availability. Most of
the members perform as one or more characters.
Consider utilizing The Legendary Ladies at
your event in the following ways:
The
Legendary Ladies can present “Unconventional
Women of the West" in both a half-hour or hour-long
format—choose which best fits your meeting or event.
·The
Legendary Ladies is a non-profit, educational
organization. Our programs are educational as well
as entertaining, and perfect for audiences of all age groups!
Offer “Unconventional
Women of the West” as entertainment for a fund-raiser—perfect
for teas, brunches, luncheons, dinners, dessert buffets.
“Doc” Susie Anderson, frontier doctor
Harriet Fish Backus, author of “Tomboy Bride” about her life as the wife of a mining engineer in Colorado.
Kathryn Lee Bates, author of the poem “America the Beautiful”
Molly Brown, the “Unsinkable”
Nellie Bly, reporter “Around the World in 80 Days”
Miriam Davis Colt, lived in a Utopian society in Kansas
“Little Egypt,” ethnic dancer
A “Harvey Girl”—waitress of the railroad
Prairie Rose Henderson, rodeo star
“Mother” Jones, labor activist
Cattle Kate, alleged cattle rustler
Susan Shelby Magoffin, first white woman on the Santa Fe Trail
Martha Maxwell, taxidermist
Lola Montez, actress/dancer
Annie Oakley, “Little Sure Shot”
Charley Parkhurst, stagecoach driver who lived her life as a man
Polly Pry, Denver Post reporter
Mary Rippon, college professor who led a double life
Lillian Russell, actress/singer
Mattie Silks, madam
Belle Starr, outlaw
Augusta Tabor, businesswoman (lost her husband to Baby Doe)
Baby Doe Tabor, “Silver Queen”
Silver Dollar Tabor, Baby Doe’s daughter
Poker Alice Tubbs, gambler
Evalyn Walsh, author of “Father Struck it Rich”—owned the Hope Diamond
The group currently offers the stories
of over thirty different women, with new characters continually
added. The costumed
portrayals are presented in a production called “Unconventional
Women of the West,” offering performances by eight
characters in an hour-long program, and five characters in a half-hour
program. An announcer provides an introduction to what life
was like for women in the Victorian West, as well as a capella
music throughout. The organization can offer a total of
three hour-long performances without repeating a single character.
Joan Hemm founded The Shady Ladies in
1992, and acted as the organization’s president for 13 years
before moving to the state ofWashington. Joan was involved
in high school theater, studied costume design, and performed with
repertory theater companies. In creating The
Shady Ladies, she admits she really just wanted
an opportunity to dress up! However, her interest in women's
history and western history led her to create "Unconventional Women
of the West." The program successfully exemplifies "modular
theater,” in which the cast members create their own scripts,
learn their parts, and fabricate their own costume (or have one
made for them.) Joan directed each Legendary Lady presentation
one-on-one. 