This play began from the simple question “What was the journey women took through history to get their rights in America?” Thea wrote a 20-minute script and volunteer women from the
Center for Spiritual Discovery in Costa Mesa, California put it on in 2010 at the
Women’s Journey Conference (in picture to left, Betty Friedan (Marty Green), Billie Jean King (Ginni Gordan), Bella Abuzg (Anne Perrah), and Alice Paul (Suzanne Boston)). The response was phenomenal. People loved the positive message that overarches the educational and fun script. Thea expanded the script and we put on more performances. More women got involved: retired teachers, singing instructors, professional actors, and everything else. Between 2010 and 2015, 35 performances were put on in California. One of our earliest supporters was the American Association of University Women, an organization with over 100,000 members nationwide. A highlight of these years was participating in the 2011 California Women’s Suffrage Centennial in Sacramento.
A lot has happened since then. Thea has expanded the script even more and new songs have been added by Michelle Mangione, Jamie Sterrett, Thea, and Andy Celley. Thea brought the show to Massachusetts after the 2017 Women's March which was the largest single-day protest in US history. Women wanted to do something and when I mentioned my script, they jumped on it. Over 60 women, men, and girls have flocked to join us. Since Women’s Equality Day in 2017, we have done 23 performances (in picture, right are Sarah Grimke (Marsha Getter and Susan B. Anthony (Charlotte Eckler)).
With this year being the centennial of the 19th amendment which gave women the right to vote, we will many, many performances. When the amendment was ratified and made into law, suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt said, “Our mothers began it. So it came on to us as…a sacred trust.” We take that statement to heart. It is a sacred trust. I hope you come to one of our shows.