Editorial Cartoon
To check out our slideshow from Sunday’s dress rehearsal, click here!
Heather Carnahan brought Jane Austen to life Sunday afternoon, dressed in a long black period dress with a white shawl covering her shoulders.
Carnahan is part of the living history program, which celebrates the accomplishments of women and shares them with elementary schools in the Charleston school district.
The program, sponsored by Women’s Studies, featured its annual rehearsal Sunday at Greenwood School.
The one-room schoolhouse became a time machine as three students transformed into Austen, Amelia Earhart and Mary Kay Ash.
Amelia Earhart, portrayed by Corey Holden, spoke of her disappearance in a brown leather jacket and tan scarf.
Ash, played by Danielle Varecha, spoke of juggling her business and family life in a pink lab coat.
Family and friends sat in old wooden desks to hear the students rehearse their speeches before they go into the schools.
This year’s program features six historical figures: Ash, Austen, Earhart, Emma Edmonds, Eleanor Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The students portraying Edmonds, Eleanor Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt were unable to attend the rehearsal.
The living history program has been taken place for the past 18 years during the month of March as part of Women’s History and Awareness Month.
This year, the six performers will be featured in more than 60 performances for area elementary schools.
About 29 teachers at Ashmore, Mark Twain, Carl Sandburg and Jefferson schools have requested performances, which means approximately 600 students will see at least one living history character.
Showing the passion
Carnahan, a junior Spanish major, began her speech with the opening line from Austen’s well-known novel “Pride and Prejudice.”
She proceeded to tell about Austen’s life, her works, her family and her death at age 41.
Carnahan started researching her character at the beginning of February.
All student participants research their characters, prepare a 10-12 minute speech and present to kindergarten-through-sixth-grade students.
Carnahan said she loves history and said the living history program is a great opportunity for children to learn about historical women.
This is Carnahan’s second year participating in the living history program. Last year, Carnahan played Laura Ingalls Wilder and played the part by wearing petticoats.
She wanted to be Austen this year because she has a passion for her and her books.
“I love her,” Carnahan said.
Austen was sarcastic and ironic, Carnahan said. Austen criticized in a way that was charming, she added.
Carnahan is giving the most presentations of all of the performers with 16 performances.
Carnahan said she must stay in character the entire time.
When children ask questions, she thinks and tries to answer in the way Austen would.
“For 20 minutes, you are Jane Austen,” Carnahan said.
Playing grown-up dress-up
Varecha, a senior family and consumer sciences major, is participating in the living history program for the first time.
“It’s very nerve-wracking,” she said.
Varecha said she practiced over and over again until she started to feel like her character.
Instead of nervous emotions, Varecha said, she has the right emotions to portray her character.
Acting like a real person from history is different than playing dress-up as a child, Varecha said. The living history program is like “grown-up dress-up,” she said.
She is portraying Ash, businesswoman and founder of Mary Kay cosmetics, Inc.
Varecha said when people think of Ash, they often only think of make-up.
Varecha said they don’t realize the business side of Mary Kay and her accomplishments. Varecha said she hopes students can learn from the character she is portraying. Ash began with little money, but her company progressed into a billion-dollar industry.
Varecha said Ash struggled along the way, but now when someone says “Mary Kay,” everyone knows what that person is talking about.
Showing what’s missing
Gail Mason, a professor of communication studies, has been the coordinator of the living history program for about eight years.
She said history books primarily focus on men.
“We wanted to highlight contributions of women,” Mason said.
The program provides a way to bring out the little-known history of women and reinforce what students might already know.
“It’s a great opportunity for history to come alive for elementary students,” Mason said.
Mason said when students hear an Amelia Earhart figure talk about her experiences, it is something they will remember more vividly.
“It sticks with them,” she said.
The performances both entertain and educate, Mason added.
Mason also enjoys watching the growth of the Eastern students from when they first start to the end of the month.
She said the students become their characters by the end of the month.
They are more believable and present more passion, Mason said.
Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7942 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.
