Connecticut – Performers and Authors

“Good stories…subtle…even silence is emotion-filled.” — The New York Times“Bromka wonderfully embodies the three women.” — This Week in New York“Marvelous…poignant…the authors have humanized their subjects.” — The Star-Ledger“Brilliant! Reaches across the aisles.” — WomenArts“A fascinating evening…laced with insight, emotion and humor.” — Times Herald-Record“6 out of 5 stars!” — Austinonline.com“Perfect.” — KDHX

TEA FOR THREE

Full bio and prime time video clips: www.elainebromka.com

Watch a video clip of the show: www.teaforthree.com

TEA FOR THREE PLAYED OFF-BROADWAY MAY – JUNE, 2013

A TV (Girls, Law & Order, Sex & the City, E.R., Sopranos and more), Broadway, Off-Broadway and film (the Uncle Buck mom) veteran, Bromka starred as eight of the First Ladies in The Presidents for PBS. Acting and writing workshops, including “Acting on Camera”,  “Making Your Monologue Hot!” and "Exploring Intention through American Sign Language", taught at over 160 colleges and high schools, are also available as part of a residency. Extensive references, interviews, and residency information on her website. Theaters, performing art centers, colleges, museums, clubs, fundraisers. Over 300 venues include the Smithsonian, the Cerritos Arts Center, the Long Arts Center, the Straz, and theaters and colleges nationwide.

Perhaps women need to be reminded of how far we’ve come in order to see how far we still can go. Herstory unsanitized explores the engrossing “taboo” subjects that are omitted from history. These presentations aren’t about spinning wheels, quilting bees, bustles, or butlers. Velya Jancz-Urban’s enthusiastic delivery is funny and frank. Laugh, grimace, and honor our foremother’s journeys while learning about the little-known issues faced by women of New England’s colonial era and America’s Gilded Age.

Bios:When a zany teacher and sage herbalist join forces, they create Grounded Goodwife. Velya’s gregarious personality and Ehris’ grounded energy enable this mother/daughter team to connect with audiences. Funny and frank, the duo believe in taking inner responsibility for one’s wellness, and share their “recipe” for wholeness through workshops, presentations, and seminars. Their mother/daughter memoir, How to Survive a Brazilian Betrayal (May 2019, Green Writers Press), reveals how Velya and Ehris were grounded, lost everything, became a powerful mother/daughter team – and better versions of themselves.

Testimonials:“Astonishment, flinching, and hilarity ~ it was all present at last night’s presentation of The Not-So-Good Life of the Colonial Goodwife! Many thanks to Velya and Ehris, for an entertaining and educational evening. Everyone has been raving about the talk today – so much fun!”~ Tammy Eustis, Director – Killingworth Library, Killingworth, CT

“I have NEVER experienced a presentation as informative and entertaining as yours at Springfield Museum! At certain points I and the other women in my row were crying from laughing so hard!  All the “sad” facts made a lasting impression as well. As you said, with all that these 18th century women had to go through, it is a wonder that we are here at all. Thank you again for your wonderful, insightful talk!”~ Ann Blank, Springfield, MA

“Velya and Ehris, you are gems! I attended The Not-So-Good Life of the Colonial Goodwife talk at THS and just had to bring my 13 year old daughter with me. If you can impress a 13 year old you can do anything. Kudos to you two!”~ Susan S., Trumbull, CT

Martinez has made appearances at universities, corporations, institutions and organizations, including Columbia University, Trinity College, Towson University, The University of Pennsylvania, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, The NJ National Guard, The PA Department of Veterans Affairs, The NJ Department of Community Development, The Vanguard Group, Synchrony Bank and J.P Morgan Chase. The artist is available to speak throughout the U.S. Many of the paintings and social commentaries in this socially-conscious presentation are in Martinez’s art book, “Soraida’s Verdadism: The Intellectual Voice of a Puerto Rican Woman on Canvas; Unique, Controversial Images and Style.”

Not all suffragists were Free Lovers by any means; but several prominent Free Love advocates like Victoria Woodhull were strong supporters of women’s rights, so the reputation stuck. This enjoyable talk about the 19th century battle between Free Love and prudery reveals a fascinating side of American society, which affected the struggle for women’s right to vote. The talk is rated PG-13.

Audience Feedback:

 "This unknown suffragist history was enlightening and entertaining. Numerous members' feedback was very positive. One long-standing member said this was the best lecture we've ever had!"- Joan Gill, Chair of Speaker Programs, Canadian Women's Club of San Francisco

"Joe Miller was recently invited by the Sonoma Valley Historical Society and presented his research on the history of the suffragists to a very receptive audience. His presentation was most informative as well as entertaining. He engaged the audience by showing how much of this subject has been completely forgotten or misunderstood."- Peter G. Meyerhof, Historian

Joe C. Miller published an article in The History Teacher, titled “Never a Fight of Woman Against Man: What Textbooks Don’t Say about Women’s Suffrage” (2015). There he argued that college textbooks include many errors and myths about women’s history.

The programs highlight contact and conflicts, making them more socially relevant and realistic. The recorded accounts of complex, brilliant, and intelligent women, true American heroes. Each performance is infused with Gwendolyn’s unique fingerprint.

Gwendolyn Quezaire-Presutti is an Actor, dramatist, historian, and storyteller. She began Historical Performing in 1997, at The University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures. The presentations introduce the audience to untapped accessible American History that gives a powerful, intimate, detailed portrait of the women in the Program. The programs highlight contact and conflicts, making them more socially relevant and realistic.  Each includes the recorded accounts of complex, brilliant, and intelligent women, true American heroes. Each performance is infused with Gwendolyn’s unique fingerprint giving an integral portrait of a historical event or person.

Received Theatre and Interpretation Techniques Certification at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.Received Alliance and Director’s Award for valuable service and Excellence Interpretation at the Institute of Texan Cultures San Antonio. Recipient of ESA Connecticut Chapter Portraying Sarah Harris at Prudence Crandall State Museum, naming a few.

Feed Back: Prof. Richard Schmidt Wesleyan University    reschmidt@weseyan.edu  Sue Tait Porcaro Windsor Historical Society     Windsor Historical Society 860-688-3813 Rebecca Schmidt   Acton Memorial Library   rschmidt@acton-ma.gov Alena Shellenbean     American Independence Museum      Alena@independencemuseum.org 603-772-2622

Description:  “I Can’t Die But Once” an American Hero, Harriet Tubman

Harriet a woman with unique qualities and abilities even though she was illiterate, kept an unblemished record of vigilance, sacrifice, and struggle. She was a spy for the Union and battled courageously behind enemy lines during the Civil War. The elementary school version is more palatable, but the real Tubman is far more inspiring.

“Looking Things Over” Zora Neale Hurston a Storyteller's Life. Zora was one of the pre-eminent writers of twentieth-century African American Literature, an American novelist, short story writer, folklorist, and anthropologist. Zora not only loved writing the folklore she enjoyed telling them. Zora celebrated the African American culture of the rural South because she believed that Black people had wonderful stories that the world needed to hear, she told them proudly.

“If I am Not for Myself Who will be for Me”  Ona Judge. When one thinks of our founding fathers enslavement does not come into their consciousness. Some of our founding fathers were themselves Slave owners. Ona’s owners, George, and Martha Washington, she was merely “the girl.”  There is always an underside hidden from sight unpleasant or reprehensible side that needs to surface to give an integral portrait of a historical event or person. Ona’s story is one such story.