New Jersey – 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.

Her other thoroughly engaging programs are:

Adventurous Women: Eight True Stories about Women Who Made a Difference A fascinating slide show and Penny Colman’s stories about eight amazing women from an Arctic explorer to a plant hunter who lived passionate, productive and adventurous lives.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship That Changed the World A thought-provoking slide show and Penny Colman’s insights into the legendary friendship between Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony and their historic 51-year-long fight for women’s rights, despite fierce opposition, daunting conditions, and betrayal by friends and allies.

Rosie the Riveter: Women Working on the Home Front In World War II An inspiring slide show with archival film footage and Penny Colman’s commentary about the heroic women who kept the home front running and created the “miracle of production” that ensured the Allies success in World War II.

Book Club Conversations: Lively, interactive conversations with Penny Colman about any of her books via Skype or Facetime, or in person if possible. For information galore about Penny’s books please go to

Dorothy Canfield Fisher’s overlooked spinster in “The Bedquilt,” Edna Ferber’s restless saleslady in “Representing T. A. Buck“ [pictured], Kate Chopin’s yearning widow in “A Pair of Silk Stockings,” Mary E. Wilkins Freeman’s daring farmwife in “The Revolt of ‘Mother’,” Elsie Singmaster’s Mary Bowman, persevering through war and its long aftermath in “Gettysburg: One Woman's War” [pictured]: these women—our foremothers—are ever so familiar.

From coast to coast, in my unique style I’ve portrayed every character in 30 different stories, live, for 450 sponsors—including colleges and universities, woman’s clubs, libraries, historical societies, senior communities, and international conferences.

FROM MY AUDIENCES:

• “What you have to offer in ‘Gettysburg: One Woman's War’ is priceless.” /  “Luminous!” “Revelatory!”
• “BRAVO for ‘Roman Fever’! Thank you for the elegance and intelligence you bring!” [pictured]
• “ Enchanting!” / “ ‘The Bedquilt’ was extraordinary! You opened so many doors for me!”
• “ ‘The Apple Tree’ was perfect. You simply ‘became.’ ”
• “You totally transported me back to the turn of the last century.” / “What a gift to us was Every One His Own Way: The Chicago Stories of Edith Wyatt.’ ”
• “ ‘Representing T. A. Buck’ was perfection. You evoked the period and the characters effortlessly. I could smell his cigar.”
• “You bring such a vulnerability and radiance to your reading: lovely ‘Christmas Stocking’!” / “I felt you were talking just to me.”“I'm not feeling real comfortable around my shadows at the moment. Glad I had the lights on during ‘Halloween Hauntings.’ “ [virtual]

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PHOTO INFORMATION:

Edna Ferber's Representing T. A. Buck; CREDIT Wm. Grau

Elsie Singmaster's Gettysburg: One Woman's War; CREDIT Kathryn Durr, Gettysburg College

Edith Wharton's Roman Fever; CREDIT Michael Goodwin

~ Healers & Heroes ~

Clara Barton: Civil War Nurse & Founder of the American Red Cross  Clara Barton was an 1821 Christmas baby.   After careers as a teacher and a clerk, she headed for the front lines in the Civil War, taking supplies to wounded soldier and earning the title “Angel of the Battlefield.” Later, she established the American Red Cross, bringing disaster relief to countless thousands. Clara’s indomitable determination and boundless good will are a model for all Americans.

Dorothea Dix:  Advocate for the Mentally Ill & Head of Civil War Nurses  Dorothea Dix was born into a respected New England family, but her early life was a hard one.  As a girl, she was called upon to take care of her sickly mother and two small brothers in the Maine wilderness. With her grandmother’s help, Dorothea went to school in Boston and opened a successful school for the poor, became the Civil War’s Head of Nurses, and later returned to her life’s work, profoundly affecting the destinies of mentally ill people throughout the country.  She was determined to make a difference, and with the help of family and friends, Dorothea made her dreams come true.

Carrie Chapman Catt:  Suffragist, Founder of the League of Women Voters and National Women’s Hall of Fame Honoree  Born in 1859, Carrie Chapman Catt became a popular school superintendent, charismatic lecturer, astute organizer and two-time president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.  She was Susan B. Anthony’s hand-picked successor and a major force in the 19th Amendment becoming a reality in 1920.  Carrie was featured on the cover of Time Magazine, worked for world peace and children’s rights, and received the Chi Omega Award at the White House.  This show is getting Rave Reviews!  Watch Carrie’s Trailer on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ehKy6B9GVMQ

Louisa May Alcott: Reformer & Author of “Little Women”  Nineteenth Century writer Louisa May Alcott grew up in a time of radical social change.  After a childhood spent in ‘genteel poverty’, she struggled to establish a writing career, later becoming a Civil War nurse.  Louisa never married and continued to write and work tirelessly for reform as she single-handedly supported her family.  It’s an extraordinary story!

More:  Amelia Earhart, Betsy Ross, Martha Washington, Mary Todd Lincoln, Indentured Servant Bridgid O’Murphy, Pennsylvanian Anna Morris Holstein

Client & Audience Reactions

“She talks the talk and walks the walk [in] a convincing first-person voice to share the compelling and decades-long story of the fight for women’s right to vote.” League of Women Voters of Radnor

“Thank you for…a great performance. We hope to have you here again.” NASA-Langley

“We have 28 participants enrolled in your Elder Week lecture and are very excited!” Delaware Co. Elder Week

“Carrie… got rave reviews!” Shannondell Community Interest Group

“Betsy Ross was perfect!”  PA Sleep Study Conference

“Pat tells a dynamic and memorable story in a short amount of time, and students from all locations and backgrounds have reacted very well to her.” Dir. of Campus Life, Delaware County Community College

“You had the audience mesmerized.  BRAVO!”   NJ-AARP Chapter

“Thank you, thank you!  …Amelia came to life for [my daughters] and me.”  College Park Airport Museum

“…A wonderful portrayal…so quiet, you could hear a pin drop!  That’s a first for our group.” Jacksonville Community Center

“Everyone loved you…You take such a personal interest, we can tell you love it too.  Also, here’s a copy of the article/interview by the local paper–you were front page!”  Montville Historical Society

Award-Winning Shows:  U.S. Coast Guard Museum Captain’s Coin; Public Scholar for NJ Council for the Humanities; BellAtlantic Video Awards contest; Women for Greater Philadelphia; NAVSUP Commander’s Coin – US Navy; Federal Women’s Program Appreciation Award

Pickets & Persistence: War Service & Woman Suffrage,  Reclaiming Our Voice: New Jersey’s Central Role in the Fight for Woman Suffrage, Emily Roebling: Bridge Builder in Petticoats, A W.A.S.P. Takes Wing: The Women Airforce Service Pilots of WW2, Nobody Owns the Sky: Pioneering Aviatrices, and "Crazy Daisy" Juliette Gordon Low Founder of the Girl Scouts. Hands-on youth and family programs on flight & bridge-building and a musical program “Celebrating Our Herstory:  Stories & Songs of Courage & Persistence” with musician Sharleen Leahey are also available.  (Descriptions available at www.tellingherstories.com,  video and references available on request).

“Yesterday at the library I learned about women in history. I learned that there is hope, and that the troubles we face right now are difficult, but women like Abigail Adams and Sojourner Truth and so many others worked very hard, faced major adversity, and that was difficult too. Learn from them. I encourage you to read and learn about the past and that will help you find hope and courage to fight in the future.”  — C.M. (Girl Scout mom)

“Thank you again for a wonderful program last night! I am still haunted by thoughts of Emily….you made her come so alive…..and I learned more about the Brooklyn Bridge than I thought I would ever know in my whole life!” — Nora, Ocean County Library

“Thank you for presenting a wonderful program that was so informative and enlightening.  Your knowledge and creative storytelling fosters uncovering the truth of our past heroines.” — Nancy, Somerset Run Singles

“I was somewhat skeptical  when Lilyan invited me to your program. As a pilot for many years I thought that I knew I everything about women pilots. What a surprise. Your program taught me so very much and your presentation was outstanding. I am sending your information to as many women as I can. I know that anyone who attends your program will be as excited as I am.”  — A.L.

"Carol’s electric energy and historic knowledge combined to make a most enlightening presentation on the early days of aviation and the brave women who were right there in the thick of it right from the start." — W.S., Ringwood Public Library

 “Very interesting subject presented well with slides and humor — very knowledgeable historian.” — S.P.

“Thank you for coming to Wayne Public Library to present your program “Nobody Owns the Sky.”…This is a wonderful program about the most amazing women. What athletic prowess — for some even into their nineties!… highly recommended." — D.R., Adult Services Librarian

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.”