Pennsylvania – Performers and Authors

As the first woman foreign correspondent in Europe, Margaret supported the Roman Revolution of 1848-49. She died with her family in a shipwreck off Fire Island returning to America on July 19, 1850. Since 2001, Michael has spoken on “The Transcendentalists: Emerson, Margaret Fuller, and Theodore Parker.” He earned his Master of Divinity at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, PA while serving as Student Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, PA, and at Thomas Paine UU Fellowship in Collegeville, PA.

His studies included the Sacred Feminine, the creative and spiritual gifts of Hildegard von Bingen and the goddess Asherah as the consort of God. Michael achieved his Master of Education, Secondary History Certification, at Gwynedd Mercy University while teaching religious studies. His History Seminar paper, “Margaret Fuller Shapes the Consciousness of America through the New York Tribune,” is in the libraries of the New York and Massachusetts Historical Societies.

During Margaret Fuller’s 2010 Bicentennial, Michael spoke at First Parish of Concord, the Summer Conversational Series, Concord School of Philosophy, at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, and at the UU History Conference in Waltham, MA. Currently, he is representing Margaret Fuller for the New York Cultural Heritage Tourism Network as New York State prepares for the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote 2017. His program there is “Margaret Fuller in New York: Planting the Seeds for Equality and the Sacred Marriage.” Michael adds, “I am available to travel to you. My honorarium is $350.00. I seek accommodations  through your group and also help with travel expenses as needed . I am available for in-depth workshops on Margaret Fuller including her intuitive and creative gifts and the sacred marriage she struggled to live.”

“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.

Historical Women Portrayed and Thematic Units:

Harriet Tubman: Civil War, Slavery, Underground Railroad, Abolition

Sojourner Truth: Civil War, Women Suffrage, Abolition, Slavery, Itinerant Preacher

Bessie Coleman: World War 1, Aviation, Jim Crow, Roaring Twenties

Madam C.J. Walker: Entrepreneur (Hair, skin & nail products), Civil Rights, Harlem Renaissance

Mary Fields: Wild West, Mail Carrier

Phillis Wheatley: Revolutionary War, (General George Washington, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere), Revolutionary Poet, Literary Genius

Hatshepsut: Egyptian Pharaoh

Cathy Williams-female Buffalo Soldier:  Civil War, Wild West, Buffalo Soldier

******All of the above women may be seen and read about on my web site.

Audience Range: Grades three to adults Geographic Range: Anywhere in the USA and Abroad—Whomever calls I will come.

Books Written:

Belle:  A beautiful woman inherits her father's farm and inherits all that goes into running a successful farm; love, romance, marriage, tragedy.

Ms. Emmaline's Little Book of Wit & Wisdom:  It is a list of phrases parents used on the farm of a little girl growing up in South Carolina.  It is the African Proverbs meeting Roots.

Zach and his Lucky Zebra Socks:  A little five-year-old walking to the beat of his own drum; in dressing himself; he is extremely lucky whenever he wears his zebra socks.

Deedle, Deedle Your House is on Fire!  The best summer adventures since Huckleberry Finn.

 **I am available for your next Book Club Meeting or Book Signing.  Books may be ordered from Amazon or Author house.

 I am available for your next:  Banquet, luncheon, meeting, conference, convention, community day, family reunion, youth summit, summer camp, church program, school program, college seminar, women conference/forum, documentary, feature film, radio talk show, TV talk show, and birthday parties.

 I also present a very special KWANZAA presentation –everyone gets involved --making gifts, dancing and singing.

 **** For the sixth year I will present The Harriet Tubman summer camp and the Bessie Coleman summer camp.  A unique camp fusing history and science-STEM.

 NEW! NEW!!  NEW!!  NEW!!

  QUILT STORIES---QUILTS MY MOTHER MADE ON DISPLAY, STORIES ABOUT THE QUILTING BEES, AND HOW TO MAKE A QUILT.

MOTHER EARTH—CHARACTER FOR NATURE FESTS, GARDENING CLUBS, REFUGE CENTERS, SCHOOLS, EARTH DAY, ETC.

 Please share this information with others and I do hope our path cross soon, thank you.

~ 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