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First Lady Suite

Words and Music by Michael John LaChiusa

March 2023

First Lady Suite is an enthralling look into the lives of some of history’s most neglected figures, the wives of U.S. presidents.  The musical is presented in four vignettes.  The first piece, Over Texas, takes place aboard Air Force One on November 22nd, 1963. Mary Gallagher, the First Lady’s secretary, and Evelyn Lincoln, secretary to the President, are relaxing as they fly into Dallas. While napping, Mary’s dreams become portentous nightmares as they are haunted by a ghostly Jackie and an eerie Lady Bird.  Where’s Mamie? is a time-travel fantasy as Mamie, melancholic and alone on her birthday, is paid a visit by the celebrated opera star Marian Anderson.  They travel to Algiers to confront Ike about an affair and warn him of the racial strife he’ll face later as President.  Olio presents first daughter Margaret Truman singing at a recital but constantly upstaged by First Lady Bess. Eleanor Sleeps Here is a heart-rending examination of the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok as they’re flown over Washington by Amelia Earhart. 

". . .this intrepid company has given us the gift of a well-staged First Lady Suite, that is beautifully sung, while realizing its creator's wit and probing consideration of the line between power and position in America." 

Talkin' Broadway

Photos by Jessica Holleque

Cast and crew

Ilah Raleigh as Marian Anderson

Christine Wade as Amelia Earhart, Evelyn Lincoln, Chauffeur

Abilene Olson as Margaret Truman

Sara Sawyer as Eleanor Roosevelt, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Lady Bird Johnson

Greta Grosch as Lorena Hick and Bess Truman

Paul Coate Dwight Eisenhower

Julia Ennen as U/S

Kyler Chase as U/S

Directed by Lindsay Fitzgerald

Music Directed by Harrison Wade

Vocal Directed by Christine Wade

Stage Managed by Laina Grendle

Lighting Designed by Laina Grendle

Technical Associate by Uriyah Dalman

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