Frances Perkins: A Woman's Work

The Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club is proud to present Frances Perkins: A Woman's Work by Jarice Hanson Wednesday, October 8, 7 p.m. Shelburne-Buckland Community Center, corner of Main and Church St, Shelburne Falls By donation at the door.

This one-woman play written and performed by Jarice Hanson, a Professor Emerita from UMass Amherst who has been active in theater for many years, highlights the story of Frances Perkins, the first woman to hold a U.S. Cabinet position, serving as Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and her role in crafting the most important New Deal legislation. It also focuses on Perkins awakening as an activist during her time at Mount Holyoke College.
For those that think Social Security, child labor laws, minimum wage, the 40-hour work week, and policies focused on social justice have always been the work of men with ties, this presentation shows that all were crafted by one woman who wore pearls. Hanson wrote and performs this living history embodiment of Frances Perkins. It runs 70 minutes which includes a 20-minute audience Q & A with Hanson answering “in character” as Perkins. She has performed this piece at over 30 different venues. Frances Perkins: A Woman’s Work will play for one performance to benefit the SFAWC scholarship fund.