Community Calendar

On Sunday, October 9th at 2 pm, the Chocolate Church Performing Arts Center is partnering with the Cosmopolitan Club of Bath to present a rare and very special performance of “Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington” – An Afternoon with Senator Margaret Chase Smith on the main stage of the Chocolate Church.
Established actor, Ms. Sally Jones, from Norway, Maine; portrayed Maine’s Senator Smith in this extraordinary one woman play written by Maine playwright Linda Britt at opera houses, universities, and professional theatres all over the state; usually to sold-out crowds. This is her first performance in several years and should not be missed!

This special performance is a fundraiser for both the Chocolate Church and the Cosmopolitan Club of Bath to help these organizations ensure their respective futures’ bringing great performances to the region and inspiring the aspirations of women, in this instance by looking at Maine’s history.

In the play, Senator Smith speaks directly to the audience in a warm and often humorous way, telling the story of her private and public life from early days in Skowhegan to being the only woman elected to both the House and the Senate. As the only female Senator, she courageously challenged Senator Joseph McCarthy during the 1950’s in her famous “Declaration of Conscience” speech that is incorporated into the play.

Following the performance, the actress remains in character as the Senator, and chats with the audience, asking them to share times that their paths have crossed. At past productions, some people came to thank the Senator for her help, occasionally bringing flowers and gifts or coming onto the stage to take the Senator’s hand to tell their story.

After seeing the show, Amanda Huotari, Executive Director of Celebration Barn Theatre brought the play to the South Paris theatre for three performances. “Sally Jones’ performance is magical. Audience members will leave with the sense that they’ve just spent a delightful evening with the Senator herself.”
Angie Stockwell, collection specialist at the Margaret Chase Smith Library at the University of Maine who also worked with the Senator said, “It brought tears to my eyes to see her brought to life so accurately. Don’t miss this opportunity to view this excellent portrayal of Margaret Chase Smith. It’s enlightening and entertaining.”
Sandra Poland of West Paris said in a letter to the SunJournal newspaper that she expected a dry history play, but “I was so wrong. The play was brilliantly written. Sally Jones was magnificent in her portrayal of Senator Smith.”

Margaret Chase Smith was the first woman senator in the United States; and the Boston Globe, the New Yorker Magazine, and the Portland Press Herald have all featured her in recent articles regarding her leadership at an important moment in history. Seeing “Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington” will give the audience a clearer picture of Maine’s Senator who was “a woman of many firsts.”

Tickets are $18 in advance or $20 at the door. Tickets are available at www.chocolatechurcharts.org or by calling the box office 207-442-8455. The Chocolate Church Arts Center is located at 804 Washington Street in Bath. More info at chocolatechurcharts.org or info@cosmopolitanclubofbath.org.

Our special thanks to our event sponsors: xxx………… for helping to make this performance possible

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