Why a Reader's Theater Production on the Equal Rights Amendment?

The idea for Press On, My Sisters grew from a desire to generate interest in the Equal Rights Amendment at our 2023 Women’s Equality Day event.

Our national League’s action alert on the ERA last spring prompted conversations on the ERA. Hasn’t it passed? Wasn’t it dead? Is it still needed?

As we dug into these questions, we discovered that the ERA was first proposed in 1923, and that – 100 years later – it was stuck in limbo. As of summer 2023, it was not yet part of the Constitution, but not yet dead. We believe it is needed now more than ever as an important tool in the judicial branch of government’s toolbox. 

Elota Patton, a South Central Texas League member with a theater background, suggested reader’s theater as a perfect vehicle to tell the story of the ERA and generate interest in moving it out of limbo and across the finish line. League President Janis Richardson agreed to work with her by collecting images and photos for a slide presentation to accompany the script.   

What is Reader's Theater?

Reader’s theater is a style of theater in which the performers present dramatic readings of narrative material without costumes, props, scenery, or special lighting. Instead of acting out parts as in a play, the performers' goal is to read a script aloud effectively, enabling the audience to visualize the action. Performers bring the text alive by using voice, facial expressions, and some gestures.

More About the Production:

Press On, My Sisters is a 40-minute reader’s theater production that features 5 readers and approximately 300 projected images. It begins with the question “What ever happened to the ERA?” and follows a timeline of work to advance women’s rights from the early days of the suffrage movement to current times. It concludes with a call to action, asking all present to the need to help “…tell congress that equality belongs in the Constitution.”  Presenters include members of our League who have been trained by Elota Patton.

The audience will have the opportunity to listen, watch and be reminded of history that ranges from the familiar to the nearly forgotten. The presentation also highlights important aspects of women’s equality journey of which many are not aware. We have been told that the production is moving, inspiring, and at times, even a bit shocking to those who don’t understand the depth of historically unequal treatment of women. Our experience indicates that this production meets the goals of educating and prompting new commitments to action.

Our League has a creative commons copyright for Press On, My Sisters, and prefers to offer the presentation without charge.