Some inspiring and notable women from America’s history will make an appearance at the Museum at Central School in Kalispell on May 2 and 3.

The Flathead County Democratic Women present “Notable Heroines of America,” a theatrical show featuring 10 local actresses in roles of historical proportions.

Mary Reckin, director and organizer of the event and board member for the Flathead County Democratic Women, said the show’s premise is simple but important. Historical female figures will be introduced to the audience and then interviewed. There are no set lines, blocking or scripts, allowing the actresses to tell the stories in an authentic and improvised way.

Reckin said the interactive dialogue format is extremely effective in terms of impact on the audience.

“I like sharing history,” Reckin said. “This show is very much educational, but also entertaining. These ladies make the historical characters relatable.”

From author Harper Lee’s distinct Southern drawl to actress Jeanette MacDonald’s soaring operatic vocals, the women highlighted in this production cover a wide range of eras, talents, historical significance and impact. Reckin said variety was important when deciding on characters, because “you never know who someone will connect with.”

The historical women being portrayed in the production include Lee, played by Judy Elwood, and MacDonald, played by Fallon Dalrymple.

“This is a great local community effort,” Dalrymple said of the show. “It’s inspiring.”

The preparation for the production has challenged the actresses, not only to learn everything about the women they portray, but also to create and become the character.

“I’ve learned a lot of history about these prominent women,” Elwood said. “And I’ve been living her [Harper Lee] for about two months. It’s really fun.”

The historical women included in the production also possess an element of present relevance: Each figure made a tangible contribution to the world as it is today.

Paige Rappleye will portray American birth control activist, nurse, writer and sex educator Margaret Sanger.

“Learning from our history is so important, and knowing what an important role women have had,” Rappleye said. “Women have done so much ... making things better for the future.”

Karen Richardson, who portrays Montana political figure and teacher Maureen Mansfield, said it’s been “eye-opening to see how important all of these women have been to who we are now.”

Other historical figures featured in the production will include marine biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson, played by Darlene Frahm; actress, singer and dancer Shirley Temple, played by Jeanna Wisher; singer and actress Jo Stafford, played by Nicole Cannavaro; social and women’s rights activist Mary Ann M’Clintock, played by Wendy McFadden; abolitionist and women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth, played by Margaret Baylinson; and author, activist and Chumash tribal elder Pilulaw Khus, played by Sandra Bee Boettler.

“[The show] is important to recognizing the positions women have held throughout history,” Boettler said. “But it is also inspiring those women who will do great things in the future.”

“Notable Heroines in America” will be performed May 2 and 3 at 3 p.m. at the Museum at Central School, located at 124 Second Ave. E. in Kalispell. Tickets are $20, and include admission, tea and an assortment of sweets. Advance tickets are available at the Kalispell Grand Hotel, and if the show doesn’t sell out, remaining tickets will be available at the door. Proceeds go to the Flathead County Democratic Women’s scholarship and community programs.

For more information, visit www.fcdemocraticwomen.com.

Entertainment editor Stefanie Thompson can be reached at 758-4439 or [email protected].