Eleanor Roosevelt Impersonator

Watch history come to life when Racine actress and historical impersonator, Jessica Michna, will play the role of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during her husband’s 1936 reelection campaign. The show deals with the Great Depression, the worst economic catastrophe the nation has ever known, and how the former First Lady and her husband, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, dealt with the crisis under enormous pressure.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Jessica Michna developed a love of history at an early age as she and her family visited the many historic sites throughout America. She earned a degree in psychology from the UW system, working several years as a researcher and lecturer, but her love of theater and history would eventually bring Jessica to found her company, “First Impressions.”

Since in the year 2000, Jessica has appeared before a wide range of audiences, including appearances at the National Churchill Museum, the Lincoln Boyhood Home National Site, and Valley Forge. In 2016, she was awarded the Presidential Service Center’s Distinguished Service award for her riveting portrayals of America’s First Ladies. Jessica is particularly fond of performing for senior groups and communities. The life experiences of those in her senior audiences enhances her understanding of life stories. She often reminds her audiences that everyone has a history and encourages them to record their own life stories. “History is not a litany of which general died under which tree. It is the story and life experiences of each human life.”