This one is for our history and theater buffs! Author Jo Willett will be with us, discussing her newest book, "Sarah Siddons: The First Celebrity Actress". Learn all about her meteoric rise to fame, the challenges she experienced, and how she transformed the face of theatre. We can't wait for this fascinating conversation!

About the Book:

Sarah Siddons grew up always poor and often hungry. But before she was 30 she had become a superstar. Her rise was not easy. Her London debut, aged just 20, was a disaster. But the young actress – already a mother of two - rebuilt her career, returning triumphantly to the capital seven years later. Her shows were sell-outs.

In a world of vicious satire and gossip, Sarah battled to protect her reputation. She took constant pains to portray herself as a wife and mother, but this hid some darker truths. This remarkable woman also redefined the world of theatre and became the first celebrity actress.

About Jo:

Jo was a television drama producer for many years. She is the proud recipient of a BAFTA, a Royal Television Society Award and an International Emmy. Her first book, "The Pioneering Life of Mary Wortley Montague", about the woman who brought smallpox inoculation to the west, was published during the Covid crisis. "Sarah Siddons: The First Celebrity Actress" is her second.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library.

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