Elena Kritter to Star as First Woman to Run for President in VICTORIA WOODHULL at TNC

Theater for New City and the Textile Co.'s production of "Victoria Woodhull" has cast Elena Kritter in the lead of this play about the first woman to run president of the United States long before women had the right to vote.

Theater for the New City Executive Director Crystal Field and the Textile Co., an in-house group at the theater, are presenting "Victoria Woodhull," written by Claude Solnik and directed by Donna Mejia, Nov. 17 through Dec. 4 at Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave., New York, NY.

The theater and the group announced Kritter has been cast as Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to own a Wall Street brokerage and the first woman to run for president - in 1872.

"I'm learning about her," Kritter said after reading the play and researching this largely forgotten figure in American history. "How did she feel about things, working, education reform?"

While "Hamilton" brings one of the nation's founding fathers to stage, "Victoria Woodhull" brings to stage a Suffragette who lived much of her life, and ran for president, while in New York City.

Woodhull was born in Homer, Ohio, but moved to New York City with her father Buck and sister Tennessee or Tennie.

They started doing séances in Manhattan where they soon met Cornelius Vanderbilt (Ed Altman), the ultimate insider and industrialist, who funded their rise through society.

"I've always loved resurrecting lost history," Kritter said. "It feels so special not only with the political climate. A lot of these events happened in this city."

Although Woodhull like so many New Yorkers was born elsewhere, she became the first woman to own a Wall Street brokerage - with Vanderbilt's help.

She gave one of her most famous speeches at the Great Hall of Cooper Union, just blocks from Theater for the New City.

When she ran for president, her opponents sought to quash her effort, leading to her arrest and incarceration not far from the theater where the production is being presented.

"She was in prison down on the East Side," Kritter continued. "We're in a geographically potent area."

Her father Buck is played by Chaz McCormack while her husband Col. James Blood is played by Henrick Sawczak and her ex-husbandCanning is portrayed by Adam Reilly.

Suffragettes Susan B Anthony (Monica Bell), Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Collette Campbell) and Harriet Beecher Stowe (Larissa Kruesi) also play key roles in the story.

Ed McGlynn portrays a congressman who became Woodhull's nemesis, leading the push to defeat and defame her.

"My favorite line that I get to say is, 'Why are men so afraid of women with ability?' Juliette Monaco, who plays Victoria's sister, Tennie, said. "I think that's why people are afraid of Hillary Clinton and having women bosses."

Monaco said she was surprised to see that Woodhull more than a century ago focused on many issues still relevant today, such as equal pay for equal work regardless of gender.

"These ideas have been around much longer than we realize," Monaco continued. "It still does feel like there's an awful lot that we don't have. It's an interesting continuation of a conversation we've been having for centuries."

While "Hamilton" brings a famous historic figure to life via theater, "Victoria Woodhull" seeks to revive someone who has been nearly erased from American history.

"It's nice being able to resurrect this flame, this story about women who fight," Kritter said. "The flame either gets snuffed out or passed on. You go back in time and bring it forward to the future."

"Victoria Woodhull" is being presented Fri.-Sat. at 8 p.m. and Sun at 2 p.m. Nov. 17 to Dec. 4 (except for Thanksgiving and the Friday after Thanksgiving), at Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave., New York, NY. Tickets are $18 and $15 for senior citizens and students at www.theaterforthenewcity.net or by calling the theater at 212-254-1109.