READY TO SERVE
is created from letters the nurses sent home from France. They speak of wounded doughboys who needed the skilled care a trained nurse could administer. One nurse wrote home saying, "I may forget the names, but I will remember the faces of those brave lads forever." In 1917 Johns Hopkins Base Hospital 18 accompanied the first American Army troops to France. The 64 nurses included in the staff were all graduates of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD. In their northern location the Johns Hopkins Base Hospital 18 faced punishing cold weather which froze medicines, and stressed patients and staff. Caring for increasing battle casualties stretched the nurses' endurance but they never stopped. Through their letters we have a close-up of a battlefield hospital. "The story is a fascinating slice of history that hasn’t received the attention it deserves. Schoettler embodies her character completely, making it easy to forget she is playing a character at all." DCist ABOUT ELLOUISE SCHOETTLER: Maryland spoken word artist Ellouise Schoettler is known for researching stories of unknown women and then bringing them to life with "heart and humor." In Ready to Serve she focuses on women's little known WWI history. "This story will be 100 years old in 2017-2018 so I wanted to give these nurses a voice during the time of the World War One Centennial." Schoettler performs nationwide for adult and family audiences.Ready to Serve premiered at the DC Capital Fringe in 1916 and Schoettler has toured with it since then. For more about her: ellouiseschoettler.com CONTACT Ellouise Schoettler EllouiseSchoettler@gmail.com Facebook.com/FleshOnOldBones Twitter.com/ellouisestory www.ellouiseschoettler.com "Your performance brought to life the experience of World War I nurses and revealed its impact on their lives and the nation. The storytelling format is an engaging venue for historical research." Phoebe Letocha, Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD. " Thank you for sharing your WWI nurses story Ready to Serve with us last evening. The silence in the room as you talked demonstrates how involved the audience was with your story. What a wonderful experience for those attending." Pat Wischard, Pr/Marketing/Adult Programs Librarian "It was breathtaking.... so glad to hear these stories that were up until now untold!" Amy Ford, Branch Manager "Thanks again for a beautifully told story of the skill, strength, and courage of our fore-sisters who were an integral part of the U.S. military presence during WWI. What a perfect performance for Women's History Month! Margaret Polischek , Librarian |
"Schoettler goes way beyond remembering this brave group of 64 women - she brings their stories to life and honors their forgotten legacy." DC Theatre Scene. PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE 2018 READY TO SERVE March 4 C.Burr Artz Public Library 2 PM 110 E. Patrick St Frederick, MD March 26 Veterans in Society Conference Speakers: March 27th Ready to Serve Roanoke, VA April 7 Queen Anne County Library Rescheduled to September1 Centerville, MD April 8 Fairfax Museum Sunday .... 2 P.M. 10209 Main Street Fairfax, VA 220303630 April 19 Harford County Comm. College 12:30 PM Harford, Maryland May 2 Cape May, New Jersey May 18 Private Event Glenwood, MD July 29 Writers Conference Flesh on Old Bones Workshop Garrett College Garrett, MD November 9 A Gold Star Mother's Journey Premiere - NEW show 7 - 9 PM Fee TBA Sponsored by Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society Aldersgate Fellowship Hall 3800 Shamrock Drive Charlotte, NC November 10 FLESH ON OLD BONES Workshop 9:30 - 12:30 FEE TBA Adersgate Fellowship Hall Olde Meck Genealogical Soc. "I had heard so much about Ellouise's great storytelling and she didn't disappoint." Oconee Cty. Library, GA "An epic story - about 64 courageous women and their iconic WW I service." Stories in the Round, Hagerstown, MD ------------------------------------------------------------- |
