Delmar Gardens of Gwinnett was pleased to have had a
wonderful performance on, July 7, 2009, by M. Kay
duPont. As the 16th First Lady of the United
States, Kay gave a performance worthy of Broadway.
She has spent three years researching Mary Todd Lincoln,
and has also penned a novel, "Loving Mr. Lincoln."
The residents of Delmar Gardens loved Kay's portrayal of
Mary Todd Lincoln. She took 26 years of marriage of
America's most famous legends, and made it real.
Sandi Armstrong, Activity Director, Delmar
Gardens of Gwinnett
Kay duPont’s
one-woman show, A Visit with Mary Todd Lincoln, was a
delightful entertainment for our group of residents from
the Cohen Home. Viewing the Lincoln’s life through the
eyes of the First Lady gave us such interesting insights
into our most famous president, Abraham Lincoln. The
loving relationship reflected in Mary’s words brings
life to a president who is
often seen as a
formal, forbidding figure. Even more importantly, my
senior residents who are suffering memory loss are
stimulated and excited by history when it is presented
in such a beautiful story format. A Visit with Mary Todd
Lincoln is a marvelous example of bringing history to
life through that narrative story approach.
Connie Prunch
Dodge, Activity Director
I
was so glad that we were able to arrange for all three
of the programs you provided for us at The Reserve at
Lake Keowee. I thought you should know the property
owners at The Reserve really enjoyed both the author
talk on Thursday night and the performance on Saturday
morning. I think they were as impressed as I was with
your vast knowledge of the Lincolns. The author talk was
interesting and informative. We all learned facts about
the Lincolns we didn’t know before. And the performance
was moving ... particularly when Mrs. Lincoln was
talking about the loss of her children. I thought each
program complemented the other very well. Additionally,
the presentation to the school group on Friday was
fantastic ... a kind of melting of the author talk and
the performance in one, but with the interaction
children thrive on. The children were very attentive and
interested in what you had to say, which I think is a
tribute to your ability to present the information and
communicate well with the group. Thank you for coming to
The Reserve, and please give my best to "Mrs. Lincoln."
Heather Goss,
Executive Director, the Reserve at Lake Keowee Community
Foundation
I wanted to let
you know how much I enjoyed your presentations recently
at The Reserve at Lake Keowee. The Saturday “one
-person play” was very entertaining and educational.
You made Mrs. Lincoln come alive and gave an insight
into a point of view that I had never considered
before. It was educational and entertaining at the same
time.
Mike Panther
"Thank you so much for
performing your wonderful story at the Jimmy Carter
Presidential Library. The audience, as well as I, was
enthralled, delighted, and touched with your lovely
portrayal and with Mary Todd Lincoln’s insights into the
Presidency and her life with Mr. Lincoln."
Sonia
Robinson, Jimmy Carter Museum
"Great
job! You made Mary Lincoln come alive like I have never seen
her before. This is the way for people to learn history—by
making the characters real. Wonderful. You treated Mr.
Lincoln with sensitivity, and Mary’s love for him shone
through the entire presentation. I can see them holding
hands and smiling at you. Bravo!!"
Richard Freeman,
Lincoln and Civil War Presentations
"The
show is wonderful! So endearing. I think everyone will walk
away
with a
greater affection for both Mary and Abe."
Cathy Kaemmerlen, Southern Order of Storytellers
"Let me say
again what a pleasure it was to have you speak at the
Roswell Library as Mary Todd Lincoln. From all the good
comments I heard from many from the 43 attendees, your
presentation was thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated."
James A.
Overbeck, Reference Librarian, Roswell Public Library
"You as Mary
Lincoln just blew me away!"
Mike
Stewart, Mike Stewart Seminars, attended performance at
Jimmy Carter Library
"Your
presentation of Mary Lincoln was overwhelming and stunning!
I kept pinching myself to see if all that was real, and it
was!"
Eleanor S. Burger, attended performance at Roswell Library
"Wow,
Kay, you've really taken your speaking career to a new level
with Mary Lincoln. Your attention to detail was quite
apparent; you've really done your homework. Keep up the fine
work."
Richard Biggs, attended performance at National Speakers
Association
"You
were absolutely FABULOUS on Saturday. Thank you for such a
wonderful surprise. I learned new things about the Lincolns
and was so impressed with your ability to 'become' Mary
Lincoln. Congratulations!"
Marilynn T. Mobley, Acorn PR Consulting,
attended
performance at National Speakers Association
"I thoroughly
enjoyed your presentation based on your book Loving Mr.
Lincoln at the library recently. You made the character
of Mary Todd Lincoln come alive. Your performance is a prime
example of history that is not just places and dates. The
terms captivating, educational, and
entertaining describe your production perfectly."
Ron
Kemp, Storytelling Chairman, Roswell Folk & Heritage Bureau
