Eleanor Roosevelt I: The Early Years
With Rene Goodwin
In the Public sphere Eleanor Roosevelt exuded a zest for life and carved out a career and
reputation as First Lady by championing the equality of people of all nations. Through
her efforts the world began to look anew at human rights and equality. She soon became
known not just as First Lady of the United States, but rather, as First Lady of the World
and is considered the prime architect of the United Nation’s Declaration of Human
Rights. Though she fought on the world’s stage to improve the lives of others, she
struggled in the shadow of her famous husband, and in her privates roles as wife,
mother, and daughter, she suffered much personal pain and disappointment.
This first person historical interpretation allows students to meet the remarkable Eleanor
Roosevelt and share her passions as well as her pains while looking back in time at
America and the world.
Philadelphia-born Rene Goodwin seized the opportunity to begin studying voice, dance
and piano at age 11. Her training continued at the London Academy of Music and
Dramatic Arts and with noted local Soprano, Dolores Ferraro Cascarino. Since 1990 she
has continued private voice work. She currently teaches voice, and serves as a musical
mentor for the Philly Pops, with whom she has performed. Ms. Goodwin has studied
ballet and jazz dance, and she still studies tap. She credits her vibrant spontaneity to high
school debate training and to her experience traveling with the Annenberg Children’s
Theater Company. As an entertainer doing the Florida circuit as part of a standup duo
(formerly with Michael Ryan and now with pianist husband Ed Hagopian), Ms.
Goodwin fine-tuned the entertainer’s art of audience give-and-take.
In the 1980’s, Ms. Goodwin joined the American Historical Theatre in a murder mystery
written and produced by founders William and Pamela Sommerfield. She performed
again with AHT in Night Thoughts, a Sommerfield play commissioned by the
Pennsylvania Historical Society. Later, the Sommerfields approached her to develop the
Eleanor Roosevelt presentations. Goodwin has appeared at numerous venues including
the white House Visitors Center, the Theodore Roosevelt Museum, the National
Archives, and Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge,
213 Pierce Street, Philadelphia PA, 19148-1927 * Ph: 215-625-0986
Website: www.AHTheatre.org * email: Cynthia@AHTtheatre.comcastbiz.net