Just on a lark, a few of us Great Basin Costume ladies went to an audition for a Donner Party documentary filming this year. We were in costume and all got callbacks, which happened today.
I auditioned for Margaret Reed, who was 32 when she set out across the country as part of the Donner-Reed party. Here she is later in life, after surviving The Ordeal:
I’d be happy to play Margaret Reed, who kept her entire family alive without the help of her husband James, who had been banished from the wagon train earlier in the expedition. The Reeds did not resort to cannibalism, and later settled in San Jose, where I went to school and walked down Reed Street every day to get to class.
I was pretty crap at my lines, having no acting experience whatsoever. We were asked to dress in costume if we had them, so this is what I wore:
At least I looked the part! Kindof…!
10 Comments
Mutemouia
January 28, 2015 at 7:44 PMGorgeous costume Lauren ! Love it!
Lauren Stowell
January 28, 2015 at 11:41 PMThank you!
Mi
January 28, 2015 at 10:13 PMI live in San Jose and had no idea that was why it's called Reed Street! How fascinating.
Love the look.
Lauren Stowell
January 28, 2015 at 11:42 PMI didn't either for years and years until a friend of mine pointed out the original house and told me that's why the street was named that. Another San Jose – to – Reno connection 🙂
The Peeved Hippie
January 28, 2015 at 11:46 PMIf you haven't read it, I highly recommend "Snow Mountain Passage" by James Houston. It's about the Reed family, and takes place mostly in San Jose after the, erm, unpleasantness. Excellent preparation for the role, I'd think, and a good read even if they only use you as an extra.
El
January 29, 2015 at 8:08 AMHow beautiful! I believe you were wonderful in your acting! 🙂
unknownprettylies.blogspot.com
AuntieNan
January 29, 2015 at 1:14 PMYou look great! Hope you get it, tho poor Mrs. Reed's totally worn out look will be difficult for your lovely face to reproduce:) your can-do spirit will prevail, tho, I'm sure!
All the best,
Nancy N
Rosa
January 29, 2015 at 5:52 PMYou look so lovely! Fingers crossed you get the role:-)
Michelle Hamilton
January 30, 2015 at 2:36 AMAnother interesting Donner Party fact, James Reed served with Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hawk War in 1832. Reed brought with him paper word from the war with him on the Donner Party, including one that had Lincoln's signature. Remarkable the items survived and made it to California.
Morgan
January 30, 2015 at 11:22 PMBeautiful! I've been looking for a pattern to make a skirt like that!