Lakeside welcomes Sandra Day O’Connor, brought to life by Women in History Ohio, a Cleveland-based nonprofit dedicated to educating through dramatic portrayals of notable women.
O’Connor (1930-2023) grew up on the Lazy B Ranch and considered herself an Arizona cowgirl. Yet she would go on to become the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court.
After graduating in the top 10% of her class at Stanford Law School, she faced the same barriers as many women of her time and struggled to find employment in the legal field. Undeterred, she forged her own path, beginning her career as an attorney, then serving as an Arizona state senator and later as a judge.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan fulfilled a campaign promise by appointing the first woman to the Supreme Court. His choice of O’Connor was seen as unconventional due to her lack of federal judicial experience. Still, her consensus-building approach ultimately made her one of the most consequential justices in the Court’s history.
In this portrayal, Lynna Metrisin shares stories from O’Connor’s early life on the Lazy B Ranch, her marriage to John O’Connor and his support of her career, her groundbreaking role on the Supreme Court, and her life after retirement.
Metrisin joined Women in History Ohio in 2019 following a 40-year career as a social worker. She earned a bachelor’s in theatre and a master’s from the School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. Her professional experience spans child welfare, pediatric oncology social work and hospice care.
Alongside her social work career, Metrisin remained active in performing arts, appearing with Cleveland Public Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Blank Canvas and Talespinners Children’s Theatre. She also performed with the DanceEvert Company in the award-winning dance-theater production Alma de la Tierra.
Through her work with Women in History Ohio, Metrisin combines her passion for performance with a commitment to highlighting often-overlooked contributions of women. She conducts extensive research and writes her own scripts, deepening her connection to each historical figure she portrays.
In addition to O’Connor, Metrisin has portrayed Jane Addams, Betty Ford, Carrie Chapman Catt, Bella Abzug, Judge Florence Allen and Jeannette Rankin, with plans to add Shirley Temple Black and Margaret Bourke-White to her repertoire.
