A one-woman show coming to several North Idaho libraries will look at the split personalities of women in western history.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, actress Melinda Strobel brings her new production “Western Women: Pioneers and Prostitutes,” to the:

►     St. Maries Public Library, 822 W. College Ave., at 7 p.m., Monday, March 1.

►     East Bonner Library, 1407 Cedar St., Sandpoint, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 2.

►     Post Falls Public Library, 821 N. Spokane St., at 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 3.

►     Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave., at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 4.

►     Boundary County District Library, 6370 Kootenai St., Bonners Ferry, at 7 p.m., Friday March 5.

►     Pinehurst-Kingston Library, 107 Main Ave., Pinehurst, at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 6.

All programs are free.

This composite presentation introduces audiences to a variety of women who helped shape the American West. Among them will be Berthenia Owens-Adair, the first woman doctor in Oregon, stage coach driver Charley Parkhurst, and Idaho’s own Molly b’Dam’, the legend of Murray.

“The spirit of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers is brought to life in these humorous, poignant portrayals of struggle and perseverance,” Strobel says.

Strobel studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and has a degree in theater from Williamette University. She has performed in many shows in Oregon and Atlanta, Ga. Among others, her credits include multiple roles in “The Scandalous Adventures of Sir Toby Trollope” for Lakewood Theater; Mollie Ralston in the Oregon Stage Company’s production of “The Mousetrap; Aston in an all-female production of Pinter’s “The Caretaker;” and Caroline Ingalls in the world premiere of “Little House on the Prairie” for Oregon Children’s Theatre.

Most recently for Blue Monkey Theatre Company, she appeared in “Antigone,” and for Northwest Classical Theatre she performed in an all-female production of “King Richard II.”

Her film credits include “Thèrése,” for Luke Films, and “Ask for More,” for Sweet Talk Productions.

 She has written and performed several one-woman shows including “Susan B. Anthony: The Napoleon of the Movement,” for which she received grants from Kentucky, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, California, and Colorado Humanities Councils.

An artist-in-residence, Strobel also teaches a various schools around Oregon. She lives in Portland and is married to Brett Strobel, minister at Christ United Methodist Church. They have two children, Colin, 15, and Peter, 11.

The North Idaho presentations are supported in part by a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council, a state-based program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.