The Royal Oaks Retirement Community in Sun City recently welcomed a Titanic-themed performance by Parasols & Petticoats, LLC, a Victorian and Edwardian influenced group of volunteers from around the Phoenix area featuring the fashions, lifestyles and personalities of those eras.

The Titanic show featured several “personalities” of the era, including The Unsinkable Molly Brown and John Jacob Astor IV, among others – whether they survived the sinking or not. The program is as historically accurate as possible, both in fashions and in stories of the people portrayed.

Parasols & Petticoats, LLC is the brainchild of former volunteers at the Phoenix area’s Pioneer Living History Village who wanted to take their knowledge and interest in the Victorian and Edwardian eras to a larger audience. Their shows provide an entertaining look at a society much different from that of today.

The managing partners of the group, organized in 2015, are Cindy Freehauf, Luzanne Hansen and Malinda Strom. Since that time the group has been providing shows to country club audiences, women’s clubs, church groups, living facilities and more. Show content changes and develops with research by group members, and with enough notice the group can provide a show uniquely tailored to a particular era, event or topic.

Parasols and Petticoats, LLC is always looking for men, women and children of all ages, ethnicities and cultures to volunteer with their group. There are no dues or fees to join, and any level of participation is welcome. The group meets monthly at various locations throughout the valley and offers historical clothing advice, crafts such as hat creation and the like to its members.

For more information on how to join or to request a show, contact Cindy Freehauf, managing partner, at 480-254-0704 or parasolsandpetticoatsllc@gmail.com.