Black History Month Event ~ Film Premiere and Discussion

Film Premiere of “The Choice”

followed by a discussion of

 Interpreting the African American Experience

at Historic Sotterley

 

Lexington Park Library, Meeting Room B

February 12, 2015

6:00 p.m.

Hollywood, MD – Historic Sotterley Plantation collaborated with many individuals and organizations to create “The Choice – Risking Your Life for Freedom”, the living history presentation about Sotterley’s enslaved who left with the British in 1814. Performed live at Sotterley for the past three years, a film version has been created thanks to a grant from The Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium and the Star Spangled 200, Historic Sotterley produced the 40 minute video, with the filming expertise of David Taylor and crew from Phocus Video. The public is now invited to attend a premiere viewing of “The Choice” on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lexington Park Library in Meeting Room B.

In addition to the film premiere, the audience will have the opportunity to meet some of the actors involved with the production, as well as learn and ask questions about other developing projects related to the interpretation of the African American experience at Historic Sotterley Plantation.  

In the summer of 1814, 49 of Sotterley’s enslaved men, women and children joined up the British to pursue freedom. “The Choice,” written by Dale Jones and directed by Dawna Diaz, features superb local actors and will be added to the many educational resources offered by Sotterley.

This event is free to the public and has been recommended by
the St. Mary's County NAACP
and the Unified Commission for Afro-American Contributors
in St. Mary's County.

No reservations necessary. Please join us.

 

Our Sincere Thanks to ALL for THE CHOICE!

Our living history performances of "The Choice: Risking Your Life for Freedom" just wrapped up after three years running! The success of this program was due to commitment, talents, time, and effort of so many - from the acquisition of grant funding to the creation of the Sotterley history specific script to time period costume design to auditions to rehearsals to the generous sponsors to on-site volunteers to the fabulous performances by the actors!

 

Applause! Applause!

We thank each and every one of you! Please know that all of the feedback we have received from audiences over these years has been glowingly positive!

Our sincere thanks to the following:

Playwright

Dale Jones, Making History Connections

Dale Jones founded Making History Connections to help museums and historic sites offer meaningful programs. He creates compelling and provocative experiences using museum theatre, living history, and guided tours and has scripted scores of museum productions, including Scenes from 1837 at Conner Prairie and Old Sturbridge Village and The Value of Life for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Director

Dawna Diaz

Dawna Diaz has a long history with Sotterley. As an outstandingly multi-talented volunteer, she has been involved in all aspects of the popular “Ghosts of Sotterley” for the past nine years. When not directing or performing on a stage, she can be found mediating or working her day job on base at Atlantic Test Range.

Costume Designer

Leon Wiebers

Leon Wiebers, an award-winning costume designer, has designed for operas, musicals, and theatre performances for the San Francisco Opera Center, English National Opera, Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Getty Museum, California Music Circus, Portland Center Stage, and Seneca Theatre. He holds a faculty position at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, is a member of USA 829, and was recently awarded a Fulbright Research Grant to South Korea for the 2012-13 academic year. 

The Cast

John Rousby Plater (guardian of George V and Sotterley)

played by

Stephen Rumpf

and

Trevor Diaz

Elizabeth Plater (John’s wife)

played by

Shannon Ivanchev

Elcie (an enslaved servant and cook)

played by

Shemika Berry

Peregrine Young (an enslaved servant in the house)

played by

Jay Hunter

Commodore Brown (a British naval officer)

played by

Eric Zabiegalski

and

Maryland Heritage Areas Authority

Maryland Humanities Council

Old Line Bank

Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium

Star Spangled 200

Students of St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Merideth Taylor

Joanna Woods

 and

Sotterley Volunteers

Pam Parker

Wesley Thomas

Julie Woods

Meagan Woods

Shayna Zabiegalski 

Raiders & Invaders at Sotterley!

Final Performances of 

“THE CHOICE” 
during Raiders & Invaders Weekend

The British are coming! 
The British are coming!

If the thought of time travel has ever appealed to you, then you’re going to enjoy The War of 1812 Raiders & Invaders Weekend in St. Mary’sCounty from June 6^th – 8^th, 2014.  Although there were no major battles fought in our area during that time so long ago, there was plenty of chaos. Get ready for a full weekend of street theater, circus arts, invasion route boat tours, a British Invasion of 1960s music, and Sotterley’s final performances of “The Choice: Risking Your Life for Freedom.”

“During the last two summers, audiences have joined us for “The Choice,” which is the Sotterley story during The War of 1812,” stated Nancy Easterling, Executive Director of Sotterley. “This year will be the third and final year of performances, as we partner with St. Mary’s County Tourism in bringing about the Raiders & Invaders Weekend.”

“The Choice: Risking Your Life for Freedom” performances will run on Saturday, June 7^th  -  10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, or 3 pm and Sunday, June 8^th  -  1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm. Purchase Tickets Online : www.sotterley.org. $10.00 per person. For adults, seniors, & children ages 6 and older. Children under 6 are free.  Parents please use your own discretion and be considerate of others in the group when making the decision for your child to participate.

Visitors are invited into the Drawing Room of the 1703 Plantation House, where the drama unfolds. British war ships have sailed up the Patuxent River; neighboring farms are being torched to the ground. Sotterley owners John Rousby Plater and his wife Elizabeth have cleared out the household furnishings, desperately trying to figure out their next move. Guests will experience another scene in the 1830’s Slave Cabin, where enslaved house servant, Peregrine bolts into the Slave Cabin, trying to convince Elcie to make the run toward freedom. British naval officer, Commodore Brown arrives on the scene, not only promising freedom to the plantation’s 64 enslaved people, but also presenting a severe ultimatum to the Sotterley owners.

In FY2011, Sotterley was awarded grants from the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, the Maryland Humanities Council, and the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium to create a living history script from Sotterley’s unique story of the War of 1812, as well as the costuming and props needed for the production. Due to the support from these three organizations, Sotterley shares a unique story with a perspective rarely told about the War of 1812.

Click here to purchase tickets!

 

For details on Raiders & Invaders

in St. Mary's County this weekend,

please CLICK HERE!

 

Escape or Stay?

FINAL SHOWING

“The Choice – Risking Your Life for Freedom”

The War of 1812 Living History

at Sotterley Plantation

June 7 & 8, 2014

Sotterley Plantation’s War of 1812 Living History “The Choice” is now in its final year of the three year National bicentennial commemoration of this war. As a partner of the Raiders & Invaders event taking place in St. Mary’s County during the first weekend in June, showings of “The Choice” will take place at Sotterley Plantation on Saturday, June 7^th, 2014 at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. and on Sunday, June 8^th, 2014 at 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. Reservations must be made in advance.

The war with the British brought hardship to the plantation but a chance at freedom for the enslaved. At this living history presentation you will meet the people who lived and labored at Sotterley during the summer of 1814.  Join us and be a part of the drama as Sotterley’s enslaved must make a difficult and daring choice. Do they escape or do they stay?  

What would you decide? 

This Living History event was written by Dale Jones of Making History Connections with costuming designed by Leon Wiebers of Loyola Marymount University. This event and its current production has been made possible by the generosity of the Maryland Humanities Council, Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium, and The Star Spangled 200.

Advanced reservations required.

$10 per person for ages 6 and up; FREE for children under 6.

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets!

###

"The CHOICE" - Our Thank You

Much thanks to all who attended the final 2012 showing of our War of 1812 Living History Event "THE CHOICE - Risking Your Life for Freedom" last Saturday.

This memorable living history event was written by Playwright Dale Jones of Making History Connections. Known for helping museums and historic sites offer meaningful programs and experiences that connect with visitors, he was able to create a dramatic production which perfectly conveyed the realities of Sotterley as a plantation during that tumultuous time period. His widely known work includes scores of museum theatre productions, including Scenes from 1837 at Conner Prairie and Old Sturbridge Village, interactive American Girl Doll plays for the Pleasant Company, and The Value of Life, for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. As Director of Interpretation, Baltimore City Life Museums, he produced museum theatre, living history and hands-on programs for over 200,000 visitors. He created hands-on walking tours for the Discovery Channel Store in Washington DC., and recently designed the living history interpretations for AASLH’s living history research project. We are grateful for the connection made with Dale Jones!

A huge thanks to an important Sotterley friend - Dawna Diaz, who directed "The Choice." Bringing a wealth of knowledge, talent, and an incredible level of dedication to our site, we applaud our long-time friend, Dawna. She is one of the people who has helped tremendously to change the face of Sotterley. As an outstandingly multi-talented volunteer, she has been involved in all aspects of the popular “Ghosts of Sotterley” for the past nine years. When not directing or performing on a stage, she can be found mediating or working her day job on base at Atlantic Test Range.

Helping to make this an authentic experience, we thank Leon Wiebers, award-winning costume designer. He has designed for operas, musicals, and theatre performances for the San Francisco Opera Center, English National Opera, Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Getty Museum, California Music Circus, Portland Center Stage, and Seneca Theatre. He holds a faculty position at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, is a member of USA 829, and was recently awarded a Fulbright Research Grant to South Korea for the 2012-13 academic year.

Five amazing actors made "The Choice" come alive! Stephen Rumpf as John Rousby Plater; Shannon Ivanchev as Elizabeth Plater; Shemika Berry as Elcie; Jay Hunter as Peregrine Young; Eric Zabiegalski as Commodore Brown. The fear, conflict, anger, resolution - all of it - was palpable. To have this caliber of talent was, without a doubt, a significant part of the success of this living history event. The rave reviews have been coming from so many people who saw your performance. Applause, applause to all!

In FY2011, Sotterley was awarded grants from the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, the Maryland Humanities Council, and the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium to create a living history script from Sotterley’s unique story of the War of 1812, as well as the costuming and props needed for the production. When the script and costuming were completed it was time to begin production, and Old Line Bank stepped forward to generously sponsor the production phase of this project. Due to the support from these organizations, Sotterley was able to tell our unique story about the War of 1812 and offer this event free to the public. Your Support Matters!!!

Missed the event that everyone is talking about? Or you made it, were completely wow-ed by it, and you really want to see it again? Great news: Our 2013 performance date has been set for Saturday, May 25th, 2013 to run at 10 & 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. Save the 2013 date!

Final 2012 Performance of "THE CHOICE"

The final 2012 showing of our War of 1812 Living History Event "THE CHOICE - Risking Your Life for Freedom" will be held this Saturday, August 11th. The first two performance times are full, but we do have availability at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.


Groups of visitors are invited into the Drawing Room of the 1703 Plantation House, where the drama unfolds. British war ships have sailed up the Patuxent River; neighboring farms are being torched to the ground. Sotterley owners John Rousby Plater and his wife Elizabeth have cleared out the household furnishings, desperately trying to figure out their next move. Guests will experience another scene in the 1830’s Slave Cabin, where enslaved house servant, Peregrine bolts into the Slave Cabin, trying to convince Elcie to make the run toward freedom. British naval officer, Commodore Brown arrives on the scene, not only promising freedom to the plantation’s 64 enslaved people, but also presenting a severe ultimatum to the Sotterley owners.

Would you risk your life for FREEDOM?

In FY2011, Sotterley was awarded grants from the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, the Maryland Humanities Council, and the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium to create a living history script from Sotterley’s unique story of the War of 1812, as well as the costuming and props needed for the production. When the script and costuming were completed it was time to begin production, and Old Line Bank stepped forward to generously sponsor the production phase of this project. Due to the support from these three organizations, Sotterley is now able to share a unique story with a perspective rarely told about the War of 1812.

This event is FREE to the public, but space is limited. Advanced reservations can be made by calling the Sotterley office at 301-373-2280. Walk-ins welcome on a first come, first served basis.

Final Two Dates for “The Choice – Risking Your Life for Freedom”

The War of 1812 Living History event “The Choice – Risking Your Life for Freedom” debuted at Sotterley in early June, receiving rave reviews from attendees! The second and third showings will be held on Saturdays, July 14th and August 11th at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Groups of visitors are invited into the Drawing Room of the 1703 Plantation House, where the drama unfolds. British war ships have sailed up the Patuxent River; neighboring farms are being torched to the ground. Sotterley owners John Rousby Plater and his wife Elizabeth have cleared out the household furnishings, desperately trying to figure out their next move. Guests will experience another scene in the 1830’s Slave Cabin, where enslaved house servant, Peregrine bolts into the Slave Cabin, trying to convince Elcie to make the run toward freedom. British naval officer, Commodore Brown arrives on the scene, not only promising freedom to the plantation’s 64 enslaved people, but also presenting a severe ultimatum to the Sotterley owners.

Would you risk your life for FREEDOM?

 In FY2011, Sotterley was awarded grants from the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, the Maryland Humanities Council, and the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium to create a living history script from Sotterley’s unique story of the War of 1812, as well as the costuming and props needed for the production. When the script and costuming were completed it was time to begin production, and Old Line Bank stepped forward to generously sponsor the production phase of this project. Due to the support from these three organizations, Sotterley is now able to share a unique story with a perspective rarely told about the War of 1812.

This event is FREE to the public, but space is limited. Advanced reservations can be made by calling the Sotterley office at 301-373-2280. Walk-ins welcome on a first come, first served basis.