CELEBRATE FREEDOM!
The Actors' Theatre of South Carolina presents...
WHISPERS & DREAMS: VOICES OF CAROLINA SLAVE CHILDREN
Compiled and directed by Chris Weatherhead
Based on the new book by Nancy Rhyne (Sandlapper Publishing)
Starring (from left to right): Joanna Crowell, Ruth Oliver, Michael Evans,
Teresa Smith, and Charles Venning
WHISPERS AND DREAMS: THE VOICES OF CAROLINA SLAVE CHILDREN, is a play taken from an overlooked treasury of personal accounts of ex-slaves. These accounts were gathered in the early thirties by Works Projects Administration interviewers which were then compiled by Nancy Rhyne in her new book, Voices of Carolina Slave Children which were then adapted for the stage by actress/writer/producer, Chris
Weatherhead for The Actors' Theatre of South Carolina.
The play premiered in Camden last February and then played in Columbia, in Union and at The Sottile Theatre in Charleston as a fund-raiser for The Avery Reasearch Center, receiving high acclaim each time:
"'Voices' speaks with dignity, sings with humanity...brought vividly to life by an ensemble of four accomplished actors under the direction of Chris Weatherhead. "
Camden Chronicle Independent"I loved Whispers & Dreams. The ex-slaves that the actors portrayed were feisty, very human...very inspiring...not sugar-coated...the real story. Black and white people, young and old, should view this play. It will provide them the authentic voices of the slaves themselves...while slavery was cruel and inhumane, those who survived it retained their dignity and humanity and left us a legacy..."
Dr. Marvin Dulaney, Chair, Deparment of History, College of CharlestonExecutive Director, Avery Research Center for African American Studies" ...an amazing new offering...rich with truth, legend and humor...an emotional
whirlwind. Four professional actors skillfully portrayed 24 different people. I laughed, cried, gritted my teeth, wrung my hands, shook my head, swayed to the rhythms of spirituals and Gullah and reached out to hold slave child in my arms. Now with Nancy Rhyne's new book and The Actors' Theatre's new show, forgotten voices can be heard again. This is theatre you won't want to miss."
The Columbia Star, Columbia, SC
Starring a cast of four Charleston African-American professional actors who act, sing and play instruments of the period as they portray 24 different characters in the space of an hour. WHISPERS & DREAMS: VOICES OF CAROLINA SLAVE CHILDREN gives eyewitness accounts of customs, language, games, folklore, bad masters, good masters, jokes and deeply moving images of what freedom meant and how it came. Ultimately, the most important aspect of the play is that it is a celebration of the lives of a unique generation that were children during the Civil War ---a portion of a national literary treasure largely lost to the world. The observations and musings about life of these "little sparrows" soar above their suffering. Through these true stories, woven with old spirituals, The Actors' Theatre takes you on an unforgettable journey to the world of slave children.
Of the stars, Henry-Clay Middleton and Charles Venning are Charlestonians and have a great knowledge of Gullah dialect which comes in handy since they play several different Gullah men in the piece. The cast includes Teresa Smith and Joanna Crowell, who each play six ex-slaves.
The Actors' Theatre has become known throughout the state for it's excellent productions of historical and classical material. They recently moved their headquarters to Charleston.
