First-person historical interpretation is a powerful and impactful teaching tool for groups of all ages, and is an effective way of engaging modern students with aspects of the past which can be difficult to grasp. Composing accurate scripts presents different challenges, particularly if the subject is a person who had been historically silenced. In this Literary Salon, historical interpreters Valerie Davis and Debbie Phillips will present on the processes of accurate script-writing and portrayal, particularly for women and persons of color, who are often silent in the written record.

WHEN: Thursday, November 8, 2018, 7 pm – 9 pm

WHERE: Patrick Henry Pub & Grille in the upstairs salon; 2300 East Broad Street in Historic Church Hill

COST: Free and open to the public (no ticket required)

SPEAKERS

Valerie Davis is a gifted storyteller and actress whose powerful presentation \”From Tragedy to Triumph: the Martha Ann Fields Story\” has been shared with dozens of schools and churches to critical acclaim. She was written and starred in many One Woman shows, highlighting issues like domestic violence and also celebrating the bravery of women of color throughout history. Her workshops on storytelling are enlightening, and she has dedicated her work to the memory of her mother, Margaret A. Davis (\”Queen Margaret\”).

 

 

Debbie Phillips is a local historian and regional tour guide who has been composing historical scripts for nine years. Her characters include Eliza Poe, Edgar\’s birth mother; Elmira Shelton, Poe\’s first and last love; Patrick Henry\’s eldest child Patsey Henry Fontaine; Sally Tompkins, Captain of the Confederacy; Martha Washington, and more. Debbie manages public programs and rentals at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Shockoe Bottom, and enjoys engaging the public with history in unique and interactive ways.