Women's Rights NHP Hosts One Act One Woman Play

Date: August 9, 2011
Contact: Tammy Duchesne, 315.568.2991

NPS

Actress and Park VIP Barbara Hannevig performs in the Weslyan Chapel.

Women's Rights National Historical Park's recently rehabilitated Wesleyan Chapel was the setting for a play that was performed to over 50 people this Saturday, August 6th.

"From Out The Fiery Furnace," a one act play written and directed by nationally recognized playwright Christine Emmert and performed by 40-year veteran of the stage and screen Barbara Hannevig, featured the stories oflife in the 19^th century at Hopewell Village around the Civil War. The play demonstrates how a woman's life and love could be singularly tracked through her relationship with a Hopewell Stove.

The play premiered during Hopewell's Harvest Time event on September 19, 2009, to two full house audiences. Since the debut, Emmert and Hannevig have taken the show on the road to introduce new audiences to the history of Hopewell Furnace and to address topics such as run-away slaves, "fallen" women, indentured servants, orphaned children, and life in the 19^th century. The audience was intrigued and following the performance several great questions were asked.

Women's Rights National Historical Park was proud to invite the public into the chapel to enjoy the performance free of charge. The rehabilitation work done to the Chapel now permits programs and tours, plays and performances, and lectures to be held in a closed space. In 1848, the Wesleyan Chapel was the location of the Seneca Falls Woman's Rights Convention. The Convention assembled on July 19 and then again on July 20. The Declaration of Sentiments, which declared all men and women were created equal, was ratified by one hundred signers as a result of the Convention.

Women's Rights National Historical Park was established to preserve, protect and interpret for the education, inspiration, and benefit of present and future generations the nationally significant historical and cultural sites, structures, and events associated with Women's Rights National Historical Park, and to cooperate with national, state, and local entities to preserve the character and historic setting of such sites, structures and events. The park looks forward to using the Chapel to provide educational, thought-provoking, and quality programming to the public.