News Release

Town Hall Film Premiere " A Civic Engagement - Woodstock's Civil War A Speakchorus

Date: May 28, 2005

WOODSTOCK, VT – At 7:30 pm on Thursday, April 14, 2005, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Pentangle Council on the Arts and Woodstock Union High School will premiere a new film “A Civic Engagement – Woodstock’s Civil War: A Speakchorus” at the Woodstock Town Hall Theatre. The 25 minute film, by Woodstock filmmaker Charles F. Rattigan, is the first ever made chronicling the making of one of Woodstock High School’s world renowned speakchoruses.
The film follows the dramatic production from its original inspiration taken from the national park’s Civil War Home Front walking tour to the Yoh Theatre Players’ stirring live performance at Woodstock Town Hall Theatre last June.  The film highlights the painstaking work and amazing precision of the speakchorus students under the direction of Harriet Worrell, who has been described by one commentator as “a force of nature.” The film is also the story of three seniors, Adam Gould, Kate Miller and John Bergeron, who reflect on lessons of history and describe how the speakchorus has been a transformative experience, changing their personal perspectives on Woodstock and the way they relate to their community. 

Funded by a special National Park Service “civic engagement” grant, the film is an example of how a national park can work with its community in unusual ways to create new venues for the exploration of heritage and thoughtful public dialogue. The Civil War Home Front tour, to be offered again this summer by Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park rangers, is part of a larger collaborative effort between the national park, educators, students, and civic organizations to better understand the indelible mark left by the Civil War on Woodstock and the nation. 

The film is free and open to the public and will be followed by a panel discussion including Charles Rattigan and Harriet Worrell.