Actors Theater of South Carolina has created an audio/video project revealing 14 little-known heroes from U.S. history intended to inspire and comfort people who are feeling depressed or overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. “Calls to Greatness – U.S. History” features professional performers reading meaningful historical speeches and essays in period clothing with commentary provided by humanities scholars. It is now available to watch on YouTube.
“Calls to Greatness – U.S. History” features historical figures Patrick Henry, John Featherston, Emily Geiger, John Laurens, Mary Tenor, Peter Harris (Catawba warrior), Captain Henry Felder, Rebecca Motte, Daniel Morgan, Abe Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Teddy Roosevelt, Helen Keller, and Robert Kennedy. The program stars Karen DeLoach, Clarence Felder, Myra Jones, Robbin Knight, Randal Lee Jr., David Loar, Dante Rollerson, Kyle Taylor, Michelle Warren, and Chris Weatherhead. Damon L. Fordham & Alexia Jones Helsley are the featured scholars along with actor/scholars David Loar and Clarence Felder. It is produced and directed by Chris Weatherhead.
To watch “Calls to Greatness – U.S. History,” visit THIS LINK.
Another production in the same series, “Calls to Greatness – Literature,” feature excerpts from inspirational literature in public domain, including Shakespeare, TS Eliot, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Edgar Guest and South Carolina’s Ceille Baird Welch. It will be available with a link on www.ActorsTheatreOfSC.org after December 5th.
Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina is one of the few professional theatres in South Carolina which also has a film division. It was founded 25 years ago by theatre, film and television entertainment veterans, Clarence Felder and Chris Weatherhead. For more information, visit their website at: http://www.actorstheatreofsc.org/.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 21-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.
