Sullivan County Council on the Arts Roving Historical Theatre

Sullivan County Council on the Arts - Supporting the arts, culture and heritage of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

Roving Theater DVDs
The DVD of "Diamonds and Coal" is ready for you to pick up.
The 2009-11 Roving Theater productions were videotaped by professional videographer Allen Williams, from Lopez.
To order copies ($20), send a check or money order to SCCA, PO Box 243, Dushore, PA, 18614.
For information, e-mail or call (570) 928-8927.
The DVD of the 2008 production, "Floating Past Hilll's Grove," is also available ($15).

"Northwest Passage,"

the 2010 Roving Historical Theater play, was performed May 28, May 30, and June 5 at the Endless Winds Fire Hall in Shunk.

It focused on Fox and Elkland Townships. Much of the historical material came from the Sullivan County Historical Society Museum in Laporte, including their extensive Laurel Leaves collection of some 350 oral histories compiled by Sullivan County High School students in the 1980s. This area of the county is noted for its multi-generational families.

Scenes featured early settlers, the Quaker influence, two murders, the Genesee Road, skunk hunting, the Underground Railroad, and a "skinned woman," all encountered by a Native American making his way on foot to recovered his lost heritage.

Roving to Bernice and Mildred

NOTE: The complete scripts to the plays for 2007-2011, as well as the Renaissance Feast plays given in 2005 and 2006, can be accessed from our archives.

"Diamonds and Coal,"

2011's Roving Historical Theater play was performed June 4, 5 and 10 at St. Francis Hall, Rt. 487, Mildred.

For reasons that, quite frankly, we don't fully understand, interest reached a peak for this theatrical investigation of the glory days of coal and baseball in Sullivan County. It seems that the Roving Theater reached a "tipping point"—the place where an "Aha!" recognition has been reached.

Next year, we move on to a study of Forksville and Millview, one of the earliest settlement areas in the county. One exciting possibility, besides looking into the founding Bird, Molyneux and Warren families, is to go back to the real "first inhabitants"—the American Indian culture that gave the name of Indian Fields to this area.

Though it's often said and felt that there was little Indian settlement in Sullivan county, that it was only a passing-through, hunting area, discoveries of pots and other Indian artifacts along the Loyalsock Creek suggest something more. We will be looking into this in detail.

In future years, we also hope to cover:

Lopez/Ricketts - Timbering, railroads and the Civil War.
Sonestown/Muncy Valley - The CCC camps of the 1930s, World War II and the 1950s.
County-wide - We haven't decided what comes after we've wrapped up the run of productions in local communities, but we don't intend to fold up our tents. Ideas? Bring 'em on.

The Roving Historical Theater is a work-in-progress, its realization depending on the musicians, actors, writers and others who become involved. Topics outlined may change as the productions evolve.

Casting and involvement are open to anyone in Sullivan County and the immediately surrounding area, regardless of age or acting experience - all will be accepted; no one will be turned away.

The Arts Council is also looking for musicians familiar with the types of music and instrumentation that were popular locally in various periods.

Finally, writers are needed to help craft the skits that form the backbone of each production. Playwriting experience is not necessary, just a feeling for the spoken words of the region.

To keep up with all Sullivan County Council on the Arts doings, email and ask to be added to the weekly email update.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the Roving Historical Theater can email us or phone 570-928-8927.

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