Black History Heroes, Soldiers and Spies is a 45-minute production which was created to celebrate the stories of Black American heroes. It is best appreciated by audiences in third grade and up. A number of important figures from American history are brought to the stage to share the importance of their work. Audiences will join the courageous Buffalo Soldier, Colonel Charles Young as he helps settle the American West and some of our first National Parks. They’ll also meet The Tuskegee Airmen as they take flight to help win WWII and Mary Elizabeth Bowser as she spies for the Union during The Civil War. “The goal of this show is to get audiences excited about moments in history which aren’t often talked about,” says David Ostergaard, the Company’s Founder, “Our actors have the unique task of researching and taking on the character traits of some of the bravest individuals from America’s past.”

Each year, Bright Star Touring Theatre serves nearly 1,500 audiences in schools, theaters, libraries, museums and more across the country. They offer a wide variety of curriculum-based programs ranging from The Pirate of Bully Bay to Heroes of the Underground Railroad. “We travel with everything we need and we can perform just about anywhere,” says National Tour Manager Reeni Dowd. “Our actors join us from all over the country and they sometimes visit ten different cities each week, playing a huge variety of characters. It’s a great way for them to flex their acting muscles!” The company performs regularly at the National Theatre in Washington DC and has gained international attention, having visited Russia and Germany with their productions. Information about all their interactive shows, including production videos, photos, study guides and more is available online at www.brightstartheatre.com.

This program is free but please register at cotuitlibrary.org/events or contact the Library.