The
city of Hampton, Virginia is 400 years old. And who better to tell the story
than the Rainbow Puppets. The company began presenting shows in the city over 30
years ago and are honored to be a part of the celebration
with our new production, "Footsteps in History."
The show is an ambitious undertaking by the company’s founder and creator David Messick, Jr. and expands on the work he and the company began with their acclaimed telling of Jamestown’s 400th anniversary three years ago.
The show begins in 1607 when Pocahontas and Powhatan see strangers entering the land of their ancestors. Those strangers include Captain Christopher Newport and John Smith who set sail from England searching for riches and adventure. What emerges is a new nation that struggled to find freedom and opportunity for all people. This story is told within the borders of the Virginia Peninsula.
You’ll meet Chief Pochin of the Kecoughtan Indians, who welcomes John Smith and other explorers when they arrive, just before moving to Jamestown. A year later, in 1608, the Kecoughtans provide warmth, food, and shelter over the 1608 Christmas season.
You’ll
also join a band of pirates and meet Blackbeard the Pirate. The arrival of
African American slaves begins a struggle that explodes in Hampton where the
first land battle of the Civil War is fought at Big Bethel. The Monitor and the
CSS Virginia fight off of Hampton's shores and warfare changes forever. Benjamin
Butler frees slaves in Hampton and Mary Peake teaches them under an oak tree
where Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation is read and Hampton University
is later built.
James MacMenamin’s crab business exports Hampton crabs around the world and Langley NASA explorers help us walk on the moon.
David has written four new songs just for the occasion. The U.S. Army TRADOC Band from Fort Monroe performs several traditional musical selections in show.
Artisans around the country have worked tirelessly to produce the numerous puppets and props necessary for telling the story. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jill Harrington has created an assortment of wide-mouthed puppets including Mary Peake, Christopher Newport, Chief Pochin, and James MacMenamin. In Hampton, Virginia, Laura Huff has sculpted human arm puppets of Abraham Lincoln and Patrick Henry. Over in Norfolk, Virginia, Craig T. Adams has created Powhatan and Pocahontas in a style reminiscent of traditional Japanese Bunraku puppets. Kathie Davis, also from Hampton, has painted additional rod puppets, shadow-style puppets and set pieces. Puppeteer Regina Smith has crafted all costumes in Iowa.
Show
creator David Messick, Jr. has been producing and writing original shows for
schools and libraries for 30 years. He can best be described as a Renaissance
man… “One day I’ll discover something I’ve actually mastered!” says Messick. He
is a BMI music composer with over 150 songs to his credit. His cd’s of Rainbow
songs can be found by many vendors over the Internet. As a tap dancer,
choreographer and teacher, he has staged and/or appeared regional productions of
many popular Broadway shows. He has students on Broadway and dancing as members
of the Radio City Rockettes. For the television networks, he has helped with
developmental projects for the Disney Channel, Paramount Pictures, Universal
Studios, NBC television and others. Those credits include “Buffy the Vampire
Slayer,” “The Simpsons,” “Darkwing Duck,” “Star Trek the Next Generation,” and
others. As a director, one of his first professional jobs (at the age of 17) was
to direct Tony Award Winner Frankie Michaels in “The Apple Tree.” Frankie is
listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest recipient of an
acting Tony Award for “Mame” with Angela Lansbury. David later directed movie
legend Mickey Rooney in an all-new production of “Toyland!” and directed
Broadway legend in “A Pirate Party.”
Vocal performances include many Rainbow Puppet veterans as well as an outstanding complement of new voices. International singer and vocal instructor Gerri Hollins provides the voice for Mary Peake. Gerri is also a technical consultant to the show. She is the founder of the Contraband Slave Historical Society and helped ensure accuracy for that portion of the story. One of Gerri’s relatives was one of the first three slaves set free by Major General Benjamin Butler at Fort Monroe. Gerri’s own voice and piano students are featured as Mary Peake’s students in a song that highlights the joys and unlimited opportunities afforded to those who can read.
Retired Casemate Museum historian Dr. James Stensvaag also helped in the shows development and provided the voice of the Northern Debater during the great debate sequence leading to the Civil War. Jim recently costarred in Rainbow’s production of Toyland!
Long
time Rainbow vocal artist Tim Tharrington is John B. Cary who wants his runaway
slaves returned immediately. This incident eventually leads to the burning of
Hampton. Anime vocal artist Kara Dennison is nagging wife of one of the
explorers. Retired Hampton School Teacher Chris Bartlett provides the voice of
Annika, the Blue Crab. Previously mentioned Craig T. Adams appears as Benjamin
Butler. Craig has been a leading cast member of the long-running Dr. Madblood
program. He is also the founder of Fuzz and Stuffing puppets.
The show’s musical arranger, Steve Scheffler is the voice of Blackbeard the Pirate. New to Rainbow Sean Mahan as the put-upon settler. Peter Natale and James Spruill command the Monitor and the CSS Virginia. John Ericson brings his operatic voice to Captain John Smith. Norm Otto is Abraham Lincoln, and the late Mark Tiller is Patrick Henry.
We acknowledge the assistance of "Hampton 400" and the Downtown Hampton Child Development Center for their assistance in making this program possible.
Top two photos courtesy of Bob Harper Photography. "David and Christopher Newport" photo courtesy of Tim Laynor.