Mitchelville: The Creation of a Play

Mitchelville, the nation’s first self-sustaining, self-governed village comprised solely of freed slaves, was part of Hilton Head Island’s history even before the  Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. Today, only a lone historic marker on Beach City  Road identifies the site. Efforts are underway, however, to save the site and preserve a portion of it as a historic attraction. 

Lean Ensemble Theater commissioned a play to recognize Mitchelville’s place in the Island’s history. Participants in this class will have the unique opportunity, with  Blake White, LET”s founding artistic and executive director, to follow the evolution of playwright Aurin Squire’s “Mitcheleville” on its five-year journey from concept to World Premiere.  Squire’s play concerns a young man trying to save his Gullah family home who dives into the history  

of his family lineage, the Civil War, and the first town of Black freedmen in America. “Mitchelville,”  in Blake White’s words, is “a story about learning  from the past, saving for the future, and keeping a  tradition going.” 

Class participants will have the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets to the production which runs from March 16-26. 

Blake White is the Founding and Executive Director of Lean  Ensemble Theater. He is a  member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.  His credits run from Hilton Head  Island to New Mexico.  

One Session: 1:30 to 3:30 PM,  Tuesday, March 15 

Main Street Theater,  

3000 Main Street