Family Stages
to
present
-
A Play based on the Life of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg
on
Sunday, September 23, 2012, 3:00PM
in
the
Society’s beautiful Library,
at
611 Spring
Garden Street,
Philadelphia.
PROVIDENCE - A
PLAY BASED ON THE LIFE OF
HENRY MELCHIOR MUHLENBERG
Henry M.
Muhlenberg, a German missionary, was
sent to American in 1742 to serve the spiritual need of the immigrant
community. He is considered to be the founder of the Lutheran Church in
America. He is also the father of Peter
Muhlenberg, Revolutionary War General,
and Frederick Muhlenberg, the statesman and politician who served as
the first
Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress
(... both of them also served as early Presidents of the German Society
of Pennsylvania).
Providence brings
Muhlenberg and his family to life in a powerful and entertaining
one hour stage production. This
remarkable play demonstrates how the founding of the United States and
the
development of the Lutheran Church in America are inextricably bound
together. Audiences
achieve a deeper understanding of the colonial German landscape while
experiencing the American Revolution through the eyes of Pastor
Muhlenberg and
his family.
Muhlenberg
had been sent from the Franckesche Stiftungen of Halle to serve
congregations
in New Hanover, Trappe and Philadelphia. The title of the play reflects
Pastor
Muhlenberg’s close ties to the Augustus Church in Providence
Township and his
absolute reliance on God’s providence to lead him through the
trials and hardships
he encountered in his 44 years of service.
The
play explores Muhlenberg’s complex dealings with Moravian Bishop
Nicolaus von
Zinzendorf and Germantown printer Christoph Saur. As the revolutionary
war
breaks out, he struggles with his dual loyalties as native Hanovarian
to King
George and his adopted country. Family relationships become strained
when sons
Peter and Frederick abandon their pulpits to serve the cause of
independence.
His
name is well known, but few people are aware of his extraordinary
story. Providence is a marvelously informative and
entertaining play that provides the audience with a deeper
understanding and
appreciation of the life and work of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg.
Providence is the latest historical work
of playwright and director Steve Seyfried. His productions have brought
to the
stage the stories of Tutankhamen, Nicholas Copernicus, Christopher
Columbus,
General Thaddeus Kosciuszko and Benjamin Franklin.
Steve
brings his keen eye for detail and a marvelous sense of storytelling to
Providence. The cast of three performers
include Owen Timoney in role of Henry Muhlenberg. The remaining
characters in
the play are played by two actors, James Altobelli and the
playwright.
DUET PRODUCTIONS – FAMILY STAGES
Family
Stages started in 1980 after Elise and Steve Seyfried
completed a year and half touring the Northeastern U.S. with
educational
program for schools. They settled in Philadelphia and began performing
their
own two-actor, story theatre plays as Duet Productions. Their first
show was
THE WIZARD OF OZ.
Through the years an acting company was established to
handle the demand for shows.
Family Stages concentrated more
recently on educational
programs for schools, producing historical scripts and folktales from
around
the world. Steve and Elise have founded two organizations to
produce their
shows in public venues. Their shows attract the public at large and are
very
popular with school groups as well. Family Stages also
conducts a popular series of workshops,
classes and camps, bringing creative dramatics into the lives of
children and
families. Read more
about Family Stages on their website.
Ticketing
While we are not
charging an admittance
fee, donations are welcome to defray the costs of this production,
including the
pay of the actors.
RSVP by calling 215-627-2332 or per email to info@germansociety.org.