Revolutionary Weekend 2006

Billy Lee's Washington
A musical by Evelyn Swensson starring Matthew Hearn and Lawler Rogers

Evelyn Swensson’s newest musical, Billy Lee's Washington, tells the story of the American Revolution through the eyes of the 18th century's most famous slave, Billy Lee.

This delightful and historically accurate musical will premier at 8:00 pm on Friday, September 29 at the Baby Grand. The performance will be followed by a champagne toast and reception. Tickets are $35.

A matinee performance will be held for families and children on Saturday, September 30. Tickets are $10.

For tickets please call Baby Grand Box Office at 302-652-5577.

Washington (Matthew Hearn), and Billy Lee, his slave (Lawler Rogers), will be joined by a cast of 20 actors who will sing and dance their way through the life of Washington from age 11 to 57 when he became our first president. The actors will come to life as they step out of famous paintings, choreographed by Stefanie Lord and staged by Leland Kimball III, director of Opera Delaware.

The research for this production has been carefully vetted by Dr. Frank Grizzard, editor emeriti of the George Washington Papers at the University of Virginia. The surprisingly modern-sounding show tunes are actual tunes and songs known and sung by 18th century Americans.

There will be additional school performances in Wilmington, Dover and Seaford for students, made possible by grants from the Delaware Humanities Forum and Delaware Division of the Arts.

Illustration: George Washington & Billy Lee
Reproduced courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Painted by John Trumbull in 1780. Oil on canvas. 36" x 28".
Bequest of Charles Allen Munn, 1924.