JULIA WEBER
Assistant Editor
At 8 p.m. tonight in the Amphitheater, the weeklong programming between Chautauqua Institution and Colonial Williamsburg will culminate in a retelling of U.S. history through a multimedia performance.
Tonight’s performance wraps a week of programming, including Masters Series Masterclass appearances by “nation builders” portrayed by historical reenactors, historic trade demonstrations in Bestor Plaza and recurring fife and drum performances outside Norton Hall.
“‘Flame of Revolution’ was a program that we designed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Fifth Virginia Convention, where Virginia declares its independence, ultimately leading to the Declaration of Independence,” Associate Vice President of Performing Arts and Signature Events Robert Currie explained.
Currie said the weeklong partnership between Colonial Williamsburg and the Institution is a “natural fit” because both organizations are dedicated to “lifelong learning.”
“While these stories are 250 years old, we’re still finding new ways to reach people and to inspire them,” Currie said.
The first iteration of the “Flame of Revolution” took place at the historic Capitol as a site-specific performance complete with large-scale projections, lights, sound and an outdoor stage; the first iteration was concluded by a fife and drum performance similar to that of this week’s previous outdoor performances. Currie said the performances saw 8,000 visitors in their two-night span, and the event was intended to replicate the celebration and fanfare of the historical events it portrays.
“… We see in the historical record that people really did celebrate. We brought that to life for modern audiences and really let them see both why Williamsburg is so important to the lead up to the American Revolution — and obviously the lead into the Declaration of Independence — but also its relevancy to today,” Currie said.
Tonight’s restaging is specifically adapted to the Amp stage, with variations to accommodate the open-air venue while keeping the “heart of the story” center stage.
“Folks can see the breadth and the scope of the performing arts department at Colonial Williamsburg and how it takes these historic primary sources and builds them into a story that people can really relate to and understand,” Currie said.
With a focus on civics education and telling the story of how the U.S. was founded, Colonial Williamsburg strives to educate “so that the future may learn from the past,” according to Currie. Colonial Williamsburg will celebrate its centennial anniversary this fall.
As the world’s largest living history museum, Colonial Williamsburg is tasked with interpreting history, which Currie explained happens in numerous ways: preserving historic trades and skills and using storytelling and performing arts, including first- and third- person interpretation.
The goal of Colonial Williamsburg’s work and tonight’s event, Currie said, is “to bring people into the past and tell the stories — both stories that are very familiar and those stories that were never told.”
