Leah & the Rabbit: A Conversation Around Resiliency & Reclaiming Narratives – Vance Birthplace State Historic Site and the American Myth Center will partner for Juneteenth to present an afternoon of historical drama and discussion on the appropriation of African American stories, resiliency among enslaved people, and the romanticized view of the plantation past.
This three-act piece begins with a tour of the 1790s slave dwelling and reconstructed Vance house, including the contextualization of the stories of Brer Rabbit. The tour will be followed by the play, Leah & the Rabbit, which utilizes the historic tales to tell the story of Leah Erwin, an enslaved woman who lived on the Vance plantation. The program concludes with a moderated discussion on the play, the perpetuation of the Lost Cause mentality, and the reclaiming of our collective histories.
The program is free and will include two showings on June 17th at 11:00 am 1:00 pm. Each performance will run approximately an hour and a half. Seating is limited and registration is strongly encouraged!
Act I – Born in the Briar Patch – Join us before the play for a 30-minute tour of the Vance Birthplace. Visitors will go on a journey through the site, including the 1790s slave dwelling and the reconstructed Vance house. They will discover the history of Leah and Sandy Erwin, who were enslaved by the Vances before emancipation in 1865 and whose experiences inspired this program. On the tour, visitors will also learn about the history of Brer Rabbit tales. These African trickster tales featuring a wily, talking rabbit came to the Americas with people forced into slavery, and have been passed down over the years.
Act II – Leah & the Rabbit – Written, created, and directed by local artist Mikayla Wilson, this play will feature the art of puppetry and live storytelling as visitors witness some of the traditional Brer Rabbit tales interwoven with the story of Leah and Sandy. Three puppeteers and one live actor will present Leah as an elder weaving the yarns of Brer Rabbit and friends. As the show progresses, Leah finds herself pulled into her own story with the trickster Rabbit.
Act III – Discussion – For our third “act” we are honored to welcome Zakiya Bell-Rogers to facilitate a post play discussion with director Mikayla Wilson, the show’s performers, Vance Birthplace Assistant Site Manager Lauren May, and the audience. This conversation will touch on the reclaiming of African American stories, the development of this play and program, Juneteenth, and the many threads of resiliency throughout history. We will reflect on the first two acts and think about the complicated lives of the enslaved people, while also focusing on how history can serve as a conduit for healing dialogue and spark continued discussion around resiliency, understanding, and inclusive storytelling.
Zakiya Bell Rogers has lived in Asheville for 28 years and currently serves the Buncombe County community as a Community Development Specialist. She has a diverse background in dealing with and addressing deep issues, such as homelessness, racism, medical and maternal injustices, and educational barriers for students of color. She is passionate about working toward equity and facilitating hard conversations with truth, dignity, compassion, and a little humor.
Pre-Visit Materials – Upon registering, guests will receive a virtual “program” giving background on the stories of Brer Rabbit, the history behind the characters portrayed in the play and background on the art form known as “crankies.”
The American Myth Center is a non-profit organization in Asheville whose mission is to curate stories that spark necessary conversation within our community. For more information visit www.americanmythcenter.org.
