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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWayne H. FreemanJuly 7, 2005 To: Mayor Ken Olson, City Counsel And citizens the city of Laurel, Montana. Dear Mayor Olson, The reason for this letter is to propose a Double Marathon, Clark and Sacajawea Arrival Celebration, Full Stage Play of the entire Voyage of Discovery and Re-creation of the 2ooth anniversary of the arrival of the William Clark lead, Voyage of Discovery to what is now Laurel, Montana. Clark's crew was the only members of the Corps of Discovery to explore the Yellowstone River. Information about their exploration is scant as early historians chose to focus on "Lewis's fight killing two Blackfeet and their galloping escape. (This is to be re-enacted at Thomson Park after the Clark re-enactment.) Clark stopped at locations just west of Laurel, and again at a site near the confluence of the Yellowstone River and the Clarks Fork. Crew members Shields and Pryor had an encounter with Crow Indians who stole the horses bought from the Shoshone to give to a prominent trapper by the name of Heney for US trading rights on the Missouri. Horses were the equivalent of money at that time in history.) Because they were herding so many horses, Pryor and Shields fell behind Clark's group. Clark had with him his slave Ben York, guide Toussant Charbonneau (His wife Sacajawea and child, now a year and one half, Jean Baptiste (Pompey) Charbonneau,) soon to be famous mountain man, John Colter. The next day Shields was attacked by wolves near Square Butte and badly bitten on the hand. Pryor saved his life by clubbing the animal away. Shields and Pryor caught up with Clark at Pompey's Tower. (Yes, that's how Clark Y~sted it in his journal.) My proposal is that Clark's arrival be re-enacted on the river itself somewhere near, or at Riverside park. (On or about July 24-5- 6, 2oo6). I offer you my services as a paid consultant in for the over-all planning, forming qf and coordination qf this event. (This type o_f large entertainment has been a large portion of my life's work and I have know-how and chutzpa to pull it off-successfully.) We will need many work teams, individual volunteers, casting directors, music direction and a team qf publicity coordinators. I would propose that we also get kids involved with a 20 mini- performance in the park by children 9-12 during the rendezvous barbecue portion of the celebration. I have the music and program. (Written by another composer/author.) THE TIMETABLE: At lo AM a marathon of runners and horseback riders and experienced boatmen begin at a point west of Columbus... their arrival in Laurel is timed so that the actors of part one can lead them into the Riverside area. l) Smoke Signals from the south to be recreated prior to the (4PM) appearance of the Clark expedition at the Riverside. This is the signal to all gathered that Clark, Sacajawea, baby Pomp, husband and guide Charbonnean, York (Clark's huge black slave), and the others in this crew are approaching to a fanfare of trumpets. 2) (4-5 PM) The arrival of a scout (Jim Colter) from down the Clark's Fork and his meeting with and announcement to Clark that the river appeared navigable into the mountains. He also raves of the beauty and mystery of the place called Yellowstone. 2-a) Clark listens with interest to stories of the Yellowstone (Park area) but the idea of enormous waterfalls and smelly smoke arising from the earth were probably too much for Clark to comprehend. 3 Thus Clark writes Yellowstone in his journal, then draws a line through the word. ( Sacajawea will also tell him of the frightening Yellowstone, but by now the bugs were eating them alive and the time line to meet with Lewis was at hand, so any exploration by the expedition into what they thought was Spanish territory was tabled.) 3) A Mountain man Rondevious and barbecue dinner on the football field or Thompson Park, with organized horsemen as crew members, old time fiddlers for enjoyment and an actor playing "Jim Colter" and the children's singing and acting, energizes the audience with bits of stories that will follow inside the theater. (5-7 PM) 4) My musical "AMERICAN HEROES" The Truth about Lewis and Clark performs in the High School Gym or theater. This historically correct musical is a great educational and emotional portrayal of what the crew of the Expedition endured. It would be a two day "one of a kind" educational experience in local history. The two-hour musical-history production will conclude with everyone singing about the triumph of the Expeditions safe return. Songs and fiddlers and audience singing will continue during the finale, curtain calls and exit music. 5) This "Lewis and Clark Spectacular" will involve well over 300 Laurel people (The key players (38) will be fit young men 18 to 35+ years old who look good with their shirts off. These men had been doing physical work of the most strenuous kind for over two years remember.) About 25 children and some older actors who get to play Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Gallatin etc. There are roles for numerous females from 18-8o and for a half dozen very well behaved children of the ages 5-1~ to be in the main show AMERICAN HEROES. There are parts for older (less fit) men to play the role of the Indian Chiefs. Then we need people in various roles from seamstresses, cooks, saddle club, 5o-6o or actors/singers, lo or so mountain men with muskets, rendezvous supervisors, acting directors, music directors, fiddlers, choreographers, a dozen boat builders, drummers and so on. 4 AND AN ALL-IMPORTANT "Prqfessional" SOUND PRODUCTION COMPANY! Hired_for there expertise. Bein9 able to hear from nll quarters is loo% critical for a_festival show like thi.q. Important for the inside show is the lighting crew with a leader and staff who rehearse and follow the director's directions with total competence. These lighting people too are critical to the success or failure of the show. Next, but not least are the set builders, set painters, musical director, several storytellers, Programs, Book and CD sellers, ushers and the program co-ordination and a printer. ~A DIRECTOR OF PUBLICITY who will create and direct publicity starting months in advance and building and building a media frenzy (over and over) to all media in south central Montana! This is the most important job of them all and publicity must be relentlessly and creatively designed. I will volunteer be the leader of this part of the project, for if it fails, the entire concept fails. I suggest we will need the Outlook, Gazette, Carbon County News, etc., as well as radio and television media coverage months "Before" anything happens, to announce the event and the who, what, why, when and where it will take place. Someone needs to be in charge of making huge signs at all entrances to Laurel and the Riverside. Also needed as the production date nears: A dozen competent grips to do muscle work such as moving and or building audience stands, several transportation coordinators to move actors and support people from location to location. Also needed will be safety officers, each in charge of an assigned portion of the proceedings, police for crowd control and public safety, Janitorial Staff for dean up between and after the final show. Don't forget garbage disposal, port-a-potties at the Riverside and football field (Or Thomson Park), custodian in charge of patron comfort (air conditioning).