IMTAL Pre-Conference Star Spangled Museum Theatre Tour

Sunday, October 6, 2013  in Baltimore, MD

Torn Asunder -original four play vignettes during time of Civil War in celebration of 150th anniversary of Emancipation proclamation.  Researched, written and performed by  Baltimore School for the Arts sophomore class students in collaboration with National Park Service at Fort McHenry, Maryland Historical Society and BSA faculty.

Climb on board for the IMTAL Pre-Conference Star Spangled Museum Theatre Tour in Baltimore, MD on Sunday, October 6, 2013. Plan on a full day of fun, adventure and history as you are escorted by bus to three historic museum and sites.  This one day round-trip excursion is only $99 and also includes breakfast-on-the-go and lunch.  It will be a jammed packed day, but an exciting and memorable one for a pre-kick-off to the conference itself.  Participants will view the immigrant’s experience in America at the Jewish Museum of Maryland  and also commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 at Fort McHenry and Maryland Historical Society as well as the 150th anniversary of the Civil War at both sites.

Participants leave from Holiday Inn - Rosslyn Key Bridge  in Arlington, VA at  7:30 am and travel to Baltimore with a second pick up in Baltimore at 8:45 am at the Maryland Historical Society.  From here the group travels to historic Fort McHenry where they will be entertained by a talented group of Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA) students in the production of Torn Asunder. This is a collaborative effort between the BSA, Maryland Historical Society and National Park Service.   Participants will be able to see some of the original scenes that illustrate the complexity of race relations during the American Civil War.  Students and faculty from the Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA) worked together to develop scripts and produce the performances. Students developed the themes for the plays by conducting research at the Maryland Historical Society’s (MdHS) library. There will be time to view this landmark and its exhibit before participants hop back on the bus and whisked off to another time and place; the Jewish Museum of Maryland.

At the Jewish Museum of Maryland the group will encounter one of three living history characters from the Leo V. Berger’s Immigrant Trunk Program that has been delighting and informing audiences on the plight of former Russian immigrants who came to America with nearly nothing and made successful lives for themselves, their families and their contributions to society.  Here participants will also have time to talk with the actors, museum staff and director while having lunch (vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices) and perhaps visit the third oldest  surviving synagogue in the country next door to the museum before boarding the bus again to travel to the Maryland Historical Society.  

Arriving at this museum, a treasure trove that has been open continuously since 1884, the group will visit the War of 1812 and Civil War galleries where they will be greeted by professional actors of the Maryland Historical Society Players.  The Players will  perform and interact with their audience as they bring their specific characters to life dramatizing these turbulent times in our history.    More discussion and behind the scenes conversations will take place here as well as an opportunity to see the original Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key before the group boards the bus at 3:00 pm back to the hotel in plenty enough time to get ready for the opening night reception of the IMTAL Global Conference.  

Seating is limited and will be on a first come first serve basis.  Payment of $ 99 is due by September 10, 2013 using Pay Pal.  Visit HERE for specific instructions to sign up for an exciting kick off to the IMTAL Global Conference hosted at the Smithsonian Museum of American History October 6 10, 2013.