Our presentations
on Mary Ellen Pleasant include a touring film at which Dr. Bibbs can
speak and do a signing, a museum exhibit, sometimes, a chautauqua
(enactment), lectures on Pleasant, and workshops on creating films
and enactments. All are fun and participatory history! To book your
screening, presentation, or the touring exhibit,
Email: mepleasant1@yahoo.com
Your
Screening of MEET MARY PLEASANT
Two lengths: 41min or 1 hour, Susheel Bibbs portrays Pleasant, Ruby
Dee narrates. Both versions have won awards. The one-hour version
airs on PBS. Both use Pleasant's own (long-lost) words.
Email mepleasant1@yahoo.com
or call 916-925-7879
The
Exhibit
A fifteen panel and a smaller six-panel exhibit complete with 90 min
video is available through the SF Art Commission Gallery, San Francisco.
The touring exhibits mount easily on easels in a foyer or lobby, over
classroom blackboards, or on walls and can come to a site at minimal
charge. It can be used with the film or a chautauqua.
Contact: SF Art
Commission Gallery, Rupert Jenkins, director 415-252-2568 or Rupert_Jenkins@ci.sf.ca.us
.It has been beautifully reframed for art-museum presentation!
Chautauquas
In all formats, Susheel Bibbs portrays Pleasant, using Pleasant's
own (long-lost) words.
The Talk Show:
The Talk show, designed for teens or adults, runs just like a TV talk
show, using a local host and a question/answer format. Video, slides,and
music are inserted. Guests on the show are Bibbs as Pleasant and Bibbs
as herself -- the Pleasant scholar! In between there can be live drumming
or storytelling! -- Great for TV too.
The Musical or Dramatic Chautauquas (enactments): Designed
for adults and family audiences. Both contain an emcee intro and have
three parts -- Bibbs, in character as Pleasant, tells her life story
in her own words, unfolding the mysteries and daring achievements
of her remarkable life; the character answers questions from the audience;
the scholar (Susheel) answers questions on Pleasant. * The dramatic
chautauqua does this in a very transportable, one-woman, drama-only
form. * The musical is spectacular; it adds period slides, live drumming,
and song to an already inspiring evening. The film contains these,
and so currently, Dr. Bibbs prefers to offer screenings rather than
live presentations of the chautauquas
Reviews
Below
you will find a sampling from the email and letters of historians,
presenters, and attendees about Susheel's presentations of Pleasant.
Attendees:
"It was my pleasure to witness your performance [Los Angeles]...I
am also a one-woman show performer with African -Am. history as content....Thank
you for a clear, focused, indepth, compelling view of Mary Pleasant."
Maisha Hazzard, Ph.D., historical enactor/Los Angeles
"I want to mention
again how much I enjoyed your presentation. I hope I donˆt sound like
a broken record,but your presentation and telling of the tale made
her story quite memorable and exciting" Rochelle Shaposhnick, VZS
Films, LA (CA)
Historians:
Here's what noted historians had to say when they certified Susheel
and her research for inclusion in the California Council for the Humanities
"History Alive!" program.
"Your research
is extraordinary" Shirley Ann Moore, Ph.d., California State Univ.,
Sacramento
"Captivating,
spellbinding presentation... Bibbs has done an amazing yeoman's job
of historical research! She is MEP "Bravo!" Rick Moss, Ph.D., Los
Angeles' Afro-American Museum
"This should be
a model for those who aspire to do chautuaqua." Dr. Hundley, Historian,
UCLA
Presenters:
"Your chautauqua presentation was outstanding, and it was obvious
that you have, indeed, researched Ms. Pleasant's background and significant
historical contributions a great deal. I believe we all came away
with increased sensitivity for this important person in our State's
past as well as her impact on the present and future. It also served
to clear up some misconceptions about Mary Ellen Pleasant in the minds
of some who were fortunate to observe your performance. The preparation,
both physical and mental, that goes into such a performance certainly
must require a tremendous commitment on your part. But the result
was so gratifying, and attests to your talents, as well as your knowledge
of this remarkable woman." Robert Elsner, Executive Director,
California Sesquicentennial Commission
"Last evening
I went with high spirits, and I carried the emotional and intellectual
rewards emanating form your wonderful chautauqua on Mary Ellen Pleasant.
The extraordinary care, scholarship, preparation, and talent thatyou
have invested in this presentation are evident and a great gift to
those fortunate enough to see you perform. Personally and as a member
of the CA Humanities Council, I sincerely thank you for taking the
time to appear at the Huntington Library." Christine Sisley, Exec.
Director of the Parsons Foundation (LA Chautauqua at the Huntington
Library)
