In the process of choosing this project, I looked to connect as many of my personal interests as possible. The project needed to investigate an aspect of theatre, but given the various directions that the project could go, my interest in history and historical dramas was one avenue that I particularly wanted to explore. With this in mind, I found inspiration in the stories from a production of Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology that I recently directed. My connection to Dr. David Bush, the foremost expert on the history and excavation of Johnson’s Island and the Johnson’s Island Civil War Prisoner Depot, solidified my intentions. I decided to write a play based on the history, prisoner diaries and correspondence related to the Johnson’s Island Civil War Prisoner Depot.
My interest in theatre is more than that of theatre as entertainment. I believe theatre also has the power to persuade, enlighten and even educate. The process through which theatre goes gives it the opportunity to reach, individually, all persons involved in the process, from the writing of the script to the actors, directors and audience. Unlike the sterile pages of a history book, the collaborative process of theatre can breathe new life into an historical event. Not only are the facts of history presented, but also the perspectives of the playwright, the director, and the actors. Finally, the spectators interpret the presentation of the drama and take from it their own understanding of history. The inclusiveness of the art form makes it an excellent and proven vehicle for historical drama.