Liberty! outdoor drama begins, family helps bring it to life.
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. – “Liberty! The Saga of Sycamore Shoals,” the Official Outdoor Drama of the State of Tennessee returned with its 44th season the first weekend of June. The performances, which continue throughout the end of the month, rely upon a huge group of actors, volunteers, and technicians to come to life each night. The Young family, however, plays a special role in telling the region’s unique history both onstage and backstage.
“Dad and my brother had written the music for it,” said Ellen Young Church, the stage manager for Liberty! this season. She’s been with the production for almost a decade; in previous years she has been a volunteer and even acted on stage in the role of Kesiah Robertson. She joins her father, Production Manager and Director Keith Young and her sister Katie Kleineick who portrays Bonnie Kate Sevier. The family is now an integral part of the show.
“We were just floored by the history,” Church said. “I had no idea that this area had such an incredible impact on the world.”
Young invited his children to participate in the drama, but they made the decision to stay on their own. “I forget how it came up,” Kleineick said. “Maybe late one morning in 2016 he said to us, ‘Why don’t you guys try out for Liberty? You might like it.’”
The sisters entered the production in 2017 and have been there ever since. “It’s something that I can do that indulges my love of history and gives me something to look forward to every summer,” Kleineick said.
Church feels the same way. “What other hobby can you have where multiple generations of a family can get involved and […] tell a story that impacts everyone?” she said. “I’m the daughter of a storyteller, so being involved in a narrative like this is unparalleled.”
Though the stress of putting on ten high quality outdoor drama performances is intense, Kleineick believes the family connection helps the production run more smoothly. “[Dad’s] a very good teacher, which is extremely important because he can help people see their character,” she said. “We always have a chance to boost each other and make our skills stronger.”
“This is the first time that I’m actually working for him,” Church said. “In both of our opinions, it’s worked out really well because we have different approaches. Both of us are constantly sharing perspectives on how things should be organized.
“We don’t butt heads as much as we compare ideas. So the personalities mesh pretty well.”
As much work as it takes to ensure that a major production like Liberty! is successful, both sisters feel like the reward is worth the sacrifice. “I do identify with Bonnie Kate,” Kleineick said. “We are kind of similar temperaments; I always like being outside, doing the tomboy thing, being proud of who you are even if you’re a little eccentric.”
“But the best part is the friendships we’ve made doing this,” she continued. “Liberty! has given me a million people to hang out with that have the same interests, that love history.”
Church wishes more people from the region would get involved each year, so that the Liberty! family could grow even larger. “The families that participate in this show come back and participate again and again,” she said. “I can’t imagine something better to do as a family than to be outside together and telling this history.”
The familial connection between the cast and production comes out in the performance, Kleineick believes, creating a unique experience that everyone in the region should try to come see. “These were real people,” she said. “They lived, they loved, they hated, they cried, they laughed. Being able to make that come alive, especially with a group like this, you see them as people. Not as actors, not as parts, but as people.”
Liberty runs weekend evenings (8 pm showtime) in June beginning Fridays and Saturdays, continuing June 9 & 10; Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays, June 15, 16, & 17 and 22, 23, & 24, in the Fort Watauga Amphitheater at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton, TN.
General admission tickets range from Free for Children 5 and under; to $6 for Students 6 to 17 years; $12 for Seniors 60 and up; and $16 for Adults. Members of Friends of Sycamore Shoals can pay $8, while Veterans and First Responders may attend the drama any night for a reduced adult/senior admission price of $7.00. There is free admission on June 15 only for Veterans or First Responders and one companion.
Online Ticket Sales – www.TheLibertyDrama.com or you can purchase tickets at the door until all seats are sold.**
Additional Information:
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
1651 W. Elk Avenue
Elizabethton, TN 37643
423-543-5808
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
History at Home
Seasonal Interpretive Programs
With Andrea Price & Slade Nakoff
June 20th – July 1st
Carter Mansion Guided Tour
Tuesday – Saturday, June 20-24 10:00 am
Tuesday – Saturday, June 27- July 1 12:30 pm
Cost: Adults – $9.00; Ages 7 to 17 – $5.00; Ages 6 and under Free
Tax included Max:12 per tour
Registration required – www.tnstateparks.com/parks/events/sycamore-shoals
Join Seasonal Interpreter Andrea Price for a tour of Tennessee’s oldest frame house! Enjoy the beauty of this elegant frontier home and learn the history of the Carter family who built it between 1775 and 1780.
The John and Landon Carter Mansion is located at 1031 Broad Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643
Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase.
Sabine Hill Guided Tour
Tuesday – Saturday, June 20-24 12:30 pm
Tuesday – Saturday, June 27- July 1 10:00 am
Cost: Adults – $9.00; Ages 7 to 17 – $5.00; Ages 6 and under Free
Tax included Max: 12 per tour
Registration required – www.tnstateparks.com/parks/events/sycamore-shoals
Join Seasonal Interpreter Slade Nakoff for a guided tour of this stately home built by Mary Patton Taylor, widow of Brigadier General Nathaniel Taylor. The site has been described as one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the State of Tennessee. Take in the colorful and architecturally detailed interior while learning about the influential Taylor family who called Sabine Hill home in the early 19th century.
Sabine Hill is located at 2328 West G Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643
Please note, only portable toilet facilities are available at this time. Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase.
Tuesday, June 20th
9:00 a.m. “Inkle Loom Weaving” – The inkle loom provided settlers with a way to make strap material for sashes, powder horns, bags, belts, and garters. Join Slade Nakoff as he demonstrates how straps would have been woven on the East Tennessee frontier. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration 20 minutes.
11:00 a.m. “Frontier Fashion: A Look at Colonial Women’s Clothing” – Women’s fashion has changed drastically since the first settlement of East Tennessee. Join Andrea Price as she discusses women’s clothing in the 18th century and how it accommodated life on the frontier. Meet at the Carter Mansion. Duration: 20 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Colonial Kid Games” – Ready to play like a frontiersman? Join Andrea Price as she takes part in the games children would have played growing up at Fort Watauga. Prepare to get active and have fun playing games like graces, ninepins, and hoops & sticks. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration: 45 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Firearms of the 18th century” –Join Slade Nakoff as he demonstrates how firearms of the 18th century function as well as describes their construction. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 20 minutes.
Wednesday, June 21st
9:00 a.m. “Quillwork” –Join Slade Nakoff as he demonstrates the process of quillwork, a predecessor to beadwork achieved with porcupine quills. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration 30: minutes
11:00 a.m. “Finger Weaving” – Finger weaving is a technique that has been used by Native American groups for thousands of years. Join Andrea Price as she works on finger weaving a strap and shares the history of the technique. Meet at the Carter Mansion. Duration: 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Dress Like a Frontiersman” – Dress to impress your fellow freedom fighters by taking part in this opportunity to try on colonial clothing. Join Andrea Price as she discusses the clothing that would have been worn around the time of the American Revolution and get a chance to dress up. This program is recommended for ages 5 to 13. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration: 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Tartan and Trade: Scottish Culture on the Frontier” –As people move from one location to another, often they retain and reestablish their cultural heritage within the new geographic region. Join Slade Nakoff as he discusses and demonstrates aspects of Scottish culture which settlers brought with them to the frontier. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration 25 minutes.
Thursday, June 22nd
9:00 a.m. “Hat Making” –Headwear has always been an area for those on the cutting edge of fashion trends to modify and make their own. Join Slade Nakoff as he demonstrates hat making during the 18th Century and its impact on the edge of colonial society. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration 30 minutes.
11:00 a.m. “Riddle Me This” – “When I first appear I seem mysterious, but when I am explained I am nothing serious. What am I?” Riddles are an ancient oral tradition found across the world including right here in Appalachia. Join Andrea Price as she explores the history of riddles in the region and try your hand at answering a few traditional ones. Meet at the Carter Mansion. Duration: 20 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Frontier Barbie: The Making of Colonial Dolls” – From corn husks to electronics, children’s toys have evolved in the last 250 years. Join Andrea Price as she discusses the tradition of making dolls out of corn husks and participate in making one yourself! Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration: 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Carpentry of the Federal Period” –Humans have utilized wood to create various kinds of objects and shelters since the dawn of time. Join Slade Nakoff as he demonstrates and describes methods of carpentry specific to the settlement period of East Tennessee. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration 30 minutes.
Friday, June 23rd
9:00 a.m. “Painting the Past”- In a period before cameras made capturing a moment commonplace, painters were employed with the task of constructing representations of the people and places in which they inhabited. Slade Nakoff will be demonstrating and describing painting techniques employed by the old masters to create mementos of the present, even on the frontier. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration 30 minutes.
11:00 a.m. “Storytime at the Mansion” – Storytelling is an art with a rich tradition in Appalachia. Join Andrea Price as she reads folktales from around the region on the steps of the oldest frame house in Tennessee. Meet at the Carter Mansion. Duration: 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Personalized Pockets” – The pocket is a staple piece of any colonial woman’s wardrobe. Join Andrea Price as she discusses and demonstrates the art of personalizing pockets with embroidered detailing. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration: 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Early American Architecture” –The way in which structures are constructed and what is considered fashionable in the United States has changed drastically over time. Join Slade Nakoff as he describes these changes and choices through the example of Sabine Hill. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration 25 minutes.
Saturday, June 24th
9:00-11:00 a.m., 1:30-3:30 p.m. “Visit Fort Watauga” –Interpretive staff will be on hand to share the history of Fort Watauga and everyday life on the frontier. Meet in Fort Watauga.
11:00 a.m. “Cemetery Symbolism” – Death and mourning practices differ across customs and time periods, but many aspects have carried over into current tradition. Join Andrea Price as she discusses funerary and mourning practices common in the 18th century while searching for symbols in the Carter Family Cemetery. Meet at the Carter Mansion. Duration: 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Firearms of the 18th century” –Join Slade Nakoff as he demonstrates how firearms of the 18th century function as well as describes their construction. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration: 20 minutes.
Tuesday, June 27th
9:00 a.m. “Frontier Barbie: The Making of Colonial Dolls” – From corn husks to electronics, children’s toys have evolved in the last 250 years. Join Andrea Price as she discusses the tradition of making dolls out of corn husks and participate in making one yourself! Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration: 30 minutes.
11:00 a.m. “Carpentry of the Federal Period” –Humans have utilized wood to create various kinds of objects and shelters since the dawn of time. Join Slade Nakoff as he demonstrates and describes methods of carpentry specific to the settlement period of East Tennessee. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Personalized Pockets” – The pocket is a staple piece of any colonial woman’s wardrobe. Join Andrea Price as she discusses and demonstrates the art of personalizing pockets with embroidered detailing. Meet at the Carter Mansion. Duration: 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “The Colonial Gunsmith” –Join Slade Nakoff as he demonstrates the work of a gunsmith during the 18th century, along with methods of the trade. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration 30 minutes.
Wednesday June 28th
9:00 a.m. “Colonial Music” – Join Andrea Price as she plays some popular tunes to come from the Colonial Period on her banjo. Popular songs include “Yankee Doodle”, “Alouette”, and more. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration: 30 minutes.
11:00 a.m. “Inkle Loom Weaving” – The inkle loom provided settlers with a way to make strap material for sashes, powder horns, bags, belts, and garters. Join Slade Nakoff as he demonstrates how straps would have been woven on the East Tennessee frontier. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration 20 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Storytime at the Mansion” – Storytelling is an art with a rich tradition in Appalachia. Join Andrea Price as she reads folktales from around the region on the steps of the oldest frame house in Tennessee. Meet at the Carter Mansion. Duration: 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Painting the Past”- In a period before cameras made capturing a moment commonplace, painters were employed with the task of constructing representations of the people and places in which they inhabited. Slade Nakoff will be demonstrating and describing painting techniques employed by the old masters to create mementos of the present, even on the frontier. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration 30 minutes.
Thursday June 29th
9:00 a.m. “Colonial Kid Games” – Ready to play like a frontiersman? Join Andrea Price as she takes part in the games children would have played growing up at Fort Watauga. Prepare to get active and have fun playing games like graces, ninepins, and hoops & sticks. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration: 45 minutes
11:00 a.m. “Scrimshaw, what is that?” –Join Slade Nakoff as he discusses the 18th century American art of scrimshaw and its history as well as demonstrates different techniques and methods. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Hat Making” –Headwear has always been an area for those on the cutting edge of fashion trends to modify and make their own. Join Slade Nakoff as he demonstrates hat making during the 18th Century and its impact on the edge of colonial society. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Cemetery Symbolism” – Death and mourning practices differ across customs and time periods, but many aspects have carried over into current tradition. Join Andrea Price as she discusses funerary and mourning practices common in the 18th century while searching for symbols in the Carter Family Cemetery. Meet at the Carter Mansion. Duration: 30 minutes.
Friday June 30th
9:00 a.m. “Dress Like a Frontiersman” – Dress to impress your fellow freedom fighters by taking part in this opportunity to try on colonial clothing. Join Andrea Price as she discusses the clothing that would have been worn around the time of the American Revolution and get a chance to dress up. This program is recommended for ages 5 to 13. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration: 30 minutes.
11:00 a.m. “Tartan and Trade: Scottish Culture on the Frontier” –As people move from one location to another, often they retain and reestablish their cultural heritage within the new geographic region. Join Slade Nakoff as he discusses and demonstrates aspects of Scottish culture which settlers brought with them to the frontier. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration 25 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Firearms of the 18th century” –Join Slade Nakoff as he demonstrates how firearms of the 18th century function as well as describes their construction. Meet in the park visitor’s center. Duration: 20 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Frontier Fashion: A Look at Colonial Women’s Clothing” – Women’s fashion has changed drastically since the first settlement of East Tennessee. Join Andrea Price as she discusses women’s clothing in the 18th century and how it accommodated life on the frontier. Meet at the Carter Mansion. Duration: 20 minutes.
Saturday July 1st
9:00-11:00 a.m., 1:30-3:30 p.m. “Visit Fort Watauga” –Interpretive staff will be on hand to share the history of Fort Watauga and everyday life on the frontier. Meet in Fort Watauga.
11:00 a.m. “Carpentry of the Federal Period” –Humans have utilized wood to create various kinds of objects and shelters since the dawn of time. Join Slade Nakoff as he demonstrates and describes methods of carpentry specific to the settlement period of East Tennessee. Meet at Sabine Hill. Duration 30 minutes.
1:30 p.m. “Finger Weaving” – Finger weaving is a technique that has been used by Native American groups for thousands of years. Join Andrea Price as she works on finger weaving a strap and shares the history of the technique. Meet at the Carter Mansion. Duration: 30 minutes.
Visitors Center Hours:
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday – Saturday (Closed 11:00 am -12:00 pm)
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm Sunday
Our Visitor’s Center is closed on most State holidays. Park grounds open from dawn until dusk.
In the event of extremely inclement weather, contact the park regarding closings
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
1651 W. Elk Avenue- Elizabethton, TN 37643
423-543-5808
Historic John and Landon Carter Mansion
1031 Broad Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643
Sabine Hill State Historic Site
2328 West G Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643
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