Nancy at the Renaissance Center

The Bridge Builders of Kingsport is sponsoring the original play Nancy with the Heritage Alliance in a performance at the Renaissance Center on Thursday, February 13 at 7 p.m.
The performance is a fundraiser for the H.O.P.E. and the New Vision Youth programs of Kingsport. Admission for adults is $5 plus any donation you care to make.  Youth twelve and under will be admitted free. Tickets will be available at the door.
Nancy is based on a true story. In 1820, Elihu Embree published his newspaper, The Emancipator, on Main Street, Jonesborough. The seven-edition paper is the first publication dedicated solely to the cause of abolitionism. Embree passed away in December of 1820, and the paper died with him. Even though it was short-lived, The Emancipator had over 2,000 subscribers, and its reach went all the way to Boston and Philadelphia. Despite his abolitionist beliefs, Embree himself was the enslaver of Nancy, and this is her story.
“Nancy” follows a year of her life from January 1820, when Elihu Embree wrote his will, until January 1821, when his will was read before the Washington County court. Embree tried to free Nancy and her five children in his will, but were his wishes carried out? What was Nancy feeling and thinking during this time? The play by Anne G’Fellers-Mason is based on primary research relying heavily on documents from the Washington County Archives.
The role of Nancy will be performed by local actress Taleah Rogers.