Jessica Taylor (Harriet Beecher) and Thomas Alan Taylor (Theodore Weld) in Sons & Daughters of Thunder.
Ledger Independent
Augusta, Kentucky
A ticketed but free screening of the acclaimed feature film, “Sons and Daughters of Thunder,” the true story of Augusta College graduates, is set for Friday, Sept. 20, 7-9 p.m., at the Clooney Community Center in Augusta. A Q&A with the Emmy-nominated filmmakers Kelly & Tammy Rundle and historian Chris DeSimio will follow.
The event is being hosted by Augusta College Echo Hall Association, a group dedicated to preserving and repurposing Echo Hall, the last standing building from Augusta College and the oldest Methodist structure in the commonwealth.
Based on the critically-acclaimed play by Earlene Hawley and Curtis Heeter, “Sons & Daughters of Thunder” tells the true story of the 1834 Cincinnati, Lane Theological Seminary anti-slavery debates. The controversial meetings, led by abolitionist and firebrand Theodore Weld (played by actor Thomas Alan Taylor), were the first to publicly discuss the end of slavery in America.
The meetings angered Cincinnati residents and Lane Seminary officials, who promptly slapped a gag order on the entire student body. This action was followed by a freedom of speech protest and mass exodus of Lane students to Oberlin College.
A young Harriet Beecher’s (played by actress Jessica Taylor) exposure to the debates and Weld’s continuing work to free the slaves sparked a flame that led her to write her magnum opus “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”
Augusta College graduates James A. Thome and John G. Fee were centrally involved in the debates and the exodus from Lance Seminary.
Free tickets to the event are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/movie-screening-of-sons-daughters-of-thunder-tickets-69239137123. Seating is limited.
Sons & Daughters of Thunder is based on the critically-acclaimed play by Earlene Hawley and Curtis Heeter, and tells the true story of the 1834 Cincinnati, Ohio Lane Theological Seminary anti-slavery debates. The controversial meetings, led by abolitionist and firebrand Theodore Weld (Thomas Alan Taylor), were the first to publicly discuss the end of slavery in America. The meetings angered Cincinnati residents and Lane Seminary officials, who promptly slapped a gag order on the entire student body. This action was followed by a freedom of speech protest and mass exodus of Lane students to Oberlin College. A young Harriet Beecher’s (Jessica Taylor) exposure to the debates and Weld's continuing work to free the slaves sparked a flame that led her to write her magnum opus Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Sons & Daughters of Thunder is produced by Kent Hawley and Fourth Wall Films, owned by Emmy® nominated filmmakers Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle, a film and video production company specializing in historical documentaries for public television broadcast and DVD home video.
Kimberly Kurtenbach is the Executive Producer on the film and also stars as Catharine Beecher. Kurtenbach also served as Casting Director on the project. Thunder was shot by award-winning Director of Photography Kevin Railsback. Award-winning filmmaker Chris Ryder handled sound and visual effects. Emily Busha was the film’s costume designer, circa 1834. William Campbell is the film score composer. Tyson Danner served as Assistant Director, with Olivia Ketron and Melinda Carriker serving as Production Assistants.
The cast includes Thomas Alan Taylor, Jessica Taylor, Janos Horvath, Mark Winn, Tom Walljasper, Mike Kennedy, Don Denton, Mike Schulz, Tristan Tapscott, Anthony Stratton, Justin Marxen, Jaylen Marks, Pat Flaherty, Daniel Rairdin-Hale, Lora Adams, Joseph Maubach, Tim Stompanato, David Furness, Travis Shepherd, Mikeal Burgin, Lisa Kahn, David Juehring, Don Hazen and David Shropshire. Over fifty extras took part in Thunder.
Sons & Daughters of Thunder is dedicated to Kent Hawley & Earlene Hawley.
Partial funding for the film was provided by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, and through the Quad City Arts with a grant provided by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, and John Deere. The fiscal sponsors for the film project are The Shell Rock Historical Society, and The Moline Foundation.
PRE-ORDER the Sons & Daughters of Thunder DVD (release date December 2019) and SAVE! Click HERE!
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