Find more History Alive, Inc. Events
Description
2026 is Salem's 400th birthday!
About the August 1st Parade:
History Alive, Inc. company members past, present, and new hires are portraying historic Salemites, each bearing four handmade doves for the "City of Peace".
The 26 characters are:
Reverend Roger Williams portrayed by Jape Payette
Anne Dudley Bradstreet portrayed by Raya YoungJane Reeves Verin portrayed by Adrian Sexton
Deborah Buffum Wilson portrayed by Hannah Spanger
Eleanor Hollingworth portrayed by Isabella Walsh
Phillip English portrayed by Colin Lamusta
Samuel MacIntyre portrayed by Jon Warner-Streff
Reverend William Bentley portrayed by Bob Karish
Mary Spenser portrayed by Kris Karish
Elizabeth Elkins Sanders portrayed by
John Remond portrayed by Rashidi Omari
Nancy Remond portrayed by Shiyanbade Anishman
Chloe Minns portrayed by Samantha Searles
Elizabeth Peabody portrayed by Maevis Small
Caroline Howard King portrayed by Brigid Warner-Streff
Caroline Remond Putnam portrayed by Ambria Benjamin
Louisa Lander portrayed by Laura Hubbard
Jennie Bertram Emmerton portrayed by Jennifer Emerson
Charlotte Forten Grimke portrayed by Chloe Agyare
Robert Morris portrayed by Adeniyi Samuel
Captain Luis F. Emilio portrayed by Max Sklar
‘Mother” Harriet Maxwell portrayed by Anne Sablich
George Francis Dow portrayed by Caleb Palmer
Sarah Symonds portrayed by Via Gould
Katherine Butler Hathaway portrayed by Amelia Smith
and the 1933 Pequot Cotton Mill Strikers portrayed by Eliza Barmakian, Randy Biagas-Hil, Kate Coburn, , Mariah Elias, Molly Elias, Carlos Fruzetti, Norman Jones, Melinda Kalanzis, Tom Rash, Jill Rogati, Bianca Russo, Emily Whitfield, and Andrew Winson.
About the Year Long Project:
In January we asked Salem residents who they'd like to see honored from the past. We spent the spring researching inspiring Salemites whose philanthropy, activism, public service & creative vision helped make the best of what is current day Salem. In May, we transformed Salem's Old Town Hall into a multimedia journey through four centuries of local history featuring 40 of those remarkable Salemites, and we commenced a community art making project to craft 401 doves, for the "City of Peace". And a goal of finding funding for 40 characters if we could do possibly do it or 26 if we couldn't.
The whole community has gotten involved in the dove crafting. The Salem High School Marching Band donated the 400+ wire hangers, residents and businesses have stepped up to sponsor characters and donate supplies. At other celebratory events throughout the summer such as the Salem Arts Festival and the Juneteenth Jam at Charlotte Forten Park, as well as through the May residency at Old Town Hall, all kinds of people from Salem kids, to international visitors, have lent a hand in the fabrication of the doves or shared their thoughts after taking a Salem History personality quiz or a photo in a Salem material culture photo station. Thanks to donor (and historian!) Donna A Seger, the doves will be able to perch on top of paper parasols to be paraded with all the chosen characters, including Chloe Minns and Captain Luis Emilio. Thank you to William Goldberg and Marlene Juedes for being the lead sponsors. Thank you to Meghan Christian for sponsoring the Remonds.
As of August 1st, we have fundraised for 26 characters (the Pequot Mill strikers are united as one!) We'll continue this project by bringing the characters (and maybe the other 14?) to the Salem Haunted Happenings Parade. Maybe we'll even host a time warp ball at New Year's if we get enough community sponsorships and want to get extra decoration out of the doves and costumes and historic dances we've learned--a kind of historical choreographed collision!
Even though 2026 will pass, this is the beginning of a journey which will ultimately take us to the Massachusetts 400th in 2030, and build up our stock for the interpretation of lesser known stories in Salem's past for years to come. Neither Salem’s nor Massachusetts' story is just about one moment in time, but about the many people, across many generations, who made our locale what it is today.
Our Aspirations
History Alive, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing local history to life through the arts, education, and community engagement-- and this project is largely fueled by volunteer hours. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP US bring these change makers from the past to life? We’d be honored if you chose to support this year-long project. Here's how sponsorship for this project works:
40 History Alive, Inc. company members past, present, and even future (new hires for the 2026-2027 Cry Innocent season) excitedly await portraying 26+ historic Salemites, each bearing four handmade doves (for the City of Peace). If a character from the combined lists of 40 below doesn’t get sponsored, the actor will portray a 1930’s Pequot Mill Striker, bearing one dove. If enough sponsorships come in for the more expensive-to-outfit characters, 14 of the 19 strikers will become named characters and the remaining five will represent the strikers.
A donation of $2600 makes the first 26 characters possible (Lead Sponsor) CLAIMED!
A donation of $1400 transforms 14 of the strikers into:
John Bertram
Simon Bradstreet
Susan Burley
Anna Benjamin
Michele Felice Corné
Reverend Joseph Green
Eliza Kenny
Sarah Parker Remond
Sophia Peabody Hawthorne
Mary Peabody Mann
Nelly Stearns Messer
Joseph Story and
Anne Whitney
Or alternates chosen by costume/actor fit:
Fidelia Bridges
George Ropes
Jenny Slew and
Barbarah Ann Wilcox
A donation of $400 outfits one character from the list of 26 in brand new clothes not previously
worn in a History Alive show (enabling future shows with a broader reach of characters).
To donate a different amount please email Kristina Stevick at artisticdirector@historyalivesalem.com with your
choice of amount, or click here!
As our mission statement reads:
History Alive, Inc. is committed to creating new plays and theatrical scenarios based on true stories from the past. Emphasis is given to interactive theatre so that actors and audience together, through a playful and dynamic way of engaging with history, might broaden their understanding of the present and gain a fresh sense of purpose within their own era. The company also seeks to invigorate the local economy by designing activities which connect the community and its visitors to a distinct, local history.
Thank you so much for joining in our work!!
Venue Details
Multiple Locations
in Beverly andSalem, Massachusetts 01970
History Alive, Inc.
History Alive, Inc. is an immersive historically-themed theater company from Salem, Massachusetts. We are committed to the production of new plays and theatrical scenarios based on true stories from the past. Emphasis is given to interactive theatre so that actors and audience together, through a playful and dynamic way of engaging with history, might broaden their understanding of the present and gain a fresh sense of purpose within their own era. The company also seeks to invigorate the local economy by designing activities which connect the community and its visitors to a distinct, local history. Come play your part with us!