Sallie Independence Foster was 12 years old and living in Florence, Ala., when the War Between the States broke out in 1861. Her world of high-top shoes, inkwells and mail carried on horseback had to give way to a new reality. She recorded events in her diary, and kept on keeping diaries for 26 years.
Nationally-known storyteller Dolores Hydock and musical historian/composer Bobby Horton, both of Birmingham, Ala., bring Sallie into the 21st century Sunday with their presentation, “A Sweet Strangeness Thrills My Heart: The World of Sallie Independence Foster, 1861-1887.”
The Columbus Arts Council-hosted program begins at 2 p.m. in the Rosenzweig Arts Center Omnova Theater at 501 Main St. Thanks to sponsors, the performance is free. Due to limited seating, advance ticket pick-up is recommended. Call the arts center at 662-328-2787, or stop by at 501 Main St. to reserve a ticket.
“We’re happy to have had Dolores perform in Columbus several times before; she’s developed a following here, as she does wherever she goes,” said CAC Program Manager Beverly Norris. “And we’re thrilled to have Bobby Horton. He’s produced and performed scores for 16 PBS films by Ken Burns — including ‘The Civil War’ and ‘Baseball,’ two films for the A&E network, and 21 films for the National Park Service.”
The composer/producer has also performed with the musical comedy trio Three On a String throughout the U.S. and Canada for more than 40 years.
Hydock has received numerous storytelling awards. Her nine CDs of original stories have all received Resource Awards from Storytelling World magazine. She has been a featured teller at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough and a Teller in Residence.
This performance, based on Sallie’s diaries, papers and letters from her brothers off at war, presents a funny, touching, and uniquely personal look at the life and times Sallie shared with her paper “dear Companion.”
Hydock and Horton interweave Sallie’s story with camp songs, period favorites and original tunes to create a poignant, powerful, humorous and honest picture of a world of innocence turned upside down.
Norris said, “With Columbus’ Spring Pilgrimage beginning this weekend, the program is especially timely. We would love for every Pilgrimage visitor in town to join us.”
For more information, contact the CAC, 662-328-2787, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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