Actress Maame Danso, who portrays Harriet Tubman in Prime Stage Theatre Sprouts’ rendition of “Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad,” shares a scene with fellow actress Anne Rematt, who plays Sarah Bradford in the theater’s two-weekend performance at the New Hazlett Theater, located at 6 Allegheny Square East, Pittsburgh. (Photo by Laura Sloveko)
by Ember Duke, For New Pittsburgh Courier
History was brought to life on the New Hazlett Theater stage Friday night, Jan. 20, during Prime Stage Theatre Sprouts’ rendition of “Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.”
The show, which runs through Jan. 29, teaches audiences the very real intricacies of Tubman’s life and expeditions.
Most know that Harriet Tubman was a conductor on the Underground Railroad, but the show gives deeper insight into her life, during times of slavery and after the Civil War, director Linda Haston said. Discrimination against Tubman’s race and gender put her in a harrowing position, Haston noted, but Tubman’s faith and strength were her “guiding light.” The director added that Tubman’s feats are a significant part of history, and the play intends that she be accurately remembered.
Being a Black woman in the 19th century meant a lifetime of hardship, but Tubman never gave up her fight. Maame Danso, the actress who portrays the show’s heroine, said she believed Tubman must have had great strength despite her odds.
“I mean she wasn’t just a slave fighting for her freedom and the freedom of others, but she also was a woman, she was about 5 feet tall. She was a very unassuming person that you wouldn’t think had that much inner strength to do the things she’s done,” Danso said.
Haston said she wanted the play to be a conduit for Tubman to tell her story. Each scene finds a balance between Tubman talking directly to the audience and showing them the action.
“All the scenes that you see come right out of her head. You see these scenes that she has been through, and then the rest she tells you,” Haston said.
The cast also believes this way of storytelling makes it more accessible, especially for younger audiences.
“Seeing Harriet go through the motions and those little scenes of her working in the hospital or her meeting Still, are going to stick with them (children) more than if they were in a classroom,” said actress Anne Rematt, who plays Sarah Bradford, Susan B. Anthony, and a Quaker woman in the show.
The Sprouts program, which launched in 2022, aims to make educational yet entertaining historical content for children, augmenting the history lessons taught in school.
Teaching children history is key to not repeating it, Haston said. She believes teaching young kids, showing them respect, and tailoring an artistic learning experience helps younger audiences engage with the content.
“Make it more about them and how they live today and how it affects how they live today. So that as they get older, they can understand what’s going on in the world and not necessarily be shielded,” Haston said.
The play is appropriate for all ages, and the company encourages families to attend.
“Adults need to see this to learn what to say to their children. Children need to see this to learn their history,” Haston said.
The cast and director hope audiences walk away with a stronger sense of who Tubman was, what she fought for, and the hardships she experienced. Haston also wants Tubman’s story to remain part of modern conversations.
Actress Michele Renee Bankole, who plays Mrs. Ross and Mary, felt that though times are different, there are necessary messages in Tubman’s story.
“I think it’s still very relevant and about how you can affect change no matter your circumstance is a story that never gets old,” Bankole said.
Her co-star Sam Lothard, who plays Mr. Ross, Joe, William Still, and Henry, agreed the production has timeless themes that promote change.
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog, she was the littlest thing, but she made the biggest impact,” Lothard said. “We might not be able to fix every single issue and problem in our lifetime, but we can create a change that has a ripple effect that our kids and grandkids and so forth and so on, they can keep pushing the train forward,” he said.
Bankole agreed, adding that Tubman’s deeds are still impactful and pave the way for future generations.
“It matters what you leave behind. Harriet left the things she did,” Bankole said.
The show returns to the stage again, this weekend, Jan. 27-29 at The New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East. Tickets are $14 for students, $24 for adults.
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