Sarah Thornton


Sample Repertoire of Solo Performances and Presentations
  Equal Opportunity Days/Months Honoring
Contributions of Ethnic and Disabled Americans

from the Performance Studies Division
Department of Communication and Media Studies
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, Texas  
                                                                                      

  Sarah Thornton performs Trail of Tears

The following performances and presentations may be accessed according to performers' schedules and availability. They are especially appropriate for Equal Opportunity or Multi-Cultural Programs. (See the list below, as well as the following links.)

Performances of Poetry

Performances of Autobiography

Ethnic Programs

The following performances of history and other presentations can be adjusted in length.
(From 10-40 minutes, for example.)

 
  January- Dr. Martin Luther King Day
  Performer

Presentation

  Josh Gwynn--------------------------------------------------- Dr. Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream
  Resha Ellis---------------------------------------------------- Coretta Scott King
  Aja Bradford------------------------------------------------ Coretta Scott King
 
  February- African American History Month

  Performer


Performances from African American History
and Literature


  Dr. Diane Howard--------------------------------------------- Martha Washington
  Dr. Diane Howard--------------------------------------------- Harriet Beecher Stowe
  Carlotta Russell Maneice-------------------------------------- Sojourner Truth, Poetry of C.E. Sims, Nikki Giovanni, other Af. Am. Writers
  Dee Hughes--------------------------------------------------- Harriet Tubman
  Courtney Dennis----------------------------------------------- Harriet Tubman
  Justin Golden-------------------------------------------------- Frederick Douglass
  Will Johnston-------------------------------------------------- Frederick Douglass
  Will Johnston-------------------------------------------------- The Slave’s Complaint, poem by George Horton
  Brandon Fulcher----------------------------------------------- Poetry of Langston Hughes
  Shannon Robinson--------------------------------------------- Poetry of Langston Hughes
  Lennard Ball--------------------------------------------------- Poetry of Langston Hughes
  Lorenzo Morgan----------------------------------------------- Poetry of Langston Hughes
  Joseph Warren------------------------------------------------ Poetry of Langston Hughes
  Sterling Stewart----------------------------------------------- Poetry of Langston Hughes
  Ryan Mosley------------------------------------------------- Poetry of Langston Hughes
  Sheraton McCarter Duffey------------------------------------- Literature of Maya Angelou
  Tamara Harris------------------------------------------------- Literature of Maya Angelou
  Christine Pointer----------------------------------------------- Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandrige;Af. Am. Poetry
  Darien Moore------------------------------------------------- Billy Holiday
  Melissa Gonzales---------------------------------------------- Poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks & other Af. Am Writers
  Lisa Banks---------------------------------------------------- Rosa Parks , Poetry of Langston Hughes , and other Af. Am. Writers
  Angelique Meyers--------------------------------------------- Her Story by Naomi Long Madgett
  Jerrod Speights------------------------------------------------ Jesse Owens
  Resha Ellis---------------------------------------------------- Coretta Scott King
  Aja Bradford------------------------------------------------ Coretta Scott King
  Drew Hollis---------------------------------------------------- Bill Cosby
 
  March- Women's History
 
Performer

Autobiographical Performances
from Women's History

  Presenter
American Women's History
  Dr. Diane Howard--------------------------------------------- Martha Washington
  Dr. Diane Howard--------------------------------------------- Martha McWirter, Leader- Sanctified Sisters, TX
  Dr. Diane Howard--------------------------------------------- March Toward Freedom in Women's History 
  Dr. Diane Howard--------------------------------------------- Equal Rights, Opportunities, Participation
  Dr. Diane Howard--------------------------------------------- March Toward Progress, Productivity Secured by Women's Suffrage
  Dr. Diane Howard--------------------------------------------- Progress Toward Women's Freedom, Productivity
  Carlotta Russell Maneice-------------------------------------- Sojourner Truth
  Dee Hughes--------------------------------------------------- Harriet Tubman
  Courtney Dennis----------------------------------------------- Harriet Tubman
  Christy Edwards----------------------------------------------- Clara Barton
  Diane Hallock------------------------------------------------- Mary Driscoll from the Civil War
  Jessica McClure----------------------------------------------- Eleanor Roosevelt
  Mindy Lovorn------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Roosevelt
  Lisa Banks---------------------------------------------------- Rosa Parks
  Debra Creel--------------------------------------------------- Krista McAuliffe
  Jane Polach---------------------------------------------------- Speeches, Stories of Great, Historic Women
  Shari Cox----------------------------------------------------- Emily Dickinson
  Jennifer Lovell------------------------------------------------- Emily Dickinson
  Tara Felmly---------------------------------------------------- Emma Goldman
  Elizabeth Bennett---------------------------------------------- Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan
  Christine Pointer----------------------------------------------- Dorothy Dandridge, Josephine Baker
  Renee Smith--------------------------------------------------- Susan B. Anthony
  Stacey Regian------------------------------------------------- Susan B. Anthony
  Cynthia Umstattd---------------------------------------------- Norma McCorvey
  Andrea King--------------------------------------------------- Norma McCorvey
 
  Performer
Women's Biblical & Christian History
  Angel Weir---------------------------------------------------- Queen Esther
  Jaci Vance----------------------------------------------------- Queen Esther
  Rhonda Roscoe----------------------------------------------- Queen Esther
  Jill Bonnot----------------------------------------------------- Hannah
  Ashley Klepac------------------------------------------------- Mary, the Mother of Jesus
  Donna Humphrey---------------------------------------------- Joan of Arc
  Deanna Smith-------------------------------------------------- Joan of Arc
  Jennifer Chervenka-------------------------------------------- Jan Hus
  Miriam Wilson Yauk------------------------------------------- Mother Maria Skobtrova
  Annah Lamberson--------------------------------------------- Corrie Ten Boon
  Kathlee Roscoe----------------------------------------------- Corrie Ten Boon
  Amber Peterson----------------------------------------------- Lottie Moon
  Scarlett (McLeroy) Crayton----------------------------------- Lottie Moon
  Erin Parker---------------------------------------------------- Elizabeth Elliott
  Lacey Thomas------------------------------------------------- Elizabeth Elliott
  Colette Chadwell---------------------------------------------- Elizabeth Elliott
  Rebecca (Blackhurst) Blackford------------------------------- Ruth Bell Graham
  Lauren Wilfred------------------------------------------------ Carol Evertt
  Andrea King--------------------------------------------------- Norma McCorvey
  Cynthia Umstattd---------------------------------------------- Norma McCorvey
  Deanna Johnston---------------------------------------------- Heather Mercer
 
  Performer
Women's European History
  Donna Humphrey--------------------------------------------- Joan of Arc
  Deanna Smith------------------------------------------------- Joan of Arc
  Jennifer Torno------------------------------------------------- Florence Nightingale
  Katie Hargis--------------------------------------------------- Jane Austen
  Cat Murray---------------------------------------------------- Jane Austen
  Teresa Huggins------------------------------------------------ Anne Frank
  Jenny Foster--------------------------------------------------- Anne Frank
  Amber Cross-------------------------------------------------- Maria Montessori
  Amanda West------------------------------------------------- Virginia Woolf
  Jenise Smith--------------------------------------------------- Virginia Woolf
  Angela Jandreau----------------------------------------------- Diana the Princess of Wales
  Jane Polach---------------------------------------------------- Diana the Princess of Wales
 
  Performer
Women's Hispanic History
  Natalia Trejo-------------------------------------------------- Eva Peron, Spanish Poetry, Spanish Music/Dance
  Linsey Villareal------------------------------------------------ Eva Peron Speech
  Jenna Artus---------------------------------------------------- Frida Kahlo
  Margo Delagarza--------- ------------------------------------ Strangers in Our Own Land (Migrant Stories)
  Marianna Lugo------------------------------------------------ Rita Moreno
 
  Performer
Women's Indian History
  Sarah Culpepper---------------------------------------------- Mother Teresa
 
  Performer
Women's Texas History
  Kathryn Munroe----------------------------------------------- Emily Austin
  Dr. Diane Howard--------------------------------------------- Frances Trask
  Dr. Diane Howard -------------------------------------------- Elli Moore Townsend
  Leslie Kemmerer---------------------------------------------- Ma Ferguson
  Dr. Diane Howard--------------------------------------------- Martha McWirter
  Lois Forehand------------------------------------------------- Dr. Claudia Potter
  Merritt McKinnon -------------------------------------------- Oveta Culp Hobby
  Stacey Hopson------------------------------------------------ Lady Bird Johnson
 
  April- Days of Remembrance (Holocaust)
 
Performer


Autobiographical Performances
from Jewish History


  Teresa Huggins------------------------------------------------ Anne Frank
  Jenny Foster-------------------------------------------------- Anne Frank
  Lauren Ellis --------------------------------------------------- Ann Frank
  Jeremy Johnston----------------------------------------------- Oskar Schindler
  Jessica Stockel------------------------------------------------ Nie Wieder! (Never Again!) Holocaust Survivor Story
  Miriam Wilson Yauk------------------------------------------- Mother Maria Skobtrova
  Annah Lamberson--------------------------------------------- Corrie ten Boom
  Kathlee Roscoe----------------------------------------------- Corrie ten Boom
  Erin Edwards ------------------------------------------------- Corrie ten Boom
  Aaron Castillo------------------------------------------------- Corrie ten Boom from perspective of former guard
  Shawn Cabanis------------------------------------------------ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, To Die is Gain
 

Poetry from Jewish History

 
  Colette Chadwell---------------------------------------------- Job 6
  Amy Lunde---------------------------------------------------- If I Forget Jerusalem, Yehuda Amichi  
  Sarah Durham------------------------------------------------- Isaiah 53 
  Lacey Thomas------------------------------------------------- Psalm 27
  Cynthia Brehm------------------------------------------------- Psalm 63
  Raychelle Presley---------------------------------------------- Psalms
     
  May- Asian Pacific Month

UMHB Asian Presentations of History and Literature
  Performer

Performance

  Shuntaro Yanasaki-------------------------------------------- Performance of Japanese Literature , Autobiography- Mishima Yukio
  Kazunori Yamaguchi------------------------------------------ Poetry of Basho Matsuo
  Breanna Sherbert--------------------------------------------- A Crow on a Withered Branch (in Japanese and English), Matsuo Basho
  Angela Espada------------------------------------------------------------------------ Korean Literature; Lee Hee Ho, Korea's First Lady
  Carol Ellis---------------------------------------------------- The Joy Luck Club
  Stacia Yu ---------------------------------------------------- Amy Tan
  Van Nguyen-------------------------------------------------- Bruce Lee
     
  August- Women's Equality Day
 
  Performer

Women's Autobiographical Performances
and Literature

  Performer
American Women's History
  Dr. Diane Howard -------------------------------------------- Martha Washington
  Carlotta Russell Maneice-------------------------------------- Sojourner Truth
  Dee Hughes--------------------------------------------------- Harriet Tubman
  Courtney Dennis---------------------------------------------- Harriet Tubman
  Christy Edwards----------------------------------------------- Clara Barton
  Christine Pointer----------------------------------------------- Dorothy Dandridge, Josephine Baker
  Renee Smith--------------------------------------------------- Susan B. Anthony
  Jessica McClure----------------------------------------------- Eleanor Roosevelt
  Mindy Lovorn------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Roosevelt
  Lisa Banks---------------------------------------------------- Rosa Parks
  Marianna Lugo------------------------------------------------ Rita Moreno
  Ashley Akin--------------------------------------------------- Hillary Rodham,Women's Rights are Human Rights
  Jane Polach---------------------------------------------------- Speeches, Stories of Great, Historic Women
  Deanna Johnston---------------------------------------------- Heather Mercer
 
 
  Performer
European Women's History
  Amanda West------------------------------------------------- Virginia Woolf
  Jenise Smith--------------------------------------------------- Virginia Woolf
  Amber Cross-------------------------------------------------- Maria Montessori
  Jane Polach---------------------------------------------------- Diana the Princess of Wales
 
  Hispanic Women's History and Literature
  Natalia Trejo-------------------------------------------------- Eva Peron & Selena
  Lindsey Villareal----------------------------------------------- Eva Peron
  Jenna Artus---------------------------------------------------- Frida Kahlo
  Marianna Lugo------------------------------------------------ Rita Moreno
  Marianna Lugo------------------------------------------------ Puerto Rican Woman
 
  Performer
Texas Women's History
  Dr. Diane Howard--------------------------------------------- Frances Trask, Founding Figure, Baylor University
  Dr. Diane Howard--------------------------------------------- Elli Moore Townsend, Founding Figure, UMHB
  Leslie Kemmerer---------------------------------------------- Ma Ferguson , First Female TX, US Governor
  Lois Forehand------------------------------------------------- Dr. Claudia Potter, Early Female Dr., SW Hospital
  Merritt McKinnon -------------------------------------------- Oveta Culp Hobby, Head of WACs WWII,Pres. Cabinet
  Deanna Johnston---------------------------------------------- Heather Mercer
 
 
  September- Hispanic Heritage Month
  Performer


Autobiographical Performances
from Hispanic History


  Matt Williams-------------------------------------------------- The Old Man and the Sea
  Michael Fox--------------------------------------------------- Literature of Ernest Hemmingway
  Brian Hutchison------------------------------------------------ John Kennedy's Cuban Missile Crisis Speech
  Margo Delagarza Hayden-------------------------------------- Strangers in Our Own Land (Migrant Stories)
  Jenna Artus---------------------------------------------------- Frida Kahlo
  Natalia Trejo-------------------------------------------------- Eva Peron & Selena
  Lindsey Villareal-----------------------------------------------   Eva Peron
  Marianna Lugo------------------------------------------------ Rita Moreno
 
  September- National Disability Month

  Performer


Autobiographical Performances
from the History of the Physically Challenged


  Elizabeth Bennett---------------------------------------------- Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan
  Candace Cross------------------------------------------------ Annie Sullivan
  Jack Bland ---------------------------------------------------- Joseph Merrick ("The Elephant Man")
 
  November- Native American Month

  Performer Performances of Native American History & Literature
  Sarah Thornton------------------------------------------------ Trail of Tears
  Donya Fagan------------------------------------------------- Zitkalal-sa, autobiographical
  Monica Rosales ----------------------------------------------- Pocahontas, autobiographical
  Nicole Young------------------------------------------------- I am He, poetry by Robert Ellis  
 

Performance Studies students at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor research and write the autobiographical scripts they perform of great, historic figures. These pieces are designed as role modeling stories, which are honest about character flaws and struggles.

Historic background, rationale, methodology, process, and research related to this work are described in Dr. Howard’s text, Autobiographical Writing and Performing; An Introductory, Contemporary Guide to Process and Research in Speech Performance. McGraw-Hill Inc. is the publisher.

These autobiographical stories emphasize the subjective attitudes and values of the characters, related to their responses to struggles from within and without. These presentations have been part of ongoing research, which has verified the strong relationship of role models to achievement motivation in observers.

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