Something revolutionary is coming to Daniel Island! The Daniel Island Historical Society and the Berkeley County Francis Marion Commission, also known as Berkeley 250, will spotlight a key figure in the American Revolution on Tuesday, October 21, as the organizations present “Celebrating John Laurens: A Founding Son” at the Daniel Pointe Retirement Center on Daniel Island. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a “meet and greet,” followed by the program from 7 to 8 p.m., and a short reception afterwards commemorating Laurens’ 271st birthday (he was born October 28, 1754).
A Revolutionary War hero from Charleston, Laurens fought tirelessly for the freedom of slaves while serving as an aide-de-camp to General George Washington and engaging in four battles. Laurens became a lieutenant colonel before his untimely death in 1782. His journey is the focus of a docudrama film, John Laurens’ War, funded through a grant from South Carolina Humanities and many private donors. The award-winning film was produced by the Actors’ Theater of South Carolina’s film division, Moving Images Group, and is in world distribution through BMG Global/Twin Engines.
The October 21 event on Daniel Island will feature a panel discussion with the film’s creators and stars Alexia Jones Helsley; Damon L. Fordham, history professor at The Citadel; Executive Producer/Co-Writer Clarence Felder, who portrays John’s father, Henry; and Writer/Director/Producer Chris Weatherhead. Selected clips from the film will be shown to illuminate key aspects of Laurens’ life.
The panel discussion will include Laurens’ military combat, his letters, his diplomatic trip to the French king, and his constant fight for all to attain the dream of freedom in America in the late 18th century.
The event will be held in the theatre/auditorium at the Daniel Pointe Retirement Community, located at 514 Robert Daniel Drive, Daniel Island, SC. The “meet and greet,” from 6:30 to 7 p.m., will offer an opportunity for attendees to interact with the panelists before the program begins. Cake and refreshments will be served immediately following the program, in celebration of Laurens’ birthday. The panel discussion will be filmed as part of an Education Grant the Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina received from the SC250 Sestercentennial Commission.