Montpelier Juneteenth Celebration: Living Liberation

Show Overview

Lost Nation Theater joins the Montpelier JUNETEENTH: LIVING LIBERATION Celebration

with performances and readings by Dawn Ellis, Isadora Snapp, Shanda Williams and others featured as part of the free community celebration on the State House Lawn.

Montpelier's Juneteenth: Living Liberation celebration is being organized by Jessica Laporte, Saudia LaMont from REAL and Noel Riby Williams.
The event is also co-sponsored by NAACP and Waterbury Anti-Racist Coalition

And it's Free!
Saturday June 19, 5-8pm on the Vermont State House lawn.

Lost Nation Theater's programming portion for the celebration was conceived and coordinated by Mara Iverson, Kim Bent, Kathleen Keenan, and Shanda Williams.

We are proud and humbled to be part of and help support this important community celebration.

LNT presenters include:

Shanda Williams singing "Lift Every Voice" accompanied by Dan Boomhower.
Dawn Ellis reading The Emancipation Proclamation.
The Montpelier Gospel Choir's "small choir."
Dancer/Choreographer Isadora Snapp will perform her original dance to Amanda Gorman's "In This Place: An American Lyric," read by Shanda Williams.
Rachel Edens, of the Vermont Humanities Council, will speak on the history of Juneteenth.

To find out more, visit Montpelier Juneteenth Living Liberation Facebook Page
Organizers will have donation buckets to help offset costs - including speaker fees - at the event. They are asking for cash donations.
LNT is directly compensating its performers, speakers and staff.

Scoop Info

Get a sneak peek into Isadora & Shanda's piece here

Shanda Williams, accompanied by Dan Boomhower, will open the festivities singing "Lift Every Voice" (approximately 5:10pm)
The Montpelier Gospel Choir will "close" the first set of the celebration (approximately 5:45pm)
Isadora Snapp and Shanda Williams with "An American Lyric" will open the Celebration's second set (approximately 7pm)
Dawn Ellis - and her reading of the 'Emancipation Proclamation" - is the event's "11 O'Clock Number" (approximately 7:45pm)

Many more speakers & performers/musicians will be part of the event –including some former LNT youth program participants!
Check out the event facebook page for all details (and to double-check the event is going on in case of inclement weather.

picture collage -using head shots -of LNTs featured Juneteenth performers Dawn Ellis Isadora Snapp & Shanda Williams, on an orange background

Buzz Info

Here's what the organizers of the State House Juneteenth event have to say:

"We will be commemorating Juneteenth this year with a celebratory evening on the State House Lawn in Montpelier. Our celebration and reflections will be focused on the word ‘Liberation’ as we share Black History in Vermont and make space to discuss the continued impacts of systemic racism in our state. This community event will include food available for pre-order from Black businesses and home cooks and a slate of speakers and performers from across the state. Similar to last year, this is a laid, back lawn party with opportunities to connect!"