ONE NIGHT ONLY
SAT. JULY 25th, 7:00PM - DOORS OPEN AT 6:30
ADVANCED TICKETS ON SALE AT PADDINGTON STATION
“Historical feeling and accuracy. Emotional delivery, increasing and building dynamic integrity. A simple message really; wake up and be respectful. There was some church-like moaning from some of the audience members. We gasped and laughed in gratitude for those humorous moments. … powerfully emotional and believable." –Anonymous Review
Forced from his home in Talent by neighbors irate that he championed the rights of American Indians, Beeson risked all to advocate for Native Americans during the Civil War. This play explores timely issues of genocide, racial discrimination, and the personal costs of speaking out against injustice. The reading is accompanied by historical photos of the persons and places making the history of our region.
John Beeson:
An Indian Advocate
A Staged Reading of a New Play by Joe Charter
SOU Meese Auditorium, Siskiyou & Wightman
Cast
UPDATE 7/17/26
We regret to announce that Teresa Cisneros is unable to perform at the July 25 SOU benefit performance. She has asked that Jeannine Grizzard step into the role of Larooqua for her during this performance.
Jeannine Grizzard has been Artistic Director of Ashland Contemporary Theatre since 2010; the company is in the process of restructuring since its last production in 2023. Jeannine holds a Masters in Shakespeare and studied theatre at professional drama schools in Connecticut, New York and London. Jeannine has performed several one woman shows, including Patrick Garland’s Virginia Woolf: A Room of One’s Own, Pompadour by Ashland playwright Molly Tinsley, and Pankhurst: Freedom or Death, written by Grizzard.
Jeannine has been a long-time student of Native American wisdom and practices, often with native teachers. Her study since the 1990s has included Shamanic Breathwork led by Linda Wolf, a “soul daughter” of Grandmother Twylah Nitsch of the Seneca Nation and member of the Wolf Clan. The Wolf Clan is a teaching lodge that permits non-native members. Graduates of Linda’s Wolf’s three-year Shamanic Breathwork program are considered honorary members of the Wolf Clan.
Bob Jackson Miner (Beeson)
You may know him as “Harmonica Bob” or as Abraham Lincoln in the Ashland 4th of July celebration. Bob has performed in over thirty musical theater productions. His performances include “1776” at the Camelot Theatre and “Guys on Ice” at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre.
Bob (Bo) Brazeau (Welborn)
Bo has appeared in numerous local performances and readings, including portraying Alan Turing in Ashland Contemporary Theatre’s production of “Breaking the Code.”
Teresa Cisneros (Larooqua)
Teresa is a former OSF actor and Indian Education Facilitator with the Southern Oregon ESD, and current nonprofit director of Coalicion Fortaleza. Her OSF work included roles in “Between Two Knees” and “Manahatta.” She is a member of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, descendants of the aboriginal people of Northern Mexico.
Pam Ward (Narrator)
Pam’s stage work includes Off-Broadway, film, and television performances. She is a founding member of Collaborative Theatre Project and has an extensive audiobook narration background.
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No late seating. We may resell your tickets if you have not arrived by show time.
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No outside food or beverages are allowed in the theatre.
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Tickets are non-refundable.
Crew
Producer / Writer: Joe Charter
Dramatic Consultant: Domenique Lozano
Soundscape Design: Marty Eldridge
Lights: Robbi McMinimy
Projections: Kathleen Woods
PARKING: left on Wightman past SOU Student Health Center
