By Debbie Adams
Vinton is well-known for its patriotism—its veterans’ monuments, its Field of Honor, its
spectacular fireworks show on the Fourth of July, and this year, for the first time, the inaugural
performance of a one-act playing celebrating Vinton’s founding.
The Vinton Historical Society, in collaboration with Roanoke Bear Theatre, is presenting “Land
and Liberty–The Vinton Story,” with performances this weekend, Friday through Sunday, June
12-14.
The historical document which gave rise to the genesis of the “Land and Liberty” project is a
1781 land grant by then governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, to two local men, Christian
Vineyard and William Tabler–a years’ long process at a cost of 15 shillings. The land these
gentlemen were granted was among the first to be settled within properties that now include the
Town of Vinton, named in part after the Vineyard surname.
Local playwright, director, and actor David Walton used that document, along with other
information he discovered in the course of historical research, to produce the one-act play. He
was commissioned by the Vinton Historical Society to write it in honor of this summer’s
statewide Virginia 250 commemoration.
Walton explains: “The play is based on fact but imagines conversations between historically
accurate characters during two important moments in history.” His goal was to dramatize the
pursuit of and importance of land ownership in the creation of a new nation. Since it specifically
addresses the early settlers of the Town of Vinton, its reliance upon historically accurate town
ancestors as well as descriptions of the local topography is of interest to locals. The broader
context of the Revolutionary War history makes it appealing to a broader audience as well.
Eight cast members will be presenting the play in the Thrasher United Methodist Church chapel,
historic in and of itself.
They include:
KJ Geo portraying William Tabler, Anna’s younger brother, also in his late 20’s to 30’s, jovial,
optimistic, also quick with a joke and not afraid of a drink. Geo was “raised by the theatre as a child,” performing roles such as Seymour (“Little Shop of Horrors”), Frank Butler (“Annie Get
Your Gun”), and Renfield (“Dracula”). He’s grateful for being pulled down from the lighting
booth after 12 years away from the stage to be a part of this very special play.
Madeline Bedrosian portrays Anna Vineyard, a woman in her late 20’s to 30’s. She is her
husband’s equal but in opposite ways. She is optimistic and unfettered by the stress of waiting on
their land grant to be approved. Bedrosian is excited to help bring local history to life. She is also
an artist. She was last seen as Anne Frank in “The Diary of Anne Frank” at Little Town Players.
Luke Dillon (Christian Vineyard) is a man in his late 20’s to early 30’s who is an inpatient
worrier anxious to take his place among the landowners in what he hopes will be the new
country of America. Dillon is excited to be a part of this excellent show and cast celebrating this
bit of Vinton history. He has been an actor since elementary school and was most recently on
stage at Attic Productions in “Sense and Sensibility” and “Southern Hospitality.”
James Gabello portrays Thomas Jefferson in his late 30’s, and governor of Virginia. He is stately
and dignified, but not above flashes of anger as he mentors his young secretary. Gabello is an
avid reader of history and excited to bring this important story of the founding of the Town of
Vinton to life. He has appeared in numerous local plays, most recently as Adam in Roanoke Bear
Theatre’s production of “Buddies.”
Melissa Hagen portrays Lydia Vineyard, a woman in her 50’s who is kind, but stern, and fiercely
proud of her family’s history. Hagen is excited to be in her first acting role in nearly 15 years.
Growing up in the Vinton area, she’s especially honored to be a part of this production.
Blake Hill (William Short) plays the part of a young secretary in his late teens, and a student at
the College of William and Mary. He is eager and excitable, with a lot left to learn, and a burning
desire to fight in the Revolution. Hill is honored to embrace Vinton’s history with Bear Theatre
and the Vinton History Museum in “Land and Liberty.” He was last seen in “The Importance of
Being Earnest,” along with “Sense & Sensibility,” as John Willoughby.
Kelli Hobson portrays Maria Tabler, a woman in her late 20’s to 30’s, who is William’s long-
suffering wife. She also has a cough that worries everyone but her. Hobson recently made her
directorial debut with “Never After Happily” at Attic Productions. Her favorite roles to date are
Roz in “Moon Over Buffalo” and Countess Andrenyi in “Murder on the Orient Express,” both
also directed by Walton.
Ellie Rosine portrays Mary Vinyard, a young woman about 18 years old who is spoiled and
preoccupied with her social life. Rosine is a junior at Lord Botetourt High School and has been
involved in several of the school’s theatre productions, both on and backstage. She enjoys
spending her time playing Appalachian dulcimer, singing, and competing on her school’s speech
and debate team.
A brief synopsis of the production sets the stage in the summer of 1884, on the eve of a
Founder’s Day celebration in the newly named Town of Vinton in Roanoke County, said to be a
combination of the names of two prominent families—the Vineyards and the Prestons. The town
was previously named Gish Mill.
Lydia Vineyard finds that her daughter, Mary, lacks appreciation for what it took to build the
town she calls home, with thoughts mainly of her almost-fiancé, Davis Gish. Using flashbacks to
the Revolutionary War period, a hundred years before, Mary learns the importance of land and
liberty and what it means to those who work hard to achieve it.
The play is “dialogue-based” with minimal stage action. That dialogue is peppered with family
names and places familiar to locals, including the Vineyard, Pedigo, Thrasher, Pollard, Funks,
and Walker, along with Gish Mill, Glade Creek, Wolf Creek, Botetourt County, and Fincastle.
Underlying the focus on the founding of the town, and the wait for the land grant to be approved,
is background on the American Revolution, the progress of the war, and the tyranny of King
George III.
The stage is set for three character-groups appearing at once, but in different time periods– the
Vineyard women discussing Founder’s Day and the naming of Vinton in 1884 in their
overstuffed, over-furnished home; Jefferson and his secretary describing the war and the delay in
issuing the land grant in 1781 in Jefferson’s office; and the Vineyard/Tabler families in a bare
Colonial cabin focused on their future plans for occupying their land, also in the 1780’s.
Meticulous attention to detail is obvious in both costuming and set design—down to choosing
jewelry and the use of real green beans.
Lydia Vineyard closes the performance with speculation about what is to come in the Town of
Vinton, which was built on the dreams and hard work of those who came before, longing for
“Land and Liberty.”
Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 through https://beartheatre.com or at the door. A
performance of 17th century music by the Roanoke Valley Dulcimer Group precedes each
performance. A Southern-style dinner will be served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. before the evening
shows on Friday and Saturday. For just $20 a plate, guests will enjoy a specially catered meal
featuring chicken, vegetables, rolls, and dessert. Reservations are required for the Friday and
Saturday evening dinners.
All proceeds from meals benefit local non-profits and the free Community Drive-Thru dinners
distributed on Wednesday evenings during the school year. The Vinton History Museum intends
to use revenue from this event towards funding for an accessibility lift to resolve the limited
access to the second-floor exhibits at the Vinton History Museum located in downtown Vinton.
A portion of the revenue will go to the Bear Theatre to further their non-profit work in creating
welcoming performance space that produces high-quality productions at reasonable prices.
Performance times are June 12 at 7 p.m., June 13 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and June 14 at 3 p.m.
Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church is located on Washington Avenue across from the
Vinton War Memorial.
For additional information visit https://beartheatre.com or contact the Vinton History Museum at
info@vintonhistorymuseum.org or Roanoke Bear Theatre at info@beartheatre.com.
