This event to take place this Friday is very special! Many of you may know that libraries all over the state have been handing out free copies of the books about the Shackleton expedition to the Antarctic. Through the Vermont Council for the Humanities' "Vermont Read" program, many, many Vermonters this winter have learned about the amazing journey and the stunning story of survival by those brave men. I imagine those of us who got to see the documentary film last Friday about the expedition all left in awe. Seeing on the big screen those photos and film footage from that 1914-1916 expedition, and hearing the story as told by the filmmaker, with direct quotes from the men's journals--all gave me profound respect for Ernest Shackleton as a leader, and all of the men who joined him and were lucky, smart and creative enough to survive. The odds were so very much against them!! Truly, an amazing and inspiring story about the power of the human body and spirit in meeting the challenge of survival in that extraordinarily remote, beautiful and perilous part of the world.

WHAT IS SO SPECIAL about this Reader's Theater of Community Voices is that our very own Richmond resident, JANE VOSSLER, has carefully read the books about the Shackleton expedition and has artfully written a story for multiple voices to read aloud. You will learn about the expedition and connect to some of the 24 men who survived "one of the most incredible feats of survival ever recorded." So, we in the Richmond area get to experience this event that no other town, no other people, get to experience.

PLEASE COME share it with us! I am one of the readers. We have rehearsed and are eager to share this unique, hour-long, read-aloud version of the Shackleton story with you.

As our librarian Rebecca Mueller wrote in Wednesday's FPF post:
Community readers will assume the personas of twelve of Ernest Shackleton's men, and will tell the story of their adventure, hardships and ultimate survival on the legendary 1914 - 1916 Antarctic expedition aboard the ship, The Endurance. Hear the story as its never been told before. Join us at the Richmond Free Library this Friday, April 1st at 7 pm.

Jan 17, 2025, 2 to 3 PM

Jan 19, 2025, 1 to 5 PM

Jan 21, 2025