Local frontier heroine's story comes to stage

Freeport Theatre Festival opens its 15th summer season Friday in celebrating an old friend: Massey Harbison.

The original historical drama, written by Ren Steele, Allegheny Township playwright and teacher, ran for two summers in 1998 and 1999 and has been the festival's most popular play.

“Massey Harbison” returns for a three-weekend run, through July 25.

The two-play season concludes with George Bernard Shaw's “The Devil's Disciple,” Aug. 13 through 29, directed by Christopher Scott.

“Massey Harbison” is based on the captive ordeal of the local frontier heroine who, Steele says, “with grit, determination and faith” survived captivity by Miami warriors and white renegades near present-day Freeport and lived on to found a great American family. The action of the story covers 1786 to 1837.

The production seemed to touch a nerve in the community, say Steele and his wife, Marushka Steele, co-artistic directors of the theater.

“Many audience members would actually arrive at the theater early and ask if they would have time to visit her grave” Marushka says. “Of course, Ren, being the gentleman that his grandmother and mother insisted on him being, jumped into his auto — in costume, of course — and led them to her grave site just a few miles from the theater. Massey pilgrims became quite common during that time, and the interest remains.”

Saxonburg Area Library offers a cassette tour of her ordeal, step by step, and local schools include her narrative as part of the curriculum in history.

Steele says Harbison was believed to have been abducted from where the fourth fairway at nearby River Forest Country Club in Allegheny Township is today. “Massey pilgrims are not encouraged to roam the golf course for photos,” she says, laughing.

The Steeles believe that anyone who loves the history of the Alle-Kiski Valley will enjoy this story of an authentic frontier heroine.

“If anyone is suffering the ‘mean news blues,' and you need to be reminded of ‘what stuff we are made of,' the story of Massey is your ticket,” Marushka says.

Harbison was a true role model and a romantic legend of the A-K Valley, Steele adds, a historical character who managed to survive against tremendous odds.

“It is a story of our area and of the human condition,” Marushka says. “It is a story to share with the community now living in her footprints. We live in a very cynical time, a time of instant gratification, a time of relative ease, a time of the constant whine. We need to be reminded of the sacrifice and example of those early Americans who truly forged our nation with their blood, sweat and tears.”

Harbison was an example of an early “strong woman,” the Steeles say.

Strong women exist in many families, Ren adds. “As a teacher, I have seen grandmothers and great-grandmothers step up and raise their grandchildren and great-grandchildren when their parents were incapacitated by drugs and alcohol.”

Marushka Steele: “It is my belief that Massey symbolizes the grit, faith, determination and strength of the woman-universal. Massey's story is our story of what we do as women every day. By sheer dint of will and grace, we find a way to not just survive the day; rather, we find a way to win the day and all the challenges that come our way.”

Marushka will reprise her role as Old Massey. Amanda Garia of Sarver will debut as Young Massey. Garia was in the “Braddock” cast at the festival last year as a member of the organization's Venture in Drama Group under auspices of the Boy Scouts.

Tyler Cline of Brookville, who has grandparents in Leechburg, will portray John Harbison.

Taylor Ritchie of Dayton will play Miami warrior Wounded Owl. He was recipient of the drama award at West Shamokin Junior/Senior High School last year.

“It is our good fortune that the drama teacher from Highlands High School, Tom Abbott, is making his Freeport Theatre Festival debut in ‘Massey,' ” Ren Steele says. “And, of course, the stalwarts of our company of players, Dave Ross, James Salyers (both of Allegheny Township) and Phil Powell (of Shadyside), are all adding their touch to the production.”

Steele says the primary strength of the production is everyone's love of the play, as well as their common desire to bring it to life for the audience.

“Ultimately, we are an ensemble of players,” he adds. “It is the play, the story, that we support, as well as each other in the telling of that story.”

The festival again will offer pre-show themed dinners at River Forest Country Club. “They have been extremely popular,” Marushka Steele says.

The theater also will present art exhibits this summer in conjunction with its productions.

The work of South Buffalo artist David Harbison, a descendant of Massey Harbison, will be in the spotlight during the “Massey” run.

Artist Sam Andrew will be featured during “The Devil's Disciple.”

“We are ever thankful and grateful to the community for their continued and varied support over the last 15 years,” Steele says. “We are blessed. What was once ‘Ren and Marushka's theater' has now become the community theater. Each time a new cast assembles to tackle a new play, a community of players is born — a new family, if you will.”

Men, women and children from different points in their life find commonality in a story that they will bring to life, not only to explain their characters, but to explain themselves and, by extension, the universal human family, she says.

“This effort will require sweat, sometimes tears, sprained muscles, broken bones, and feelings of inadequacy, courage, sacrifice, generosity of spirit, selflessness and hard work. Why• Because we need to share our humanity with each other, imperfect as it is sometimes, in the hope that by doing so, we become more perfect in the process,” she adds.

Steele sees theater as an act of giving.

“It should be supported wherever you find it. At the very least, go and be an audience member and give to the actors the energy they need to give back to you,” she says. “Without an audience, we do not exist.” Additional Information:

If you go

What: ?Massey Harbison.?

When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, through July 25.

Where: Steele Farm, Freeport Theatre Festival grounds, 6784 White Cloud Road, Allegheny Township, just off Route 356, two miles southeast of Freeport.

Cost: $10; $8 for senior citizens and students.

Dinner theater: River Forest County Club, Allegheny Township, will play host to special pre-show Allegheny Frontier-themed dinners from 5 to 7 p.m. Reservations suggested. 724-295-2298.

Details: 724-295-1934.