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Archive
Date: 04/20/2010
The Story of Stephen Mack
by Press Release
The Story of Stephen Mack, the first permanent settler in Winnebago County, will be played in three acts on May 22, 2010, inside the Macktown Forest Preserve, Rockton, Illinois, set on the grounds of the original settlement of “Macktown”.
Play Synopsis:
Born in Vermont, Mack moves to Michigan where his father starts a mercantile business. Stephen later sets out for Illinois to engage in the fur trade. While in Grand Detour, he meets a Native American woman named Hononegah who becomes his wife. They move north and establish a settlement named Pecatonic at the confluence of the Rock and Pecatonica Rivers. This becomes known as Macktown, and is the first settlement in Winnebago County.
Act I … in Bird’s Grove, overlooking the Rock River.
Act II … with the Whitman Trading Post serving as backdrop
Act III … at the Mack house
Deston Lee, author of the play, says the research and writing of the production was a labor of love. Serving as director is Bill Lee. While stationed in England Mr. Lee arranged for productions to be performed for charity. Two of his musical shows, Frank Loesser’s “Guys and Dolls” and an original musical penned by him, “Listen to the Music”, earned over 1700 pounds for the charity of the Mayor of Brackley and the Cadbury Chocolate Company’s Hospice in Birmingham, England. Stationed at RAF Upper Heyford, his base won the prestigious Ambassador’s Award for having done the most to promote Anglo-American relations.
The audience is invited to bring their lawn chairs and/or blankets to enjoy the play as it progresses from one act to the next at the various sites around the settlement. Tickets are $10.00 for a family and $4.00 for individuals.
For more information or directions, please call 815-624-4200 or email MacktownPageant@gmail.com. Hosting the event is the Macktown Living History Centre, also located on the site.
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Rockford Area Music Industry
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Rockford Area Arts Council
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Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center
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