‘Liberty’ Spotlight #3 Final week to catch the state’s official outdoor drama
Published 6:00 am Thursday, July 25, 2019
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The formation of the Watauga Association is part of the outdoor drama 'Liberty' taking the stage for its final week beginning today.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders John Sevier is portrayed by Paul Brummitt in 'Liberty' entering its final week of the 2019 season beginning tonight through Saturday at 7:30 pm.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The outdoor drama 'Liberty' offers a little of everything for its audience as it revisits the past history of great events that took place right here in Carter County at the Sycamore Shoals State Park.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
For those who have talked about taking time to take in the performance of ‘Liberty,’ there will be three final shows beginning tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park and ending the 2019 season on Saturday.
This week’s final character spotlight will be on John Sevier, who is portrayed in the drama by Paul Brummitt.
What role did John Sevier play in the history of this area?
John Sevier was one of the earlier settlers, not one of the earliest, but indeed one of the earlier ones. He was a great leader and that leadership was recognized.
He marched the men to Kings Mountain and he became kind of a hero of Kings Mountain at that point.
It got him out of a little bit of trouble later as he would meet some of the men who served under him and they let him go.
John Sevier was very purposeful — he knew what he wanted and went for it and like a lot of the other people, some of them didn’t like him for that as he was a bit controversial.
He was definitely a very important person in the history of this area.
What do you see as the importance of ‘Liberty’?
This story is the story of the people of this area, whether they were well known or not that stood strong and stood the big challenges of that time and turned the tide of the war.
We can all be proud in this area no matter if it was John Sevier or a name not entirely known.
One of the loves of John Sevier’s life — Bonnie Kate!
John Sevier was married more than once and had plenty of kids. He had lost his wife and shortly after, he pulled Bonnie Kate over the wall in the Indian attack.
They were married.
Governor John Sevier?
John Sevier became the governor of Franklin for a short time and then served as the first governor of Tennessee for six terms altogether.
He served for two terms and had to sit out because of term limits and came back to do it again.
Importance of being a part of ‘Liberty’?
This is a story that I have loved for a long time and I am proud to be a part of it just because of the passion the people have for the story and it’s just fun to do.
