‘Revolution’ brings unsung hero to life

Play about Civil War-era nurse/educator based on her autobiography.

History Theatre brings the story of Civil War nurse and teacher Susie King Taylor to life on stage today and Sunday at the Savannah Theatre in “What a Wonderful Revolution.”

The journey to tell her story in a city she once called home has been a long one for Fritz and Lorrie Rumpel, History Theatre’s executive director and artistic director.

“We wrote a play about 2007 called ‘Let My People Go,’ which was a combination of significant events we found in the history of Savannah. Susie King Taylor was a major character in that,” said Lorrie Rumpel. They were inspired to read her book “Reminiscences of My Life in Camp.”

Susie King Taylor was born into enslavement in Liberty County in 1848. Sometime in the 1850s, Taylor was given permission to move in with her grandmother in Savannah. During this time, she learned to read and write, which was a crime under Georgia Law then.

When the Civil War battlefront grew close to Georgia’s coastline, Susie King Taylor was able to escape to an area held by Union forces. There she started teaching other formerly enslaved people to read and write, and eventually would act as a nurse for

Union troops.

After the Civil War, she moved back to Savannah to start a school, but not long after, moved to Massachusetts. That is where Susie King Taylor wrote her autobiography, which was published in 1902.

Nearly 110 years later, Lorrie and Fritz Rumpel have adapted her book into the play, “What a Wonderful Revolution.”

Aside from one of the Savannah Belles Ferry boats, a push to rename Calhoun Square for her,and an exhibit at the Liberty County Historical Society, there isn’t much in Coastal Georgia to remind people of Susie King Taylor’s contributions.

Lorrie and Fritz Rumpel hope “What a Wonderful Revolution”

shine a light on an often

underrepresented part of Savannah’s history.

“This covers her from the time when she first came to Savannah, when she was 7, to probably the last time she came Savannah to visit her grandmother again when she was 39,” said Fritz Rumpel.

Twenty-six actors, four of whom will be playing Susie King Taylor at various ages, will bring her amazing story to life on stage at the Savannah Theatre this week, but this won’t be History Theatre’s last foray into the Hostess City’s hidden history.

“We started the nonprofit History Theatre,” said Lorrie. “And the mission is to have a multicultural community theater to tell the stories of Savannah.”

Fritz agreed. “What we’re trying to do is foster talent in our community that’s also under-represented.” He said they intend to not only tell stories that many haven’t heard but also give young actors a place to start.

“Many people in the play are under 18. I would say almost half the cast. (For) many of them, this is their first theater experience. So we’re trying to really work with everybody in the community here.”

SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS Susie King Taylor, born to enslaved parents, became an educator, a nurse and an author, some of her work being done in Savannah. She also inspired a new generation of educators.