Historic Sotterley is casting actors, students and community members for its upcoming immersive tour experience, “Legends & Lore: In a Time of Revolution,” scheduled for two weekends in October 2026.
Auditions will be held Thursday, Aug. 6, and Friday, Aug. 7, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Leonardtown Branch of the St. Mary’s County Public Library, 23630 Hayden Farm Lane. Slots are available every 15 minutes. Performers should prepare a one-minute classical monologue; Shakespeare is encouraged but not required.
The production places audiences in October 1776, a precarious moment for the newly independent United States. General George Washington’s army was in retreat after the loss of New York, and uncertainty lingered across Southern Maryland following the Battle of St. George’s Island earlier that summer.
Through three scenes, the tour explores the personal and political tensions of the era. One scene depicts British spies landing near Sotterley in an effort to encourage enslaved people to desert and join the fight against the patriots. Another shows Washington and his aide-de-camp reflecting on the possible outcomes of the revolution and the leadership needed for a new nation. A third presents a deadly confrontation between cousins torn between loyalty to Britain and support for the United States, revealing a family secret.
“Legends & Lore” has become a recurring specialty event at Sotterley, drawing visitors with its blend of dramatic storytelling and site-specific history. Organizers describe this year’s version as an examination of the heroism, contradictions and human cost of revolution.
Historic Sotterley, located on the Patuxent River in Hollywood, is a National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest surviving plantations in Southern Maryland. Founded in the early 18th century, the site preserves more than 300 years of regional history, including the lives of the enslaved people whose labor sustained the plantation. It is also recognized as a UNESCO Site of Memory associated with the Routes of Enslaved Peoples.
The Revolutionary War setting carries particular weight in St. Mary’s County. The Battle of St. George’s Island in July 1776 was the largest military engagement of the American Revolution fought in Maryland. British forces under Virginia’s royal governor, Lord Dunmore, attempted to establish a foothold on the island near the mouth of the Potomac. Maryland militia and Continental troops repelled the landing. The campaign is also noted as one of the earliest instances in which British authorities actively recruited enslaved people with promises of freedom in exchange for military service.
By setting the production in the months after that battle, Sotterley connects local history to the broader national struggle. The storylines involving espionage, divided families and the agency of the enslaved reflect documented pressures that shaped life in the Tidewater region during the war.
Sotterley encourages performers of all backgrounds and experience levels to audition. In-person participants will also complete cold readings from the script. A full character breakdown is available on the organization’s website. Virtual submissions are accepted; actors may complete the online form and email a video of their monologue to Michael Blackwell at the library.
The event continues Sotterley’s longstanding role as both a historic site and a community cultural venue. In recent years the organization has expanded programming that addresses the full scope of its past, including exhibits on descendants of the enslaved, preservation projects and educational tours. Leadership transitions and the opening of a new visitor center have marked a period of institutional growth while maintaining the site’s focus on authentic interpretation.
For local residents, the production offers a chance to participate directly in bringing Southern Maryland’s Revolutionary-era history to life on the grounds where some of those events unfolded or were closely felt. The October performances are expected to draw both history enthusiasts and theatergoers seeking an immersive outdoor experience.
Those interested in auditioning can register for a time slot or submit materials through the links provided on Sotterley’s website at sotterley.org/auditions. Additional information about the production and character opportunities is available there as well.
The call for talent underscores Sotterley’s ongoing effort to engage the community in interpreting the complex stories of the region’s past during a pivotal year in the nation’s founding.
