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Seven plays have been completed as part of the Arizona Centennial Legacy Project

By Mary Jo Padgett

The historically accurate stage presentations that Sun City West resident Barbara Dienes has created bring to life events, characters, and accomplishments from the state’s past. Through well-acted monologues and dialogues, and the talented actors and actresses of her small volunteer crew, students of all ages have caught her excitement for Arizona’s history. Seven plays have been completed as part of the Arizona Centennial Legacy Project. Dienes will have written four more plays by 2012 when Arizonans celebrate the state’s centennial. For example, audiences have met Jack Swilling, founder of Phoenix, through these Living History Programs. Jack and his wife, Trinidad, weave a rich tapestry of the territory’s history up to 1878. The story touches on Arizona's Spanish history, the beaver trappers and Indians, and the Mormon Battalion. More details are learned about the Civil War in Arizona, gold mining at Prescott, Rich Hill and Wickenburg, the reintroduction of irrigation in Arizona, and the founding and naming of Phoenix.

The play involves two volunteer actors playing the parts of Jack and Trinidad. Dienes wrote the script, designed and built the simple set, and has been a master at finding recycled clothing for the costumes. Wigs, beards, and other accoutrements make the characters of this and other Living History Programs come to life.

Dienes is a member of the Phoenix Chapter of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, a national nonprofit educational organization which has a mission to "make history exciting for schools and organizations through Living History Presentations." Volunteers are from a broad range of professional backgrounds, and the programs are free to all private, parochial, public and charter schools. This AZ Centennial Legacy Project is in partnership with the Phoenix Chapter of FFVF for the Living History Presentations.

"I really enjoy researching and writing the plays that bring Arizona history to life for our young people and for adults, too," Dienes said. Even though she has a cadre of well-rehearsed actors, Dienes said she is looking for more volunteers to help with the presentations. In fact, she would be happy to have about five men and four women join the troupe. "The ages or physical characteristics of the actors and actresses can be varied," she said, "because so much can be done with makeup, wigs, and such. But it would be good to have a tall man to the role of Jack Swilling, a small to medium-size female to be Trinidad Swilling, a large man to play Paul Litchfield, and a slender woman of medium height to play his wife Florence. A slender, medium to tall man with brown eyes could play the colorful role of William Owen "Buckey" O’Neill, and a woman with brown or hazel eyes can play his wife Pauline. I’m also looking for fellows to play a Union soldier and a Confederate soldier."

Plays that have been completed are available for schools and organizations to enjoy. Below are short descriptions of these characters in Arizona history.

Martha Summerhayes tells the story of her four years in Arizona, 1874-1878. She came here as the bride of a career army man at the time when the Territory was not yet tamed; when the Territory was dotted with military encampments; when Indian incursions were still a threat; when there was no respite from the harshness of the desert; when what you ate depended upon what you could catch; when there were no stores from which to buy necessities, much less luxuries; when transportation was by river boat, horseback, wagon or foot. Yet she came to love Arizona. Sharlot Hall, an intelligent, energetic woman born in 1870 was a female rancher, poet, and writer who became known as "The Voice of Arizona." She was the first woman in Arizona to hold public office, a person who may have influenced Congress to admit Arizona to the Union as a single state, and the founder of the museum which bears her name. She tells her story with energy and humor.

James Addison Reavis, always looking to improve his lot in life, had learned in the army that he was adept at forgery. His civilian life was a series of occupations -- tram conductor, clothing store clerk, and real estate agent -- until he happened on a scheme in 1882 that would bring him the wealth and recognition that he craved. In the acquisition of land from Spain, the United States pledged to honor any land grants already enjoyed by the people there. Reavis set about preparing documents to claim 18,500 square miles of central Arizona and parts of New Mexico. When the scheme was slow to deliver, Reavis involved his wife, Sofia, in a creative revised plan which claimed her to be the last surviving heir of the Barony of Arizona. The audience is privy to the way he planned it and how it all worked out.

Melvin Jones, born in Fort Thomas, Arizona Territory, was the founder of the world's largest service organization - Lions Clubs International. In this program, he tells the story of its evolution. Helen Keller has a cameo role: she delivers the talk she gave to the Lions in 1925, asking them to become "Knights of the Blind."

Paul Litchfield tells the story of Litchfield Park. Paul and his wife, Florence, enact the trials and triumphs of the settlement from its beginnings in 1916 as a cotton-growing area for the Goodyear Rubber and Tire Company through its agricultural experiments and development as a community. They also tell about the effects of World War I, the Depression, and World War II on the community’s socio-economic base. Throughout, the audience learns about the life of this creative and benevolent man who lived from 1876-1959.

Arizona's State Symbols gives the fascinating story of the flags that have flown over Arizona; the history and meaning of Arizona's state flag; the story of the Territorial and State seals; and various other symbols of the State.

Currently being scripted is the story of William Owen "Buckey" O'Neill and his wife Pauline. Buckey was known as a gambler, newspaper man, sheriff, miner, lawyer, county superintendent of education, mayor of Prescott, and Rough Rider. Pauline was a teacher. After Buckey’s death in Cuba, she became a State Legislator and spearheaded significant legislation.

Historic vignettes yet to come ... The Civil War in Arizona; The Mormon Battalion; Del Webb - Creator of Adult Communities; A Territorial Christmas.

Arizona Living History Presentations is an official project of the AZ Centennial Legacy Project.

For more information on the programs or to volunteer, contact Barbara Dienes at bdienes1@cox.net. For more information about the Phoenix Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge visit the website at http://www.freedomsfoundationaz.org.

Project Information
Name: Arizona Living History Presentations
Type: State/Regional
Contact: Hon. Edward Cirillo and Barbara Dienes, (623) 546-6920
Website: http://www.freedomsfoundationaz.org