Colonial Williamsburg will celebrate the power of women and African-American culture in March through several events featuring guest artists and singers. Among those guests is BET’s “Let’s Stay Together” star Erica Hubbard, who will portray Lydia Broadnax, an enslaved woman living in George Wythe’s house, in the play “Liberty for Lydia.”
“American Ideas: Steadfast Spirits”
The celebration will kick off noon Friday with a webcast called “American Ideas: Steadfast Spirits,” which will explore the effect of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution on African-American women through the American Revolution, Reconstruction and Civil Rights eras.
Barbara Hamm Lee, a WHRO Public Media broadcaster, will host the webcast during her program “Another View” on FM 89.5. Katrinah Lewis, who portrays a formerly enslaved woman named Lydia Broadnax at the Wythe House in Colonial Williamsburg, will guest on the webcast, along with Colonial Williamsburg historians Harvey Bakari and Tricia Brooks.
Listeners can join in the conversation with the Connect chat room, Twitter, or by emailing [email protected] or calling in live to WHRV at 757-440-2665 or 800-940-2240.
“Liberty for Lydia”
Guest star Erica Hubbard, star of BET’s “Let’s Stay Together,” will perform the lead role in Steadfast Spirit’s play “Liberty for Lydia” at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 9.
Hubbard will play Lydia Broadnax, the enslaved woman living in George Wythe’s household as portrayed by Lewis in Colonial Williamsburg. Wythe freed Lydia following the Revolution and she went on to become and entrepreneur in Richmond.
Nominated for the 18th annual NAACP Theatre Award for supporting female in the play “What Would Jesus Do,” Hubbard has previously portrayed a character in a period piece. After spending a few years as a television and movie actress, Hubbard is using her experience in “What Would Jesus Do” as a reference for her upcoming role as Lydia. She said she is working to alter the way she speaks and carries herself to fit with her 18th century character.
With excited family members coming to town to see her performance as Lydia, Hubbard said, “I’m so excited, as well. It’s kind of a dream come true to me because I started off doing theater and live performances, so I get to go back to what I’ve known.”
Hubbard has been studying Lydia’s impressive story in history, and is looking forward to doing justice to her legacy. Hubbard said Lydia learned a lot from living in Wythe’s house and would tell friends the things she learned about the Declaration of Independence.
“You just see this lady’s strength and you [say], wow, this story has to be told,” she said.
Hubbard has a nonprofit organization called The Erica Hubbard Foundation, where she works to mentor impoverished youth who have low self-esteem to let them know they can control their lives. Because of the foundation, Hubbard said she felt she could relate to Lydia.
“She empowers people, you know, even in such a time where people are distraught and I just looked up to her, her strength,” Hubbard said.
Hamm Lee will moderate a Q-and-A session with Hubbard and the cast of “Liberty for Lydia” following each performance and will pick out questions submitted through social media channels. Tickets for the q-and-a are separate from the performance and cost $30. Tickets are available online or by calling 800-447-8679. A previously schedule 1 p.m. performance of “Liberty for Lydia” has been canceled.
The third season of “Let’s Stay Together” premieres March 26. Hubbard also plays a role in a movie being released in April, “Forbidden Woman.”
“Sweet Honey in the Rock”
Sweet Honey in the Rock will close out the Steadfast Spirits performances 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9, in the Virginia Room of the Williamsburg Lodge.
Sweet Honey in the Rock is a Grammy-award-winning African-American female a cappella group that performs music about the African-American struggle for liberty in the tradition of spirituals and hymns.
Tickets to the performance are available through Ticketmaster and cost $40, with discounts for seniors, military and AAA.
For a full list of events, visit the Colonial Williamsburg website.
