At the Marsh House in Lafayette, Ga., participants are being sought for the 2016 Christmas season. Volunteers are needed to portray members of the Marsh family in character reenactments and to lead tour groups as Hosts in the Marsh House’s annual Candlelight Christmas Tours. The tours will be offered in the evenings at the historic house on the first three Saturdays and Sundays in December.
“All the 'characters', per say, are envisionments of real people from the past: the descendents of Spencer and Ruth Marsh, the original owners of the house,” says Emily Miller, one of the volunteers for the event who will be coordinating actors. “The event is being prepared by a dedicated team of Marsh House volunteers.”
"It's Christmas Eve in the year 1890. In the chilly evening weather, you hurry up the porch steps of a festive antebellum house. You note hints of a warm, captivating atmosphere inside, waiting to be explored: a host of candles flickering in the windows, a resonance of Christmas carols playing on piano, and the sound of the tenants' merry laughter dancing from within the walls. But just who are the residents creating the merry laughter described above? Get excited because one of those residents could be you," officials said.
The house was built in 1836, but the tour re-imagines events in the year 1890, after the Civil War, when life for the Marsh descendants was extremely prosperous. Roles include Marsh family descendants: caucasian females late 50s to early 60s, late 20s, late teens, and ages 9 to 12; Caucasian males late 50s to early 60s, late 20s. Loyal hired servants to the Marsh family: African American female in mid 50s & African American male in mid 50s.
To play a character or be a host in the Candlelight Christmas Tour, acting experience is not required. If you are interested, attend an organizational meeting on Tuesday, Oct.25 at 7 p.m., at the Welcome Center. The center is at 309 North Main St. in Lafayette, across from the Marsh House.
For questions or more information contact Emily Miller by email at EmilyElizabethMiller13@gmail.com, or by phone at 423-653-8531.