Heroes

Lt. Colonel John Laurens (1754-1782) – Patriot, soldier, abolitionist, diplomat

Born into the wealthy Laurens family, John was the son of Henry Laurens. Educated in Europe, he studied law in London before returning to America in 1777. He volunteered for military service and joined General George Washington’s staff. Laurens fought heroically, but recklessly, at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. Laurens also proposed raising a regiment of slaves to oppose the British advance in the South. In exchange for service, the men would receive their freedom. Although the Continental Congress approved the plan in 1779, Laurens was never able to gain legislative support from the SC Legislature. Captured in 1780 when Charlestown surrendered, he was exchanged and undertook a difficult, but very successful diplomatic mission to France. After the Battle of Yorktown, General George Washington appointed John Laurens as the American commissioner to negotiate the terms of surrender. Laurens was killed in 1782 during one of the last military engagements in South Carolina.

Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826) – Patriot, primary author of the Declaration of Independence, third president of the United States.

A slave owner, Jefferson served as governor of Virginia, championed religious freedom, and helped found the University of Virginia. This movie includes an imaginary conversation between Jefferson and John Laurens. There is, however, no known connection between the two men.

It is a fair question if the two men ever had such a conversation, and it would have been an important one. 

MICHAEL EASLER portrays Thomas Jefferson.

A veteran actor of over 140 theater and film productions, Michael has co-starred in numerous roles for Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina. He portrays Governor John Rutledge in the award-winning docudramas, All for Liberty, Thomas Jefferson in John Laurens’ War and Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox in Echoes of Glory: Heroes from the American Revolution, the Apostle Paul in John at Patmos, An Allegory.  He also portrayed General Beauregard in the National Geographic Special: Secret Weapon of the Confederacy, co-starred as Dr. Walsh in Cold Soldiers and has been featured other films, including Chattahoochie with Dennis Hopper and Gary Oldman, as well as  television series and documentaries. He spent several years in residence at Greenville’s Café And Then Some Comedy Dinner Theatre as an actor, writer and musician. He has starred in notable plays such as Breaker Morant, The Little Foxes, and Cabaret.

Thomas Day (1748-1789) – British author and abolitionist

In 1773, he published “The Dying Negro,” a poem written with John Bicknell, an attack on the institution of slavery. He studied law and in 1776 published “The Devoted Legions,” a poem supporting American rights. The character of Thomas Day is one of the narrators of the docudrama, having been in law studies with John in London and daring him to have the courage of his convictions to end slavery in America.

ADAM MILES portrays Thomas Day (Narrator)

Mr. Miles created the character of Thomas Day in the stage production about John Laurens, “Radical Son” by Chris Weatherhead and Clarence Felder, as well as portraying him in the award-winning film version,  “John Laurens War.” Adam is a College of Charleston Theatre alumni and Second City Comedic Writing graduate who now lives in Charleston with his amazing wife and two beautiful children.  A former stand-up comedian, Adam performs theatre all over Charleston and is a permanent cast member of The Black Fedora Theatre company and founder of 108 Elemental Productions. Other favorite roles include Reginald Denny in “Twilight Los Angeles”, Brendan in “The Weir”, and Mortimer in “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

Elizabeth Futterell – Warder’s daughter; courier for Henry

During his stay in the Tower of London, Henry Laurens initially was quartered with James Futtrell, the Yeoman Warder. Laurens, according to his biographer, formed a “warm attachment” to the family and left a bequest to Mrs. Futerell. The Futerell daughter was a “dear and valuable friend” who spent time with the family of Martha Laurens Ramsay, Henry’s older daughter.

General George Washington (1731/2-1799) – Commander-in-Chief, Continental Army; first President of the United States.

Served in the French and Indian War and in 1787 was president of the Constitutional Convention that drafted the US Constitution. Despite great obstacles, led American forces to victory at Yorktown in 1781 which led to the Treaty of Paris which ended the American Revolution in 1783.

PAUL O’BRIEN portrays General Washington. – Mr. O’Brien made his international debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2024 with his one person show, A Yank in Scotland, which will he will reprise in 2025. Paul has worked  extensively as an actor with various acting companies in the Charleston, South Carolina area over the past decade including starring in The Dayporch with Actors’ Theater of South Carolina and with Threshold Theatre, he portrayed Henry VIII in Wolf Hall, Henry II in Lion in Winter, Voltaire in Emilie, George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and  Slim in Of Mice and Men. In a Village/Threshold collaboration, Paul starred in the World War I drama, Journey’s End. He is a physician by day at Medical University of South Carolina.

Martha Weatherill Manning Laurens (1757-1781)

daughter of John Manning, a London merchant and business associate of Henry Laurens; wife of John Laurens (married 26 October 1776) and mother of Frances Eleanor Laurens, John’s only child. Martha’s father arranged for Henry’s son, Henry, Jr. and his grandchild to visit Henry in the Tower in 1780.

JAMIE LEE BELLAH portrayed Martha – Ms. Bellah created the role of Martha Laurens for the original play, “Radical Son” and continued in the role for the film docudrama. Jamie is a native Charlestonian, has a BA in Theater Performance from Winthrop University and has been a professional actress for 10 years, including working at the Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theater in Charleston, South Carolina.  She returned to school to work on an Associate’s Degree in Film Production at Trident Technical College.  She left the US for an opportunity to work abroad in China teaching English.

Dorthea Stock – (real name unclear) Romantic interest of John Laurens.

On the night before he died, John Laurens visited the plantation of Mrs. Stock [possibly Mrs. Margaret Stock] near the Combahee River. In the film, Dorthea asks John to stay and be nursed to health as he is suffering a high fever. After John died, his body was first buried there. Henry Laurens later had John’s body moved to the Laurens family cemetery on Mepkin Plantation. The will of Mrs. Margaret Stock lists daughter, Ann Stock Smith as her only heir.

JAMI HARRIS (SHINE) PORTRAYED DORTHEA

Marquis de Lafayette, Gilbert du Motier (1757-1834) – French nobleman, Major General, Continental Army

Fought in Battles of Brandywine and Rhode Island and played a pivotal role in the Battle of Yorktown. He also negotiated much-needed French aid for the American cause. Returning to France, he was involved in the French Revolution. In 1824/5, he visited the United States.

MIKE GIBBONS PORTRAYED THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE

 Mike Gibbons is the Director of Development for Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary in Hollywood, South Carolina. Prior to moving to Charleston in 2014, Gibbons was the Executive Director for the Aiken Community Playhouse. Prior to turning to nonprofits, Gibbons was a newspaper editor, reporter and columnist for 15 years. He and his wife have two grown children.

Fictional Characters

Philip Shrewsbury – Slave, soldier, freedman

The character represents the slaves known to have served with John Laurens. Henry Laurens had sent a slave named Shrewsbury to serve as John’s body servant.

KELVIN CURTIS portrays Phillip Shrewsbury

Kelvin was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and has been an entertainment professional for many years, directing, producing, acting and as a technician.  He directed many plays including The Shadow Box, David & Lisa, Flying Colors, and Tony & Tina’s Wedding. Kelvin was also a member of The University of Miami Honor Choir.  Mr. Curtis worked at various levels on TV’sMiami Vice and other shows in Florida before moving to Los Angeles, where he created his production company, Lord Kelvin Productions. His credits include “The Bill Engvall Show” with actress Jennifer Lawrence. Kelvin’s first producer credit generated an award-winning short film, “The Ballad of George Breaker”. His company worked with many top professionals including Nelly Furtado, Cash Money Millionaires (hip-hop performance group) and Janet Jackson.

Eileen – Irish servant, represents the Irish who worked in London

and specifically Samuel’s love interest as portrayed in Day’s poem, “The Dying Negro.”

MARGARET NYLAND, portrayed Eileen. Margaret has played leading roles for many theaters in the Charleston area for decades, including Clarence Felder’s modern adaption of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and Lula, the Southern Belle, in The Dayporch, for Actors Theater of South Carolina at Threshold Theater. Her family moved to Charleston from the Washington, D.C., area (Mclean, Virginia), where she had been practicing federal regulatory law. She has three grown children – two who live locally and one living in NYC.  She is currently Assistant Director in the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs at the College of Charleston and likes being part of a vibrant college community as well as participating in equestrian sports.

General Charles Lee – Military Traitor & Coward 

In the film, John Laurens War, John becomes aware that General Charles Lee is a part of a cabal of officers plotting against General Washington. During the Battle of Monmouth, John Laurens had brought orders to General Charles Lee to advance on the British army, but instead Lee ordered a retreat.  John Laurens confronts Lee with his cowardice and challenges Lee to a duel.  General Lee was later court-martialed, and dismissed from the American army in 1780.

GEORGE PERROTTA PORTRAYED
GENERAL LEE

Mr. Perrotta worked with Actors Theater of South Carolina’s Moving Images Group as an actor, an associate producer, set designer and technical advisor for over 18 years before moving to Texas. He worked on the films, All for Liberty (along with actress daughter), Goering at Nuremberg, Best Times, Waiting on You and John at Patmos. 

Alexia Jones Helsley – On-Camera Scholar

Ms. Helsley has been an on-camera scholar for several film projects of Actors’ Theater of South Carolina’s film division, Moving Images Group, including John Laurens’ War and Freedom Fighters of Calhoun County. She has served on numerous panels for their historical, Shakespeare, and English literature productions. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Furman University and holds an MA in history from the University of South Carolina. As a student, she worked with the Furman Theatre Guild and is an advisory board member of Actors’ Theater of South Carolina. Currently, Ms. Helsley is a Senior Instructor in History and University Archivist at the University of South Carolina Aiken, where she teaches South Carolina, World and Public History. She has published widely on the history of the South Carolina. Her publications include Beaufort,South Carolina: a history, Wicked Edisto: the dark side of Eden, and The Lost History of Aiken County, South Carolina, as well as requested chapters for Remembering the Piedmont Past, II and The Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy. Prior to her teaching career, she worked for many years with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Recipient of the South Carolina Governor’s Archives Award and the SC State Daughters of the American Revolution Bobby Gilmer Moss Award. Helsley is a former president of the SC Historical Association and committed to the preservation of historical archives and manuscripts, keys to understanding the past.

Historical profiles provided by Alexia Jones Helsley 

General enemies our heroes fought against…

KING GEORGE III

THE BRITISH ARMIES OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH

GENERALS AND THEIR OFFICERS

LOYALIST MILITIAS

EUROPEAN MERCENARIES

“THE KINGS’ MEN”