Storyteller Sheila Arnold gives voice to Ol’ Bess, a tavern slave from 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia. She invites her listeners to a slave-gathering where she shares songs and stories from her life and times. Along with tales of humor, lessons learned and dreams from Colonial America, “Ol’ Bess” also shares personal stories about her life – its joys, sorrows and hopes. Arnold’s delightful and thought provoking performance is both a fascinating look at Colonial America and a stirring glimpse into the strength of one human spirit. Sheila Arnold of Hampton, VA, is a storyteller, teaching artist and historic character interpreter, taking on the role of historical characters to tell stories through their eyes. She’s been program coordinator and performer at Colonial Williamsburg and a featured storyteller at the National Storytelling Festival and International Storytelling Center stages in Jonesborough, Tennessee. She is the lead performer and CEO of History’s Alive. “Ms. Sheila" has been performing full-time since 2003, and travels nationally each year.
New York City, NY; NYC