Freeport Theatre Festival will open its 18th summer season with Rennick Steele’s historical drama, Battle of Kittanning, a local tale about the conflict between the Lenni-Lenape Indians and the new wave of settlers, basically the Scots-Irish and German, fleeing the tyranny of European monarchs. This tale is riveting. This tale is tragic. This tale is part of our local heritage and its many hauntingly poignant voices urge us not to forget the many sacrifices made on both sides. This tale IS Kittanning. The action begins on Friday, July 6th, and continues July 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are traded for dollars: $12/General Admission; $10/Golden Ages and Students. Make your reservations by calling 724-295-1934.

Our tale begins in September of 1755, with the passionate Benjamin Franklin (Jim Neal) urging comfortably-settled-in Philadelphia Governor Morris (Dave Ross) to take some kind of action to protect the latest wave of immigrants, far from the safety of Philadelphia, who are under daily attack by Captain Jacobs (Angelo Bruni), a voracious warrior and chief, of the Lenni-Lenape (Delaware).

As our tale is told, the struggles between two peoples, to preserve their homes, old homes and new, reveal the strength, the courage, and the basic human instinct to protect family and home common to both the Lenni-Lenape and the settlers (Scots-Irish and German).

Captives are taken to the Lenni-Lenape village of Kit-Han-Ne, along the beautiful river the Indians called the Allegheny, by Captain Jacobs and his raiding party.

Families of the captives decide to take action themselves and attack the village and free the captives of families Leininger, LeRoy, McCord, McElroy, Turner, Walker and McDonald, to name a few, whose descendents remain in the town along the Allegheny the Indians called Kit-Han-Ne, today’s Kittanning.

Enter, Col. John Armstrong of Carlisle (Al Lindsay), who enlists a ranger battalion to guard the frontier against Indian attacks. Armstrong’s cunning plan to attack from the south, into Kittanning, caught Captain Jacobs by surprise. Although outnumbered, Armstrong was able to repel the Lenni-Lenape, who after the battle, moved deeper into the Ohio Country beyond Fort Duquesne, to the west.

SPOTLIGHT GALLERY Larry Smail French and Indian War Specialist Paintings, Prints, Historian This exhibit will complement The Battle of Kittanning.

TICKET PRICES General Admission: $12.00 Golden Agers / Students: $10.00 Reservations, Group Rates, Additional Information: 724-295-1934

Tickets may be purchased at the Box Office One-half Hour before Curtain, Reservations will be held until 7:50 p.m.

PRE-THEATRE DINNER AT RIVER FOREST COUNTRY CLUB Seatings at 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Reservations are a must! Call 724-295-2298 www.golfriverforest.com