Shakespeare ties to Cape Cod history showcased in crowdsourcing kickoff

Shakespeare. Shipwrecks. Squanto. They’re all wrapped up in Hit and Run History’s latest project. And on the evening of March 20, the Cape Cod Community Media Center will host the live broadcast of HRH’s launch of the crowdsourcing campaign for Stephano: The True Story of Shakespeare’s Shipwreck.

So far, Cape Cod’s Gumshoe Historians have been on a winning streak. In December HRH was awarded a $10,000 pre-production grant for Stephano from the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. Two weeks later, Rhode Island PBS committed to broadcast Stephano — once it is fully-funded.

“Since then,” says HRH creator and producer Andrew Buckley, “we’ve been going everywhere to film our promotional trailer. Plimoth Plantation, the Jamestown Settlement, the Folger Shakespeare Library in DC, the Blackfriars Theatre in Staunton, Virginia. And every place in between.” Buckley will premiere that robust trailer during “Hit and Run History’s Stephano Kickoff” event.

The one-hour telethon will air live at 7:30 PM on the Cape Cod Community Media Center’s Channel 99 and streamed on capemedia.org. In addition to the promotional trailer featuring HRH’s work of the past two months, there will be live music and a theatrical performance before a studio audience.

Hyannis-based Schuyler Grant and his band The Godspell will be in the studio for three musical numbers, and the Bay Colony Shakespeare Company will perform a scene from Shakespeare’s The Tempest. In between, HRH’s crew will stage readings from historical accounts that connect the play to actual events. Viewers will be directed to the crowdsourcing where they can pledge at various levels to facilitate the documentary. Rewards will be offered based upon the level of support.

“Miranda – The Tempest” by John William Waterhouse

“We’re not looking to fund our whole documentary through this show,” says HRH Production Manager Jay Sheehan. “This crowdsourcing campaign will only run for six weeks. But we hope be able to raise enough to fund the first and most difficult leg of our journey, which is filming in England.”HRH will head there to trace the humble beginnings of Stephano a/k/a Stephen Hopkins. When the Mayflower sailed from England in 1620, a late-coming passenger was the only one aboard who already been to the New World. Hopkins’ life up to that point was already harrowing enough for any person.

In 1609, he had sailed with the new Virginia Governor to Jamestown when their ship, Sea Venture, wrecked on Bermuda. Later ashore, Hopkins begged for his life after condemned to death for mutiny. A newly-constructed ship carried the castaways to Jamestown, but salvation was short-lived.  The handful of surviving colonists had resorted to cannibalism. Present at the marriage of Pocahontas, Hopkins returned with her and her husband to England. There, the story of the Sea Venture inspired Shakespeare, with Hopkins immortalized as the mutinous drunken butler Stephano.

A decade later, his experience in North America were invaluable to the fledgling Plymouth Colony. Host to Samoset and Squanto, and emissary to Massasoit, Hopkins had seen how quickly a European settlement could fail without good relations with the local tribes.

“Stephano is a story worth telling,” says Buckley, “and our approach to storytelling works to bring in new audiences.” WGBH dubbed the series “snackable history.”

A grassroots production of the Cape Cod Community Media Center, HRH has received numerous accolades and grants for bringing global historical adventures to underserved audiences. Less Ken Burns, and more Anthony Bourdain in style, HRH is featured WGBH’s History site and broadcast on Rhode Island PBS.

Mass Humanities conducts and supports programs that use history, literature, philosophy, and the other humanities disciplines to enhance and improve civic life in Massachusetts.

“Hit and Run History’s Stephano Kickoff” will be held in Studio A at the Cape Cod Community Media Center, 17 Shad Hole Road in Dennisport, MA. The event is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Because seats are limited, guests are asked to please call 508-394-2388 to reserve by 5 PM on Friday March 20.