Testimonials
“I helped to bring the play to Moorestown Friends School a few years back, when I was a member of their history faculty, and on the basis of that experience, I recommended it to the Education Committee at the retirement community where my parents lived. It was a success both times, both because Tina, the producer, is a consummate professional, and because its star, Kathy Barnes, is as devoted to her audiences as she is to the play.
The play allowed students to see just how hard women in the past worked to change those gender expectations. There is a lot of history packed into that short play!
When Kathy and Tina joined students afterwards, they were generous with both their time and their enthusiasm. They engaged my students in a really lively conversation on a wide range of topics, from the Civil War to how to produce a play. The students took an active part in the discussion and came away feeling they had been part of something quite special.” Dr. Eliza McFeey
“Middle school can be one of the most challenging times in a young person’s life, especially for girls, who face a constant barrage of decisions and societal expectations. With so many role models to choose from, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why having Kathie Barnes perform Independence: The True Story of Dr. Mary Walker at Oswego Middle School was such a powerful experience for our students.
For many of our 7th and 8th graders, it was an eye-opening moment. To learn about Dr. Mary Walker, an extraordinary figure who once lived right here in Oswego, gave them a valuable perspective on what it means to break through societal barriers. Dr. Walker’s story showed them how one person’s refusal to conform to gender norms—both in her choice of clothing and her pursuit of a medical career—can have a lasting impact.
The young women in the audience, in particular, saw firsthand the kind of tenacity Dr. Walker demonstrated in becoming a surgeon for the U.S. military, despite the many obstacles she faced. Her determination to practice medicine on her own terms, and her insistence on being true to herself, gave our students a powerful reminder that greatness can emerge from unexpected places—right here in Oswego.”
Alison, Oswego Middle School
“The Oswego County Historical Society was so proud to bring this production to Central New York, especially to the Town of Oswego where Dr. Mary Walker was born and died. This play about a remarkable woman, Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919) who, in addition to being a hero of the Civil War, was a radical thinker and unfiltered speaker and writer for her time. Many called her unlikable because she wouldn’t compromise enough in her views to make her palatable to both men and women, but she persisted. She advocated, not only for a woman’s right to vote, which she said was inherent in the Constitution and did not need an amendment, she believed in a woman’s right to a divorce to free herself of a bad marriage and the freedom to wear pants, which were a healthier alternative to a corset and long skirt kicking up dust and barnyard filth. Kathie Barnes brought her to life in a powerful and passionate performance that thrilled audiences. School workshops after the performance had dramatic reactions from both boys and girls who had no idea that history treated women this way.
Today we need to admire her frankness that paved the way for our freedoms, and celebrate the grit and determination of a woman who was ahead of her time, but remember that full equality is not yet accomplished.
I recommend this powerful play to anyone who wants to celebrate the spirit that Dr. Mary Walker represents.”
Mary Kay, Oswego County Historical Society
“My husband Brian and I went to see the play, Independence The True Story of Dr. Mary Walker, which is a cleverly written monodrama from the unique perspective of the legendary historical figure, Dr. Mary Walker. Living so close to her home town and having heard of her so often, I was confident that I had a fairly good idea of who she was. That is, until I watched the play! I had no idea how profound and impactful Dr. Mary Walker’s life story actually was until Kathie Barnes brought her to life for us on that stage. It was then that I learned how one petite and outspoken woman can change the trajectory of expectations for not only the women of our city, but ultimately, our entire country. Kathie Barnes seamlessly embodies the complex and mighty force of Dr. Mary Walker, in character and even stature, with uncanny grace and convincing assurance. Kathie holds your rapt attention as she draws you into the mind of Dr. Mary Walker, who forged her way through society and carved out a new path for all of those who were bold enough to follow. I highly recommend watching this play if you want to be inspired as well as educated and thoroughly entertained. I could watch it again and again!”
Lee Ellen Hickey, author of Girl in the Glass Coffin: The Tonkin Affairs
The acclaimed Hollywood writer and director, Lloyd J. Schwartz created a one-woman production named INDEPENCENCE which storied the fascinating life of Dr. Mary E. Walker, a remarkable woman who helped blaze the trail for women of today.
The very talented actress, Kathie Barnes, portrayed Dr. Mary E. Walker’s remarkable life in a brilliant performance that left the audience feeling they were actually watching and listening to Dr. Walker. Kathie brilliantly performed how Dr. Walker was one of the first female doctors to graduate from medical school in the United States, captured by the Confederate Army and imprisoned in the worst prison conditions during the Civil War in Richmond, VA, and recognized for being the only female recipient to be awarded the Congressional Medal Honor to this day. During Mary’s life she was constantly battling the stigma of being a woman in a man’s world. In her own words, Dr. Walker predicted that, “I have got to die before people will know who I am and what I have done.” Actress Kathie Barnes left the audience knowing and loving this great woman who led reforms during her life that continue to impact women around the world today!
As I am a proud relative of Dr. Walker, I am so appreciative of Lloyd J. Schwartz and Kathie Barnes and how they have brought to the stage the remarkable life story and most incredible heroic deeds of this truly historic American woman, Dr. Mary E. Walker. LHM