First Person: Meeting descendants

On behalf of the cast of “Fertile Fields, the Story of Early Bloomfield,” I would like to thank you for the very fine write-up on our play (Towns, June 14).

We were technically sold out before the article appeared, but fortunately had been saving a few seats in anticipation of a surge in demand for tickets, especially from people with roots in our area who may not have otherwise heard about it.

As it turned out, we opened our second dress rehearsal to the public, but still were not able to accommodate everyone who wanted to see the show.

One really wonderful outcome of your article is that many families with deep history in the area read it and came to the play. I was so moved and honored when someone would introduce him or herself to me as a Jones, a Smith or the great, great, great grand niece of Rebecca Woodson, for example.

It happened at every performance, and it gave us a sense of awe and genuine connection to be representing distant relations of people who were in the audience. It was an amazing community bonding and honoring experience. Gaye LeBaron was at our final show and told me of meeting the (very elderly) daughter and namesake of Lurana Cockrill, a character in our play. What a thrill.

I fear I may be turning into a history junkie!

Thank you again for such a fine write-up.

Gina Cloud is writer and d irector of “Fertile Fields, the Story of Early Bloomfield”