"These flags are not enemies. They were meant to be friends."

Line from Act I, Scene 8 of Paul Green’s Trumpet in the Land

Paul Green's Trumpet in the Land is a story for these current times as the trials and tribulations that the Delaware Christian people and the Moravian Missionaries were steeped and rooted in the very nature of that evil that our world is grappling with today...social and racial injustices.

Throughout the 50 plus seasons, Trumpet in the Land has sought to employ those persons whose theatrical talents and abilities transcend all confines in order to deliver the message of peace and love that was at the heart of David Zeisberger and the Delaware Christian people. The quilt of characters woven together in this timeless script deserves a portrayal as real and close to the actual, real-life persons.

Trumpet in the Land has prided itself with its ongoing relationship with many descendants of the Native Americans portrayed in the show who have traveled to New Philadelphia many times to see the production, and with officials of the Moravian Church, working in concert to accurately depict the life of the Delaware Christian people.

Over the 50 plus years that Trumpet in the Land has honored the sacrifices made by the Delaware Christians at Schoenbrunn and Gnadenhutten, casting decisions have been made with the thought of who can best portray these characters with the dignity and respect they deserve. Ideally, the first choice is to fill these roles with individuals who are of the Delaware Nation and of Native American lineage. Sadly, this is not always an option due to the limited number of people who audition for our production. As a result, we cast the roles with those performers whose auditions showcased their ability to best bring the historical characters to life. There was a time when darker makeup was used to portray Native American characters – not just at our theatre but at many other theatres around the country. That is no longer the case at Trumpet in the Land; now all of our actors, regardless of the role they portray, only use basic stage makeup as part of their characterizations. Our commitment to telling this inspirational story guides us in our duty to maintain the care and respect of the characters being portrayed on stage.

Schoenbrunn, 1776 compared to Schoenbrunn, 2021 is eerily similar as we are still facing a time where our country is torn between different ideologies, cultural groups, and ways of life merely based on the color of one's skin and the ideals in one's heart. We ask you to join us in paying homage to those who have gone before us. We ask you to keep the final song of Paul Green's Trumpet in the Land playing in your heart:

"All hail the day when men on earth
in brotherhood shall live.
And truth and honor come to birth;
and friendly hands forgive.
Then loudly let our trumpet sound;
a summons to the wide world round.
Till nation’s hate and killing cease;
and men shall dwell in peace."