Saratoga residents will gather at Kevin Moran Park on Independence Day for Voices of Freedom, a volunteer-driven historical tableau that reenacts key moments in U.S. history. The event, which spans from the Revolutionary War through the 9/11 attacks, relies on costumed participants to portray recognizable figures from the nation’s past.
Bill Allison, a retired music and drama teacher, co-created the showcase in 2010 with Jack Mallory, a longtime local community figure. Mallory’s annual Fourth of July celebration had grown into a citywide event, prompting him to ask Allison to develop a patriotic display that could narrate the country’s story. After a pause during the pandemic, the production returned under the guidance of Holly Fidrych, Mallory’s daughter and a current organizer.
Fidrych stated that she wanted to revive the show because of its sentimental value and believed that understanding history is essential for the community. This year, the cast has been expanded to feature more women, including Phillis Wheatley, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt, Susan B. Anthony, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Fidrych also added Uncle Sam and a role for Martha Washington to better reflect women’s contributions to American history.
Allison noted that the addition of female characters was a natural progression, as the showcase has always attracted many female volunteers. He expressed pride in Fidrych’s efforts to include voices that were previously missing from the production. To support the new lineup, Fidrych re-recorded the audio narration using an AI-generated voice and copyright-free music.
Costuming the cast requires significant creativity and resourcefulness. Allison has accumulated a collection of attire over his years in theater, sourcing World War II-era fatigues and metal helmets from army surplus stores. He has thrifted colonial-style blouses for figures like Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry, and used Halloween costume pieces, such as a bald cap for Benjamin Franklin. For other roles, he seeks instantly recognizable items, such as Eisenhower-style hats or a stovepipe hat for Abraham Lincoln.