One Minute a Free Woman (Family Show): Elizabeth MumBet Freeman, Performed by Tammy Denease

Tammy Denease brings to life the extraordinary Elizabeth MumBet Freeman, a Sheffield resident and the first enslaved woman to file and win a freedom suit in Massachusetts (1781), setting a precedent that would contribute to the abolition of slavery in the state in 1783.

Join us for this captivating, powerful portrayal and history.

There will be a 2:00 PM performance that has been tailored for school-age children and families.  

The 4:00 PM performance for adults will cover the topic of MumBet's life in more depth, intensity, and detail. If you would like to register for the adult-specific performance, please do so at this link.

Tammy Denease's "One Minute a Free Woman" is a dramatic one-woman show that conveys key moments of MumBet's life, embodying her determination and sense of justice, and honoring her legacy as a pivotal figure in the struggle for freedom and equality in America. Denease also draws on her own family's history and the rich tradition of storytelling passed down from her great-grandmother, a formerly enslaved person. "One Minute a Free Woman" is part of Tammy Denease’s "Hidden Women" series. 

Tammy Denease, Executive Artistic Director of Hidden Women Stage Company, is a writer, producer, and director of historical period plays. As owner of Hidden Women, LLC, she is also a diversity, equity, and belonging consultant for historical organizations. She has also been a museum educator and guide for over twenty years and served from [DATE to 2025] as Outreach Director of the Connecticut Freedom Trail. She is a Certified Interpretive Guide and serves on the Board of Directors for The Connecticut League of Museums.