Upcoming Event Release – Friday, April 10, 2026.
WELLSBORO, PA – This coming Tuesday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m., actor-historian Kim Hanley will portray Abigail Adams on stage in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro.
Abigail is the second of six important historical figures being brought to life during the Deane Center’s 2026 History Comes Alive Series as America celebrates Its 250th birthday.
Since 1997, Hanley has been interpreting Abigail Adams through the American Historical Theatre, which is based in Philadelphia and specializes in “living history” through first-person performances.
She will stay in character speaking as Abigail not only for the show but also during the audience question and answer session.
Abigail (1744-1818) was the wife of John Adams (1735–1826), the second U.S. President, and mother to John Quincy Adams (1767–1848), the sixth U.S. President.
Born and raised in Weymouth, Massachusetts, Abigail married on October 25, 1764 in her family home. She was 19 and John was 28 and a lawyer.
Over a 12-year period, from 1765 to 1777, Abigail gave birth to three girls and three boys while alternating between living in Quincy and Boston, Massachusetts. One of the girls was stillborn, another died at age two and four lived to adulthood.
During their 54-year marriage (1764–1818), John was away from Abigail for approximately 10 to 17 years total, due to his service as a Massachusetts delegate to the Second Continental Congress and as a diplomat in Europe. Their longest separation lasted five consecutive years, from 1779 to 1784, when he was serving in France and the Netherlands.
Abigail’s biggest causes were education and fairer treatment of women. She supported education for both men and women, so they would be informed voters. Although she could be blunt, Abigail advocated for discussion and usually gave and received respect.
John received his wife’s famous “Remember the Ladies” letter she wrote on March 31,1776 and sent to him. She asked him to limit the power of husbands over their wives, advocating for the creation of legislation which would empower women with property ownership and access to educational and political opportunities. While not getting John to act at that time, she was successful in spelling out the foundational argument for women’s rights with these words: “…we are determined to foment a rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.”
Sponsors of the History Comes Alive series are America250PA and the Charles Knox and Margaret Etner Foundation.
The other History Comes Alive shows will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Coolidge Theatre on the following dates: Friday, May 15, Barry Stevens as Benjamin Franklin; Tuesday, June 23, Bob Gleason as Charles Willson Peale; Friday, July 10, Tom Pitz as Thomas Jefferson; and Tuesday, Oct. 13, Neill Hartley as
Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Admission is free for youth under 21 years of age. Tickets for adults, 21 and older are $15. To reserve a seat or for tickets, visit deanecenter.com or call 570-724-6220.
