Schedule of the festival:

The Kosciuszko Foundation presents
Kosciuszko's Garden: A Play for Children

Saturday, November 12, 2005 at 3:00 PM. The Kosciuszko Foundation House, 15 East 65th Street (between Madison Ave. and 5 Ave.) NYC.

Kosciuszko's Garden

Kosciuszko's Garden, a work by Duet Productions, recounts General Kosciuszko’s sojourn in America, to which he traveled from his native Poland in 1776. His duties as a military engineer brought him into most of the major fields of battle during the American Revolution including Philadelphia, Fort Ticonderoga, Saratoga, Dan River, Charleston and others. At West Point he designed and built fortifications that stopped the British advances up the Hudson river. He also constructed a rock garden that is still there, tended by cadets of the U.S. Military Academy.

His amazing military skill was matched by his unyielding dedication to the cause of freedom, for countries and for individuals. Thomas Jefferson called General Kosciuszko "the purest son of liberty I have ever met". With a lively sense of humor and history, playwright Steve Seyfried has captured the spirit of this man and his time. Kosciuszko’s Garden provides a fact-filled snapshot of revolutionary America and an inspirational portrayal of an extraordinary man. General Kosciuszko believed in sowing the seeds of freedom, compassion, service and perseverance wherever he went. It is a valuable lesson for our own time.

Duet Productions was founded in 1980 by Elise and Steve Seyfried; their first show was The Wizard of Oz. Since that time Duet Productions has grown steadily. Their organization currently features a roster of several performers who work in the "duet" format. The plays feature lightning-quick costume changes and a broad sense of humor. Elise and Steve have collaborated on eleven children's theater adaptations ranging from such popular titles as Cinderella, Peter Pan and Snow White to more unusual material such as The Magic Flute, The Legend of Finn McCool, and Jared’s Island. In recent years the company has concentrated on educational programs for schools, producing historical scripts (The Columbus Day Sail, Women of the West, Millennium Milestones) and folktales from around the world including The Silver Phoenix (China), Androcles and the Lion (Greece), Puss in Boots (France) and Rip van Winkle (America). Steve and Elise have founded two organizations to produce their shows in public venues. In 1982 they started the Rehoboth Summer Children's Theatre on the Delaware shore. This series encompasses an eleven week repertory season in addition to workshops and outreach programs for the residents and visitors of southern Delaware. In the winter they produce the Family Stages Series in Oreland, PA. These shows attract the public at large and are very popular with school groups as well. When all these activities are combined, Duet Productions logs over 400 performances each year. The shows of Duet Productions reflect the Seyfrieds' commitment to top quality programs for family audiences. Their material combines enrichment and entertainment in a delightful package.

Tickets: $15.

* Programs subject to change.

Please verify dates and times with The Kosciuszko Foundation Director of Cultural Affairs Tom Pniewski -- (212) 734-2130 ext. 214

Location: The Kosciuszko Foundation House, 15 East 65th Street (between Madison Ave. and 5 Ave.) NYC.