Deborah Sampson Unveiled

On Wednesday, April 7, A.R.T. and the Museum of the American Revolution (Philadelphia, PA) explore the life of Massachusetts native Deborah Sampson (1760 – 1827) who disguised herself as a man in order to fight for American independence. Sampson is the only woman known to have received a full pension for serving in the Continental Army. Two years after an honorable discharge, Sampson married, lived as a farmer’s wife and delivered lectures about her military experiences. What drove this Revolutionary’s break with tradition? How has a contemporary understanding of gender evolved the narrative about Sampson’s extraordinary life? How is the history of gender expression in the Revolutionary period inspiring the work of Emilio Sosa, costume designer of American Repertory Theater’s upcoming production of "1776"?

Explore these questions plus more in this discussion with Emilio Sosa ("1776" upcoming; "The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess," Tony Award nomination) and Alex Myers, a Sampson descendant, transgender advocate and author of "Revolutionary," a fictionalized novel based on Sampson’s story. Then visit the Museum of the American Revolution’s special exhibition, "When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story, 1776-1807," to see Sampson’s wedding dress on loan from Historic New England and a recently discovered diary that reveals new details about her life.