Langhorne girl
Since 2012, Kelly Horan Galante has been working at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum in Boston, Mass., not only as an Assistant Creative Manager writing scripts, planning, casting, and launching one of the biggest annual historic reenactments, but also playing one of the characters herself. She came onboard the same year that the Museum reopened its doors after a multi-million rebuild.
Kelly has played an integral role behind the scenes, as well as performs in the annual anniversary reenactment of the Boston Tea Party. This is a major national historic event, which takes place in Boston every Dec. 16, the actual anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. This year, the reenactment will be even more steeped in history. For the first time since the Boston Tea Party of Dec. 16, 1773, the East India Company, which was started by Queen Elizabeth I more than 400 years ago, will be shipping 100 lbs. of loose tea from London back to the historic waters of Boston to be used in the 242nd Boston Tea Party Anniversary & Annual Reenactment on Dec. 16, 2015.
The Boston Tea Party comes alive this December! It’s December 16th, 1773 and trouble is brewing in Boston. Presented by Boston’s famed Old South Meeting House and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, the 242nd Boston Tea Party Anniversary Reenactment is an opportunity to experience one of America's most iconic public protests. Reenactors from across New England tell the story of the Boston Tea Party and theatrically recreate the events of December 16, 1773, which sparked the American Revolution. It all begins with a fiery tea tax debate at Old South Meeting House, the actual historic hall where the colonists gathered to protest ‘taxation without representation’ 242 years ago. Then, the public joins a lively procession to the waterfront and
witnesses the Sons of Liberty destroy actual tea in Boston Harbor!
Kelly credits her elementary years, right on through Neshaminy High School that helped set the foundation for her love of history and the performing arts, and is thrilled she gets to channel her passion into her work. Her elementary and later high school choir teacher, Roy Nelson, was a great influence and had directed Kelly in several Summer Stock performances during those years. “I was excited when Mr. Nelson came to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum this past summer and experienced the museum that sits in the Boston Harbor, on the site where the Boston Tea Party took place,” exclaimed Kelly.
After graduating Neshaminy High School in 1997, Kelly went onto earn a BS in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, PA (2002), and a MM Opera Performance from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA (2006).
Through researching her role as Sarah Bradlee Fulton, Kelly was delighted to find a connection to Buck’s County, PA, bringing her role a little closer to home. Kelly enthusiastically shared, “My character has a strong connection to General George Washington, whom Washington’s Crossing, PA in Buck’s County is named after. As you may recall, in December of 1776, Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River and surprised the British troops in Trenton, NJ, which was a major turning point in the Revolutionary War. In 1775, Sarah had volunteered to carry messages from General Washington behind enemy lines in Boston. As legend has it, Washington visited her home in Medford, MA, where she served him from a new punch bowl.”
“Growing up in Langhorne and being involved in the performing arts has truly gotten me to where I am today!” states Kelly.
We hope you would like to experience the 242nd Boston Tea Party Anniversary & Annual Reenactment on Dec. 16, 2015 in Boston.
So be there on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015, the Actual Historic Anniversary from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. For more information about going to reenactment go to http://www.bostonteapartyship.