Kansas City Resident Leslie A. Isler-Harris Portrays Harriet Tubman in One Woman Show

Mrs. Leslie A. Isler-Harris has totally immersed herself studying and portraying the famous Underground Railroad luminary, Harriet Tubman. Her One-Woman
Show has been seen in the Kansas City, Missouri area and has been well appreciated and reviewed by local audiences. Mrs. Isler-Harris, recently retired from the Board of Education, plans to develop and portray other African-American heroines who have played a prominent role in American History. A native of Niagara Falls, New York, Mrs. Isler-Harris is a graduate of Carver Bible College, Atlanta, Georgia. She and her husband, David, reside in Kansas City, Missouri. Mrs. Isler-Harris graciously granted this interview to share her purpose and passion for performing her One Woman Show.

How long have you been performing your One Woman Show?
I started performing my Harriet Tubman show approximately five years ago. While employed full time I performed my show on a part time basis. Now that I am retired, I can devote more time to my performances.

What inspired you to portray the character of Harriet Tubman?
I was inspired to develop Harriet Tubman's character because of the way that she persevered against all odds. The word "no" was not in her vocabulary. No matter what the circumstances and obstacles, she trudged ahead. As they say, "the rest is history". I also wanted to develop an historical character because as a child history was quite boring to me. As an adult, I felt like it could be more interesting if the characters were brought to life. In this way history could be more appealing to the children and they would realize that history can be enjoyable.

How do you prepare yourself to enact the role of Harriet Tubman?
In order to prepare for my role, I begin saying the script, singing the songs and immersing myself into character by focusing on Harriet's life and reviewing her life. I feel like I almost become her. I constantly review and re-read all that I can about Harriet Tubman to perfect my characterization of her during my show. It is an ongoing process and always will be as I portray her and other characters.

What do you hope to convey to the audience as you present your show?
My siblings and I were blessed with wonderful parents who stressed the importance of education and doing the best at whatever we set our mind to do. What I want to convey to my audience is they too can realize their dreams if they actively and energetically pursue their goals. It may not always be easy but then again not much in life is always easy. While I perform before varied audiences, I particularly want the African American children to realize that they have a rich heritage of which they can be proud. Some of the children and adults are unaware of the prominence of our African American ancestors. History books often overlook the accomplishments of African American individuals. Through my stage presentations, I hope to close the gap of lack of awareness and knowledge of African American history.

Do you perform for all ages or do you target a particular age group?
I have performed for various age groups at churches, libraries, schools and most recently at an American Girl Doll exhibit at a local museum. My audiences are a mixture of old and young as well as varied ethnic groups. Harriet's message and philosophy are applicable to young and old alike.

Do you have plans to develop other African American characters?
I do hope eventually to develop other characters that will inspire and encourage people. I am particularly interested in the life of Mary McCleod Bethune and Dr, Justina Ford. It is my hope to develop one-woman shows for lesser known historical characters to highlight their contributions to history.

What has been the response of your audiences?
I have been blessed with positive reviews from those in attendance. One student remarked that he actually thought I was Harriet Tubman! That comment made me feel that I had successfully portrayed the message and life of Harriet. Others have shared that they have been inspired to pursue their dreams. These responses make it worth my effort and time to continue performing.

How would an organization or club contact you for further information about your performance schedule, fees and other information?
I can be reached through my email address leslieisler@hotmail.com.

Mrs. Leslie A. Isler-Harris is from the "Show Me" state. Her riveting stage presence coupled with her inimitable style and passion as evidenced in her performances effectively present and bring alive African American History to her audiences. If you have the opportunity to attend her performances, we highly recommend that you do. It will be an unforgettable experience with a lasting impact that will endure long after the curtain call has ended!