“Herkimer! How My Ignorant Immigrant Ancestors Saved America and You Can Too”, the smash hit of BST’s 2026 SoloFest last March, makes a return visit in celebration of “America 250”!!
A battle. A family history. And one actor determined not to throw away his shot.
In this funny, surprising, and deeply engaging solo performance, writer and performer Ned Averill-Snell takes audiences back to the brutal 1777 Battle of Oriskany, a little-known but pivotal moment in the American Revolution fought right here in upstate New York.
Blending history, humor, and personal storytelling, “Herkimer!” explores the immigrant farmers, Indigenous warriors, Hessian soldiers, and questionable generals who collided in a chaotic battle that helped shape the future of the American experiment. Along the way, Averill-Snell traces the story of his own ancestors, asking what their struggles might still teach us about identity, belonging, and the promise—and peril—of the American Dream.
Directed by Bridge Street Theatre Associate Artistic Director Timothy Dunn, this lively and thought-provoking solo show is part history lesson, part family saga, and part sharp contemporary reflection.
“Herkimer!” will be performed at 1:00 in the afternoon on Friday, July 3rd, in the Catskill Public Library‘s YA Room. Admission is free!