Asbury students direct and perform theatrical readings of historic letters spanning nearly 4,000 years
On March 3 in Jameson Recital Hall, Asbury University History and Communication students hosted their second annual theatrical show called “Letters Live!”. This special event brought history to life through dramatic readings and musical performances, offering a vivid reminder of how deeply personal and engaging the past can be.
Directed by Asbury University Theatre major Jazmyn Lorentzen ’26, the cast included students from across the school.
Using letters that spanned nearly 4,000 years — from 3,800 BC to 1984 — the Asbury cast delivered word-for-word readings of real historical letters, infusing them with dramatic interpretation and an infectious enthusiasm that captivated the audience.
Historical letters are not usually the first-place people think to look for entertainment, but the Asbury University “Letters Live!” challenged that notion.
It is so common for people to view history as dry and boring, but letters from the past show us why nothing can be farther from the truth.”
“Letters connect us to the human drama of history. They are superfluous and social, full of sweet nothings, inside jokes, petty complaints, and a whole lot of juicy gossip. Sometimes, they’re just objectively funny!”
The show delivered on its advertised promise to “Laugh and Hear History,” as AU students breathed new life into historical figures who might otherwise be confined to textbooks. The audience received advice from Kurt Vonnegut, heard details from Jane Austen’s life, and experienced creative storytelling from C.S. Lewis.
“This year’s theme was authors and creatives,” Lorentzen said. “It was a joy to find out which letters resonated most with our audience members.”
Ultimately, the event was not just about entertainment but also an exercise in historical empathy. The letters offered a unique glimpse into the lives of those who came before us, revealing their joys, frustrations, and personalities in an intimate way that history books often cannot. They showed us that history is not just about wars and politics but about people’s everyday experiences, their loves, their losses, and their voices.
Sponsored by the Asbury Social Science and History Department and the Asbury School of Communication Arts, “Letters Live!” encapsulated the best of Christian Liberal Arts tradition, and it demonstrated the ways Asbury students remain engaged in creative and cross-disciplinary approaches to the study of history.
“History came alive for the audience,” said Mayfield, “and I could not be prouder of how our students made that possible.”
The Asbury University Social Science & History Department offers four majors (History, Political Science, Social Studies Grades 8-12, and Sociology) and five minors (History, Human Trafficking Studies, Political Science, Pre-Law, and Sociology).