Ever wonder what it felt like to be a runaway slave, running through woods and fields, crossing mountains and streams, trying to elude the slave catchers while hoping to get to an underground railroad station?

        Cincinnati's Runaway Slave, an interactive drama, depicts the story of Cincinnati's participation in the underground railroad movement that helped slaves escape to freedom.

        You can sign up to be a runaway slave, a slave catcher or an abolitionist by calling 563-9484 before or on the day of the performance. The play is being performed at the Heritage Village Museum in Sharon Woods Park, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., March 22, 23 and 24.

        “The goal is to provide the opportunity for people to actually see and act out what it was like,” said Carrie MacMeans, director of education for the Heritage Village. “The audience actually pretends that it is a runaway slave and they moved through the Historical Village. It is a very intense experience. The audience is never sitting. It is always moving.”

        Ms. MacMeans said the play, which is like a workshop in diversity training, can be related to today's racial conflicts as a way to connect audiences to the experience of people of the past and to how stereotypes have been passed down from this experience.

        “It is clear that citizens both young and old would benefit from a program designed to promote understanding, family and a desire for community harmony,” she said.

        The setting of the drama in the historic Heritage Village Museum helps put the audience into character and into the true meaning of the play.

        The drama is sponsored by the Fine Arts Fund and Procter & Gamble Fund and produced in partnership with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

“We are still looking for people to participate,” Ms. MacMeans said. “We don't accept anyone under 10 years old because this is very intense.”

        • • •

        Sixth-grade and first-grade students at St. Ursula Villa handcrafted a unique flag to commemorate the 100th day since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th. Students in Teresa Mauntel and Susan Measamer's sixth-grade classes “buddy” together with students in Holly Heekin and Susan Hall's first grade classes for special projects throughout the year.

        Together, the students from both grade levels created the stars and put the components of the flag together using the hand prints of each student to fashion the stripes.

        Villa students have been active in outreach collections to help victims and their families affected by the Sept. 11 attacks. They observed the 100th day with a representation of their own 100 Hands United for Peace.

       Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.

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