The authors have deftly brought to life six real-life women who played important roles in the American Civil War. The authors portrayed the fascinating characters they wrote about in the Maryland Ensemble Theatre's productions of "Finally Heard."  Based on the journals, letters, medical records, family accounts and the legends surrounding these six extraordinary women. The story takes place between 1860 and 1865.

Upon reading “Women at Gettysburg,” actress Gené Fouché was intrigued with the idea of doing play on women during the Civil War period. She called a meeting with actresses/writers Sophie Arrick, Meg Coyle-Stanford, Angela D’Ambrosia, Rona Mensah, and Wanda Schell to get together and discuss a play that did not exist. These talented women agreed to research the lives of six women, write the dialog and portray their respective characters in the world premier production of Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s “Finally Heard.”

Little by little, the facts were pieced together but there were some discrepancies in the women’s stories. Some entire diaries were found. Others which had existed had been destroyed or lost. The collective works of the actresses/writers progressed and the characters to be portrayed came vividly alive.

With the exception of two of the characters, the women had never met. It was necessary to use dramatic license to create interaction between them to make the play work.

Clearly, the drama lies in the characters’ individual stories, but there is a common thread connecting them—their strongly held convictions as well as their beliefs, courage and integrity.

Some dialog was created to clarify events and the history of the period.

As Angela D’Ambrosia, who directed the premier production of Finally Heard, said, "What greater meaning could be drawn from any life than that one had left society better than how she had found it? Each of these extraordinary women did so. Their stories deserve to be heard, and we invite you to take this incredible journey with us."

The following Civil War women are featured in this work:

Elizabeth Van Lew
Sylvia DuBois
Mary Elizabeth Bowser
Mary Tepe
Eupehmia Goldsborough
Jennie Hodgers, also known as Albert Cashier