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A woman's account of frontier life
By Brett Dalton
Herald-Tribune
FORT SCOTT, Kan. --One of the first women to ever make the journey across the Santa Fe Trail will be at the Fort Scott National Historical Site next weekend for the site's annual Frontier Days celebration.
Okay, so visitors won't meet the actual Susan Magoffin, the famed female pioneer who died in 1855, but they'll come darn close, though.
Van Ann Moore, a globally recognized singer and actress, will be one of the main highlights at the fort's Frontier Days when she performs as Magoffin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23.
Moore has gained worldwide popularity for her accurate and dramatic portrayals of historical female characters. The Albuquerque, N.M., native has performed as famous females ranging from the "Swedish Nightingale," Jenny Lind, to Martha Washington, American's first First Lady. Other characters she has portrayed include Belle Boyd, a spy in the Confederate army during the Civil War, George Custer's wife Libby and Margaret "Molly" Brown, the Titanic's "unsinkable heroine."
With more than 15 years of vocal study, Moore has performed in Europe, the Orient, Australia and New Zealand.
Her Magoffin performance next Saturday, titled "First Lady of the Santa Fe Trail," ties in with this year's Frontier Days‚ theme, "Trade and Transportation." The events of Frontier Days will cover travel, trade and life along the Santa Fe Trail and the Military Road.
"This year, we decided to change the emphasis for Frontier Days and highlight Fort Scott's involvement with the Santa Fe Trail and the opening of the West," Park Ranger Rosemary Frey said.
Frey, who describes Moore as a "one woman music theater," said she heard of Moore and her Magoffin portrayal through another ranger in the National Park Service. According to Moore, it was a performance at historic Bent's Fort near La Junta, Colo., that Frey caught wind of her.
"I was doing a show in Colorado, and someone called Rosemary Frey and told her that I do a good Susan Magoffin," Moore said. "About a month ago, Rosemary called me and asked if I'd come do (Frontier Days)."Moore said she is excited to perform in Fort Scott, as it has always been a place she's wanted to visit.
"I've always wanted to see the oldest fort in Kansas, because it was a place that had so much impact during that time," Moore said.
Moore said her interest in playing historical characters grew out of a lead role she performed at a Chautauqua musical program in New Mexico.
"That was the germ of the creation of historical characters," Moore said.
Her first historical character performance was as Lind, a singing star of her time. She said during that show she actually felt like Jenny Lind.
"Then my accompanist turned to me and said, 'You were Jenny Lind'," Moore said, "I really was, too."
Moore's love of research and performing led to her to develop a repertoire including the many other characters she portrays.
"I wanted to create something of value for people, no matter of age or their
background," Moore said. "People from our past have something significant to enlighten us."
Her creation of Magoffin came from the area of the country that she lives.
"Here I am, mostly in the Southwest," Moore said. "I thought, 'Who can I do from this area?'"
Of all the famous women Moore has played, she said Magoffin is one of her favorites.
"Susan Magoffin is still one of the most powerful for me," Moore said. "I'm not just saying that because she was one of the first, either. She really relates to people about a first-time experience."
Moore said it was the diary that Magoffin kept during her travels along the Santa Fe Trail that makes her such an important historical figure.
"She was smart enough to keep a diary," Moore said. "I personally don't think there is a better journal available, and I've read thousands and thousands of journals."
Accompanying Moore at Frontier Days will be guitarist Raul Gomez. The Topeka native is a talented Flamenco guitarist who studied under Maestro Juan Serrano of Cordoba, Spain, another internationally known Flamenco guitarist.
Gomez has performed at various festivals and events, including the Debbie Reynolds Theatre in Las Vegas, Nev., and the Maria Benitez Theatre in Santa Fe, N.M.
Moore said she met Gomez by accident at a show in Santa Fe in 1997. Two weeks later, Moore called Gomez and asked he'd perform with her. The two have performing together off and on ever since.
"I've worked with many artists, and let me say, Raul is the finest guitarist I've ever worked with," Moore said. "I sort of have an ear for what a good guitarist should be. The minute he puts his fingers on the guitar, he just brings it alive. It's unbelievable."
Frontier Days activities will take place from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. next Saturday, Sept. 23, and from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24.The Fort Scott National Historic Site is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There is an entrance fee of $3 for each adult aged 16 or over. Children 15 and under are admitted free. For more information, call the site at (620) 223-0310 or visit its Web site at www.nps.gov/fosc.
Staff writer note: A story outlining details of the entire Frontier Days event will appear in an upcoming issue of The Fort Scott Tribune.