Join Historic Beverly for an engaging evening of theater and history with Abigail Adams: Love & Politics in the American Revolution, a compelling one-woman performance written and performed by acclaimed historical interpreter Laura Rocklyn.

Set in the year 1788, the performance finds Abigail Adams newly returned from Europe alongside her husband, John Adams, following his diplomatic service in France and England. As news arrives that the United States Constitution has been ratified and the nation prepares for its first presidential election, Abigail reflects on the extraordinary events that shaped both her life and the creation of a new republic.

Through wit, warmth, and powerful storytelling, audiences will experience Abigail’s memories of her enduring partnership with John Adams, from the playful courtship letters of a young lawyer sending kisses to his “Miss Adorable” to the remarkable intellectual and political collaboration that helped define the American Revolution and the early United States.

Blending personal reflection with political history, this intimate performance offers a vivid portrait of one of the Revolutionary era’s most influential voices and highlights Abigail Adams’s enduring legacy as a thinker, advocate, and partner in the founding of the nation.

The scripted performance runs approximately 40 minutes and will be followed by a 15–20 minute audience Q&A.

About Laura Rocklyn

Laura Rocklyn is a writer, actress, and first-person historical interpreter known for bringing complex historical figures to life through engaging theatrical performances. She is a member of the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company and an Acting Troupe Member with History At Play.

Her recent work includes co-writing a stage adaptation of Jane Eyre, produced by the Classic Theatre of Maryland in 2024, as well as adaptations of A Christmas Carol performed at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. Rocklyn also co-wrote a bio-drama about Clover Adams produced by Ally Theatre Company and has published work in Brontë Studies and The Revere Express. She was the recipient of the LitMag 2021 Virginia Woolf Award for Short Fiction.

This program is funded by a Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism Grant in support of Massachusetts250 events.