A Mother's Heart Divided

Step back in time at the McCoy Theater in Moorefield to experience "A Mother's Heart Divided" written and performed by JoAnn F. Peterson with guitar accompaniment by Tom Peterson.  It is the story of Maisie Twigg and her family as the realities of the Civil War make their way to the remote Twigg farm in the mountains of western Virginia.  This moving tale will tug at your heartstrings as one mother's heart is divided in two by the Civil War as the state of West Virginia is born.

Synopsis:  Being anti-slavery, her husband Johnny joins the Union army, leaving their only son, Willie, to help on the farm.  When Confederate soldiers are foraging for food, Willie, leaves with them, telling his mother that he is fighting for the real Virginia.  As he marches away, she wonders, "How can I call them traitors now, when my own son is one of them?"  Nineteen songs of the Civil War weave the story together. "The Battle Cry of Freedom", "Home, Sweet Home", “The Bonnie Blue Flag”, "The Vacant Chair", "The Army Bean", and "The Union Volunteer" are among the songs that you will hear.

JoAnn F, Peterson is a professional actress and singer, as well as a presenter with the West Virginia Humanities Council History Alive! Program.  Her Amazing Women of History portrayals include adventurer and groundbreaking reporter Nellie Bly, Founding Mother Abigail Adams; child star turned diplomat Shirley Temple Black, famed Titanic survivor Margaret “The Unsinkable Molly” Brown, tragic First Lady Mary Lincoln, and renowned singer and philanthropist Jenny Lind.  Film credits include the title role of Astrid, in A Promise to Astrid by JC Films which featured Dean Cain of Superman fame.  She portrayed Julia Pierpont in the WV PBS documentary, "West Virginia:  Road to Statehood".  Peterson’s many stage credits include the role of Mother Abbess in "The Sound of Music" at West Virginia Public Theatre.