Bonnie Grice, Thomas Schiavoni “Red Badge of Courage”. Photo credit Mary Godfrey
About Us | Founded By Bonnie Grice in 2016
About Us
"History is the lure for Boots on the Ground…"
— Newsday
Our mission is to boldly go where many boots have gone before and march them into the 21st century.
Photo credit Daniel Gonzalez
Who We Are
Founder/Artistic Director/producer/actor Bonnie Grice has developed a great love for the arts over the course of her decades-long career in broadcasting, interviewing artists of all kinds. She started boots on the ground theater® in 2016 to explore the rich landscape of history theater, the life and times (and wardrobe!) of those who’ve come before, with a modern twist. In addition to producing and acting, Bonnie works in tandem with the director, cast and crew to manage the costumes, props and sets for the various shows, and in 2020 she became a new trustee of the Sag Harbor Historical Society.
What We Do
botgt presents historical theater in a wide range of settings, both MainStage theater productions and on-site productions. Since 2018 our MainStage home and fiscal partner has been the Southampton Cultural Center in Southampton New York, where we’ve presented a number of theater classics along with 2 Long Island premieres. We’ve also produced a wide range of historical re-enactments, partnering with local organizations to bring history to life in unique and creative ways. These include workshops and interactive demonstrations that are fun and educational for the whole family.
Our Impact
Our impact statement involves three C’s: Chronicle…Collaborate…Community.
The mission of boots on the ground theater® has been to Chronicle moments in history, both on stage and on site. We’ve given audiences and actors of all ages the chance to relive history while being entertained and inspired. From the true story of Helen Keller who overcame her physical and emotional challenges thru the guiding hands of her teacher, to the hearts of darkness in Vietnam and the Civil War. And the world of the original CSI: Sherlock Holmes. We provide important historical context and perspective. And make it fun.
We Collaborate with a wide range of local Long Island organizations, performing arts, museums, libraries, historical societies to bring history to life for our collective audiences. We believe team work is the key to accomplish what we do in all stages. As Helen Keller herself said: “Alone we can do so little… together we can do so much…”
Community! We celebrate our beloved Long Island community by featuring them in a great many roles: acting, directing, singing, photography, marketing. We will continue to provide student actors the chance for a variety of lead roles, and provide free performances as we have for hundreds of East End students and teachers to date. botgt will always recognize the importance of our Community!
Ethan Suhr “Red Badge of Courage”. Photo credit Mary Godfrey