Walton County’s official folklife production, Grit & Grace, will present “The Paths We Take” beginning July 18, continuing its mission to preserve and honor the people, places, and stories that have shaped the community.
- Written by artist, poet, and playwright Nancy Hasty, the annual theatrical performance will take place July 18, 19, and 20 at the historic Florida Chautauqua Theater in DeFuniak Springs and July 22 at A Simple Faith Church in Santa Rosa Beach. The production features original music, storytelling, and performances that capture the community’s spirit.
This year’s theme explores how every path in life influences individuals and communities. The show highlights ten stories of the human experience from Walton County residents, including Roy Brown, Grace Marse, Ellen Mayfield, Lorraine Moore, the Schissler brothers (Frank, George, and William), Joyce Saltsman Sunday, Tony Vallee, and Mildred Wilkerson.
“It’s almost miraculous. The precise number of people emerges each year, and the theme evolves as if by magic,” Hasty said. “I like to think it’s a combination of great suggestions and bright ideas from everyone involved, but I suspect that the unseen hand of the Almighty plays a part in it as well.”
- The production also shares stories about a circle of women passionate about quilting, the men of The Opinion Place — a well-known gazebo and gathering spot in downtown DeFuniak Springs, and an account of three Union soldiers who escaped from the Andersonville Prison in Georgia and traveled through Walton County.
Hasty, who serves as both playwright and director, described the selection process for featured individuals. “It is an honor to be invited into people’s homes to interview them about their lives and then to recreate those stories on stage,” she said. “I consider it a sacred trust; there is no other experience that I value as highly or take as seriously.”
Since 2000, Grit & Grace has been performing consistently for nearly 25 years, with only two performances missed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization works to preserve Walton County’s oral history through theatrical storytelling.
“I am truly honored to be part of the Grit & Grace family of volunteers and players,” said Latilda Hughes-Neel, Grit & Grace Producer and Show Producer. “The history preserved through this process is unique and an experience like no other.”
The show promises to offer audiences a glimpse into the community’s heritage through stories from diverse backgrounds. Opening night is Friday, July 18, beginning at 6 p.m., at the Florida Chautauqua Theater, 804 Baldwin Avenue, DeFuniak Springs. Additional performances at the theater are Saturday, July 19, at 6 p.m. and Sunday, July 20, at 2 p.m. An encore performance will be held Tuesday, July 22, at 6 p.m. at A Simple Faith Church, 360 WRM Circle, Santa Rosa Beach.
- Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased in advance at www.HWY331.com/gritgrace. Tickets will also be available at the door on show days.
To get involved and support Grit & Grace efforts, contact Latilda Neel at (850) 259-4564 or email hughesneel@gmail.com.
One Response
“Reading about Grit & Grace touched me deeply.
In Walton County, you are preserving the soul of your community through theater — bringing to life the stories of people whose paths shaped your land. As someone from the high Himalayas of Nepal, this feels so familiar, because in our Khumbu region, we too live by stories.
Here, on the trails to Everest Base Camp, many local folk have started documenting the lives of porters, guides, and villagers — stories of those who carry heavy loads up impossible slopes, who survive the bitter cold, and, sadly, of those who have lost their lives to avalanches and the unforgiving mountains. These are tales of grit, survival, and quiet heroism. Like your performance, they are not just stories; they are the living history of a people.
When trekkers from around the globe come to Everest, they often see the beauty — the soaring peaks, the prayer flags, the lodges — but when they take time to hear these stories, to feel the hardships and resilience of our people, their journey becomes something much deeper. It transforms from a trek into an emotional and cultural experience, opening hearts and minds to what life here truly means.
Your production reminds me that whether in Walton County or in the Khumbu, storytelling — whether through theater, documentary, or shared moments around a fire — has the power to connect us, preserve our roots, and make travelers feel like part of our greater human family.
Thank you for keeping your community’s stories alive. It inspires us to do the same in the shadow of Everest.”
https://www.himalayaheart.com/blog/difficulty-of-mount-everest-base-camp-trek-what-you-need-to-know