Oakland Cemetery and Oglethorpe Theatre Mark 20 Years of History in Action
For two decades, the names etched into the historic headstones of Oakland Cemetery have stepped off the granite and back into the life of Atlanta. That tradition returned this October for the 20th anniversary of the annual “Capturing the Spirit” production, an event that blends local heritage, dramatic performance, and historic preservation.
For the past 13 years, Matt Huff, associate professor of theatre at Oglethorpe University, has directed the production, oglethorpe.edu reported. The cemetery’s night-illuminated grounds host thousands of visitors each October to experience stories drawn directly from those buried on the property.
Bringing Historic Atlantans to Life
The production relies on a large cast of volunteer and professional actors to portray former residents whose contributions shaped the city’s culture, economy, and local politics. Among the figures featured this year was Franklin Miller Garrett, Atlanta’s first official historian.
Huff recalled Garrett’s words from the script: “These are the stories that make Atlanta Atlanta.” For Huff, the ongoing collaboration remains a unique way to honor everyday figures who achieved remarkable things across generations.
“I love working on this event for several reasons,” Huff said, according to oglethorpe.edu. “It’s a real honor to ‘bring to life’ the stories of the residents at Oakland—many of whom have contributed significantly to the creation of Atlanta: our culture, our economy, our local politics, our communities of faith and our historic civil rights movement.”
Oglethorpe Alumni and Local Writers Join the Cast
Beyond his directorial role, Huff has integrated the broader Oglethorpe University community into the production. This year’s cast featured several Oglethorpe theatre alumni, including Kyle Brumley ’12, Marc Collins ’23, Kurt Reynolds ’15, Ethan Weathersbee ’19, Maital Gottfried ’17, and Caroline Gammage ’23.
Scripts for the production are written by local playwrights, including Justin Haynes, associate professor of English and Creative Writing program coordinator at Oglethorpe.
In addition to its theatrical scope, the event serves as a fundraiser for the Oakland Historic Foundation, supporting historical preservation of Oakland.
“Many of the actors have been performing in ‘Capturing the Spirit’ since the very beginning. I’ve been working with several of them my entire 13 years at the cemetery,” Huff said. “We’re all a part of the Oakland family now which feels very special.”
