REXBURG — Last October, EastIdahoNews.com brought you the story of Lori Prescott Hansen’s one-woman show, “I Be A Witch.” It is based on the true story of Hansen’s 11th great-grandmother, Ann Foster, who was accused of being a witch during the notorious Salem Witch Trials in the late 1600s.
Hansen’s performance piqued the interest of filmmakers, and over the last year, her work has been transformed into a short film. A special screening of “I Be A Witch” will be shown for free Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Romance Theater in Rexburg. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and there will be a Q&A with the filmmaking team at the film’s conclusion.
Hansen, a Rexburg resident and former adjunct professor in the Brigham Young University-Idaho Department of Theatre, has played many characters over her years in the theatre and as a professional storyteller. But when she learned from her son about her relation to Foster, she felt especially drawn to learning about her ancestor and sharing her story.
“I began reading about her and researching her story,” Hansen says. “It was so compelling that it wouldn’t let me rest. I knew I wanted — and almost needed — to do something about her story.”
After seeing Hansen’s live performance last October, Utah filmmakers Cherie and Matthew Julander approached Hansen with the idea of turning it into a short film. Hansen liked the idea, but didn’t initially understand how serious the Julanders were about it. She was surprised they actually wanted to do it.
