Friday, May 15 at 7:30 pm
O Pioneer
Join us this special evening to:
- Enjoy watching O Pioneer, a made-in-West Virginia film
- Engage live with the filmmakers (via Zoom)
- Support Shepherdstown’s Appalachian Heritage Festival
Made in West Virginia, O Pioneer reckons with and redefines the American pioneer.
This documentary follows three West Virginians—a blacksmith, a seamstress, and a hospital chaplain—as they creatively navigate hardship and call us to champion the pioneer within.
Narrated by lyricist and musician Kaïa Kater, the film weaves verité moments with archival footage, poetic vignettes, and dream-like animation—as Tim Hibbs, Nellie Rose Gundersen Davis, and James Morley humbly answer their calls to pioneer a way forward.
Post-film discussion features a live Q&A with Helvetia, WV-based filmmakers Clara Lehman and Jonathan Lacocque via Zoom.
Admission is Pay-What-You-Can (suggested $20/ticket). 100% of the ticket proceeds will be donated to Experience Shepherdstown to help this nonprofit organization support the 2026 Appalachian Heritage Festival.
Film website: OPioneer.com
A Coat of Arms film. Directed by Clara Lehman and Jonathan Lacocque. Made Possible by Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN). This and other screenings in West Virginia are supported by WVU Medicine
Runtime: 73 minutes + discussion
General admission (unreserved seating). Ticket price is “pay what you can.”
The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy 99-seat vaudeville-era theater — we encourage patrons to purchase tickets in advance. Online sales end 1 hour before showtime. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime and our shows start promptly. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.
More about this evening’s nonprofit beneficiaries:
Appalachian Heritage Festival. Founded by Rachael Meads and now in its 30th year, Shepherd University’s 2026 Appalachian Heritage Festival will take place this September. The Festival brings the finest Appalachian musicians, story tellers and other artists to town for the entire community to enjoy, and is a cornerstone of Shepherdstown’s monthlong celebration of Appalachian art, music, and cuisine.
Experience Shepherdstown promotes, supports, and enhances Shepherdstown, West Virginia, a vibrant historic town with world class shops, cuisine, culture and community. Sign up for its biweekly newsletter about Shepherdstown happenings at Shepherdstown.info