American History Alive- The 1700s is Back at Compass this Fall!
American History Alive! is back at Compass this fall by popular demand, and we are pleased to announce the first quarter line-up! Students will come face-to-face with famous Americans! First quarter they will meet John Rolfe, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Molly Pitcher, and the Marquis de Lafayette. The American History Alive! series is a one-of-a-kind, weekly rendez-vous with key figures in American History. These characters are brought to life for students though engaging presentations by professional, costumed, living history interpreters. Students will connect faces, personalities, humor, and fun facts with influential characters in America’s history!
Living history interpreters are the professionals employed by museums, historical sites, and conferences. They have typically studied their historical character for years and tell their stories and contributions in a compelling first-person narrative. Presentations are conversational in style, often involve the audience, and conclude with spontaneous audience Q & A. Watch the historical actors answer 21st century questions in character with period replies! American History Alive! meets each Wednesday at 12:00 pm starting September 6.
Starting September 4, One-Day Passes will go on sale for each performance. If your schedule only allows you to see a few performances, or if there is just one or two characters who tie in with you studies, you can attend with an American History Alive One-Day pass. One Day Passes are $18.00 in advance (online) or $20.00 at the door. Register for the full American History Alive series, One Day Passes, or other classes online at www.compassclasses.com/registration/
9/6/17: John Rolfe as portrayed by Dick Cheatham of Richmond. Mr. Cheatham combines his background in history and education to portray John Rolfe, husband of Pocahontas and savior of the English Jamestown Colony. Mr. Cheatham has been involved with Living History portrayals for 21 years and is the founder of Living History Associates, Ltd. of Richmond. He has appeared on the BBC, the Learning Channel, several PBS series, Entertainment Tonight and the Voice of America. Mr. Cheatham last performed at Compass in September 2012.
10/13/17: Benjamin Franklin as portrayed by Robert Carroll of Newton Square, PA. Mr. Carroll’s acclaimed portrayal of Benjamin Franklin sprung from his lifelong passion and study of American History along with his talents and experience as a professional musician and actor. In addition to portraying Dr. Franklin around the country, he has worked for more than a decade as a specialized tour guide for American Heritage Tours focusing on excursions in Philadelphia, Valley Forge, the Brandywine Valley, Washington’s Crossing, Trenton, and Princeton. Just as Franklin traveled internationally, Mr. Carroll added Moscow and Volgograd to his list of appearances when he was invited by the U.S. State Department to portray Dr. Franklin for Russian dignitaries. Mr. Carroll is an instructor for the graduate course “Revolution in the Middle Atlantic States” at Freedom’s Foundation in Valley Forge, PA. He is well known in Philadelphia area schools for his unique “Bringing History to Life” programs. He has appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” portraying Dr. Franklin as well as being featured in US Airways’ “In Flight” magazine and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Mr. Carroll’s Benjamin Franklin has appeared at Valley Forge and Independence National Historical Parks, Independence Visitors Center Corp., Valley Forge Historical Society, National Constitution Center, Valley Forge Visitors and Convention Bureau, and wells as dozens of other corporate, institutional, and educational venues. Mr. Carroll last appeared at Compass in September 2014.
9/20/17: Patrick Henry as portrayed by Charles Wissinger of Richmond. Mr. Wissinger is the casting director and coordinator for the team of founding fathers at St. John’s Church in Richmond, where the group re-enacts the Second Virginia Convention of March 1775, including Mr. Wissinger’s portrayal of Henry delivery of the famous “Give me liberty or give me death speech.” He has studied and portrayed Patrick Henry for 14 years. He is a professional actor with a BA in Theatrical and Performing Arts, and his experience spans stage, film, television, and commercials including appearances on the American Heroes Channel, the Military Channel, and the History Channel as well as historical sites, national parks, and special events. Mr. Wissinger combines his talent for acting with his love of history in this research and interpretation of historical figures.
09/27/17: Thomas Jefferson as portrayed by Steve Edenbo of Philadephia. Mr. Edenbo has portrayed Thomas Jefferson since 2001 at such venues as The National Archives in Washington, DC, and Independence Hall, the Declaration House, and Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. He has been featured on the History Channel and has appeared on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report”. He has shared Jefferson’s life and legacy at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., and institutions such as the Smithsonian, Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, American Legion, the VFW, the US Mint, and the University of Virginia. Mr. Edenbo earned a BA from Dickinson College, where he focused on research and writing with additional experience in theater, improvisation, and voice. Mr. Edenbo previously performed at Compass in October 2012 and September 2014.
10/04/17: John Adams as portrayed by Peyton Dixon of Kingston, NJ. Mr. Dixon has portrayed John Adams since 2000. He discovered the world of first-person interpretation as an extension of his more than 25-years experience as an actor and performer and his passion for American History. He has portrayed Adams at venues such as Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Federal Hall in New York, and the National Archives in Washington, D.C. He has also taken Adams to television with A&E’s biography of John Adams and on PBS with the documentary “First Freedom, the Fight for Religious Liberty.” He also had the opportunity to portray Adams in the live theater performance of “1776.” He has performed in over 40 states. Mr. Dixon graduated from the DuPont Manual/Youth Performing Arts School of Louisville, Kentucky, and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from Otterbein College of Westerville, Ohio. His goal is to bring to light the accomplishments as well as the imperfections of John Adams, and to reveal the very real man beneath the public persona. Mr. Dixon previously appeared at Compass in October 2014.
10/11/17: “Molly Pitcher” Mary Ludwig Hays as portrayed by Kim Hanley of Philadephia. Kim earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the State University of New York. After moving to Philadelphia to pursue an acting career in 1997, she realized she could combine her passions for history and theater as a historical character in outdoor productions in Philadelphia’s historic district and in Independence National Historical Park. She became involved with the American Historical Theatre and found “historical character re-enactment civically worthwhile, intellectually challenging, and artistically fulfilling.” Kim has continued to refine her dramatic skills in national tours and stage productions. She trained in classical ballet and performs in vocal ensembles as a soprano. Using her associates degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, she designs and creates all of her historical outfits as well as the costumes of other well-known historical interpreters. In addition to Mary Lugwig Hays, Kim has studied and performs several other prominent women in American History. Her program repertoire is known as Remembering the Ladies. Ms Hanley first appeared at Compass as Annie Oakley in January 2013 and Molly Pitcher in October 2014.
10/18/17: Marquis de Lafayette as portrayed by Benjamin Goldman of Washington DC. Mr. Goldman has appeared as Lafayette since 2007. He has performed at Valley Forge and Independence National Historical Parks and for audiences at venues across seven states and the District of Columbia. Mr. Goldman made a special appearance at the White House for former presidents George W. Bush and Nicolas Sarkozy of France. He also worked for several years as a storyteller with Historic Philadelphia, Inc, where he wrote and sometimes translated interpretive stories into French. He earned a B.A. in French and Dramatic Literature. Mr. Goldman has previously appeared at Compass in September 2012 and November 2014.
Register for American History Alive! and all other Compass classes online! For second quarter, watch for visits from the Alexander Hamilton, Dolly Madison, Francis Scott Key, John Tyler, Frederick Douglass, and others.