Historical Impersonations
1st Person Historical Impersonations
Characters-On-Call Series
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players….And one man in his time plays many parts.”
Dynamic first-person historical impersonations (living biographies) in authentic period costume of famous literary and historical personages from the pages of history – history brought to life!
“That’s Just Bully” – Teddy Roosevelt & the Great Adventure of Life!
Meet Teddy Roosevelt (1858-1919), the 26th President of the United States, and learn more about his extraordinary life and times. Experience his warm, outgoing and larger-than-life personality as well as his timeless wisdom, courage, sense of patriotic duty and dedication to his country as revealed in his own striking words, flamboyant gestures and unforgettable phrases. A highly intelligent, individualistic, uninhibited and audacious man, he left us an example of all that is to be admired and cherished in the truly free American spirit!
The Return of the Raven & The Ghost of Edgar Allan Poe
The haunting poems, prose, and unforgettable short stories of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) long ago established him as the undisputed ‘Master of the Macabre’ – which he remains to this day. Yet, underneath his eventual worldwide popularity and acclaim, lay a graveyard of loss and personal tragedy. Meet the ‘real’ Poe, as Dr. Covington brings to life the writer and the man – through inspired readings of some of Poe’s most hauntingly famous poems, prose, and select excerpts from his most spine-chilling stories.
“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. Quoth the Raven”
The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain
Discover Mark Twain (1835-1910) as he shares his wit, wisdom, and wry sense of humor through some of his most famous quips, comments, and timeless observations on just about everything—including life, love, history, culture, travel, animals, critics, politicians, youth, and human nature in general—in this highly entertaining, informative, and uplifting living history presentation in period costume. Prepare to board ’cause the steamboat’s a comin’!
“Stars & Stripes Forever” – John Philip Sousa – America’s Favorite March King
Meet John Philip Sousa (1854-1932), the symbol of an era of American exceptionalism, known as the man who did one thing better than any other – the patriotic march. He was to the patriotic march what Johann Strauss, Jr. was to the waltz. He stood alone among the first composers to tour the world with his own musical organization and was destined to become the most famous bandmaster in musical history. His band was a living legend, and even today it lives on in the form of the United States Marine Corps Band – ‘The President’s Own’.
Charles Dickens, Scrooge & “A Christmas Carol”
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of 19th century England’s greatest and most popular novelists, and even in our own time he remains universally regarded as ‘The Man who Invented Christmas’. To many, his literary characters are as real today as the day they were written, especially Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, Bob Cratchit, and Tiny Tim. Dickens’ own life was a true tale of rags-to-riches – from the shame and squalor of debt and humiliation in Victorian London to international literary success, wealth, and worldwide acclaim. His reality is reflected in the lives of his famous literary creations. So this holiday season, let’s sit by the ‘fireside bright’ as Dr. Covington becomes the ‘Master of Holiday Mirth’ himself.
Ludwig van Beethoven – The Magnificent Rebel!
A veritable titan of talent, Beethoven (1770-1827) took the musical world of his day by storm. His meteoric rise and defiant end has become synonymous with the struggle of the artistic individual against the odds. Hear the intimate details of his life from dramatic excerpts from his letters. Discover what he meant when he said “God made many princes, but only one Beethoven.”
Patrick Henry – “Give me Liberty or Give me Death!”
These compelling and immortal words embodied the patriotic and fighting spirit of Patrick Henry (1736-1799) – a brilliant orator whose uncompromising love of liberty at any cost fueled the fire of the American Revolution. Henry was the first of America’s Founding Fathers, the first to call Americans to arms against Britain, and the first to demand a bill of rights. Listen to the ‘Voice of Liberty’ and the ‘Trumpet of the American Revolution’ as we discover the story behind the famous words “Give me liberty, or give me death”!
Gen. ‘Mad’ Anthony Wayne – Gentleman Rebel of the American Revolution
Ever wonder why the famous Revolutionary War General ‘Mad’ Anthony Wayne (1745-1796) was called ‘Mad’, or what really happened at the Paoli Massacre? Then prepare to fall in and march back in time as we meet ‘Mad’ Anthony himself – dashing hero, bon vivant, dandy of the Continental Army, deadly opponent-in-arms, and Main Line native son as he reflects upon his adventurous life as one of America’s finest fighting generals!
Shakespeare in Love – Life, Love Sonnets & Soliloquies
“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, and summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called ‘England’s National Poet’ and nicknamed the ‘Bard of Avon’. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Come experience the beauty, power and passion of his poetry and prose as Dr. Covington performs romantic and captivating excerpts from some of his most famous sonnets and plays – in this tour-de-force presentation in full Renaissance costume, including period music!
An Intimate Encounter with Lord Byron – The Prince of Romantic Poets
The life story of this most famous of English romantics (1788-1824) reads like a script from the latest Hollywood blockbuster, teeming with talent and sensuality. The very term ‘Byronic’ has come to symbolize the brilliant, yet self-destructive artist as anti-hero. Experience the beauty, power and passion of his poetry and prose in this tour-de-force, living biography performance in period costume that captures the bravura and very essence of Byron himself.
The Romantic Spirit – In English Poetry & Prose
A superb study of the poets of the Romantic Age featuring selections from the works of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Keats, and Shelley. The Romantic poets rebelled against all that was conventional in their day. They embraced the fanciful, the picturesque, the beautiful, and the passionate. This highly enlightening and entertaining program, presented in the 1st person and in full Regency costume, is a perfect introduction to the romantic movement in English poetry and prose of the early 19th century. What could be more appealing than listening to excerpts from the sonorous and sensual works of the five most famous poets of the Age of Romanticism?
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Percy Bysshe Shelley – ‘A Radical’s Poet’
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) was probably the most unconventional, yet quintessentially romantic poet of his age – a truly intense and idealistic poet of immeasurable imagination and energy. His passionate spirit eclipsed many of his contemporaries and he has come to be considered one of the most radical and gifted poets of the English language. His famous “Ode to the West Wind” has been called the most ‘symphonic’ poem ever written. Experience the beauty and passion of his poetry as Dr. Covington transforms himself into one of the most romantic poets of all time. Presented in period costume.
‘Bright Star’ – The Life & Poetry of John Keats
John Keats (1795-1821) was one of the great English Romantics, and a poet of intense spirituality, passionate vision and immeasurable imagination. Although his life was sadly truncated, he left a mark on English poetry that was as pure and true as it was unforgettable. In his short life he published many great works, some of which received contemporary critical recognition. The beauty of his work, however, lies in its sensual implications, in his exquisite vocabulary and grasp of the English language.
“My Luve’s Like a Red, Red Rose” – The Life & Poetry of Robert “Bobbie” Burns
“O My Luve’s like a red, red rose, that’s newly sprung in June; O My Luve’s like the melodic, that’s sweetly played in tune.” The life and poetry of Robert “Bobbie” Burns (1759-1796), Scotland’s most famous poet, is presented in period costume.
W. B. Yeats – Ireland’s Greatest Poet
William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was one of the most distinguished Irish poets of all time and winner of the Nobel Prize. A tireless leader of the Celtic revival and founder of the world-famous Abbey Theatre in Dublin, he devoted much of his time and energy to the Irish Free State and Independence movement in his role as Senator of the Irish Parliament. This program is his story along with dramatic readings of his beautiful poetry, presented in period costume.
I Would Rather Be Ashes than Dust – The Adventurous Writer’s Life of Jack London
The adventurous life and writings of Jack London (1876-1916), America’s most successful writer of the early 20th century, presented in period costume.
F. Scott Fitzgerald & the Age of Gatsby
Considered to be one of the greatest American authors of the 20th century, F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) was a member of the “Lost Generation” who came of age during WWI. His novels are windows into the “Jazz Age” of the 1920’s, a term he coined himself. His most famous novel, The Great Gatsby, portrays the decadence of the Roaring Twenties. Dramatic readings of excerpts from his works are presented in period costume.
Hemingway – The Man, The Myth, The Legend
Despite his controversial status both then and now, Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) and his innovative writing style and larger-than-life persona have left an indelible mark on modern literature. Through his ‘no holds barred’ approach to writing and life, he showed that “the best people possess a feeling for beauty, the courage to take risks, the discipline to tell the truth, the capacity for sacrifice. Ironically, their virtues make them vulnerable; they are often wounded, sometimes destroyed.” Come and meet Hemingway – “the Man, the Myth, the Legend” – and decide for yourself whether he was more sinner than saint, or an all too real combination of both.
Dylan Thomas – The Welshman Who Made the English Language Sing
The world-famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) expanded our sense of what language can do. Rhythmically forceful, yet subtly musical and full of ‘singingly memorable lines’, his poems remain anthology favorites. His Play for Voices and Under Milkwood have become modern classics. Much admired by the Beatles and Bob Dylan, he has since been transformed into an icon of pop culture. The life of Dylan Thomas is explored, and dramatic readings of a selection of his poetical work are presented in period costume. Appearing as the poet himself – the audience is ‘transported’ into the ‘still beating heart’ of Dylan Thomas ~ the Man, the Poet, the Icon!
Yes, I Am A Dreamer – A Portrait of Oscar Wilde
“I have the simplest tastes,” remarked Oscar Wilde (1854-1900). “I am always satisfied with the best.” Widely acknowledged as the most brilliant talker of his age, he once said, “I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works.” He once told a customs official, “I have nothing to declare but my genius.” Even today his brilliantly witty, humorous, and satirical plays are still being performed on a regular basis. This is his story, presented in all its celebrated ‘pomp and panache’ as best befits the larger-than-life character of Oscar Wilde – the outrageously flamboyant dreamer himself!
Rudyard Kipling – Victorian Balladeer & Soldier’s Poet
The story of Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) is a tale of paradise won and lost. It is the story of a literary genius who wrote some of the world’s best known and enduring works of prose and poetry, yet whose own life was full of both great acclaim and deep tragedy. Kipling endured, overcame, and eventually triumphed. Today he is regarded as one of the literary giants of the 20th century and the poet of choice for both the British army and the United States Marine Corps!
Johann Strauss Jr. – “The Waltz King”
Waltz to the lilting tunes and lovely melodies of Johann Strauss Jr. (1825-1899), the Waltz King, as we journey to ‘Olde Vienna’ to meet this extraordinarily talented composer. Along the way, we’ll learn about his life and lasting legacy and the other members of his famous musical family dynasty as we journey down the ‘Beautiful Blue Danube’, hear ‘Tales from the Vienna Woods’, and gather ‘Roses from the South’. Presented in the 1st person in period costume.
Robert Louis Stevenson and “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde“
More than one hundred years ago, Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) wrote a story about a man whose experiments with the human soul have since become legend. Kindly, respected Dr. Henry Jekyll is convinced that all people have two personalities that lurk within them, so he concocts a drug to separate one person into two personalities and tests it on himself. Enter Mr. Hyde – Dr. Jekyll’s alter ego – who is as depraved and vicious as Dr. Jekyll is virtuous and kindly. Robert Louis Stevenson’s world-famous thriller explores the eternal battle between good and evil. Can Dr. Jekyll overcome Mr. Hyde? Or will he become Hyde’s next victim?