The 2025 show calendar
All Shows:
ALL PERFORMANCES ARE AT 10:00 A.M.
Each performance runs about 45 minutes.
Performances are free and open to the public.
Donations are, however, gladly accepted.
Tickets will be distributed on the date of the show on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of tickets distributed will be limited to the legal capacity of the courthouse.
We ask that patrons do not save seats in the courtroom.
All performances take place at the Historic Hanover Courthouse.
13182 Hanover Courthouse Road, Hanover, Virginia 23069.
JOHN ROLFE
Performance on June 22
John Rolfe set sail for Virginia in 1609. Despite being shipwrecked in Bermuda, he later made it to the devastated Jamestown colony. Contrary to the widespread myth that Pocahontas had a romance with Captain John Smith, her real romance was with Rolfe. Learn of Rolfe’s adventures, his life in the new world, and his entrepreneurial successes.
Presenter: Dick Cheatham. Dick is a leadership consultant, educator, professional speaker and historian. He has appeared on BBC, PBS and The Learning Channel. His speakers’ bureau, Living History Associates, has had the contract with the National Park Service at Jamestown to tell America’s founding story for over twenty years.
abraham lincoln
Performance on June 29
Nearly 150 years before the advent of texts, tweets and e-mail, Abraham Lincoln became the first “wired president” by embracing the original electronic messaging technology—the telegraph. The 16th president may be remembered for his soaring oratory that stirred the Union, but the nearly 1,000 bite-sized telegrams that he wrote during his presidency helped win the Civil War by projecting presidential power in unprecedented fashion. Hear Lincoln explain his use of the telegraph and its impact on the war effort.
Presenter: Tim Beasley has over 25 years of professional experience as an entertainer and celebrity impersonator. He has appeared around the country in the persona of Abraham Lincoln on many occasions and in many venues.
dr. james craik
Performance on July 6
Dr. James Craik was one of George Washington’s oldest and closest friends. They met while serving in the Virginia Regiment during the French and Indian War. Craik later served under Washington during the American Revolution. In 1798 he was appointed the first Physician General (the precursor to the Surgeon General). Craik was also Washington’s personal physician and one of three doctors who attended Washington on his deathbed in 1799.
Presenter: Tom Plott is the Manager of Character Interpretation at Mount Vernon. He has over 30 years of professional acting and directing experience and has portrayed historical characters from Shakespeare to Da Vinci to John Wilkes Booth.
thomas jefferson
Performance on July 13
The author of the Declaration of Independence, the architect of the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom, and the founder of the University of Virginia discusses the Election of 1824 and its lessons for the future.
Presenter: Bill Barker. Bill has been interpreting Mr. Jefferson since 1984 and has portrayed him at Colonial Williamsburg since 1993. Bill has appeared as Mr. Jefferson at the White House and the Palace of Versailles. He has also portrayed Mr. Jefferson on programs on ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, The History Channel and C-SPAN.
edgar allan poe
Performance on July 20
Though born in Boston, this author, poet, literary critic and editor liked to tell people that he was a Virginian. Poe attended both the University of Virginia. His life ended unexpectedly while traveling from Richmond to New York. In the middle of his trip he disappeared for almost a week. He was found in Baltimore shortly before his mysterious death.
Presenter: Charles Wissinger is a well-known local actor. In addition to performing in Liberty or Death at St. John’s Church, Charles has made many appearances during the summer series of The Parsons’ Cause Foundation, portraying James Madison, Audie Murphy, Francis Scott Key and Benjamin Stringfellow.
martha washington
Performance on July 27
Often called the “Mother of our Country,” Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was extremely instrumental in her husband George’s political and military career. From her youth and first marriage through the bitter cold of Valley Forge and the challenges of a new nation, this program will tell the story of America’s first First Lady.
Presenter: Debbie Phillips is a well-known local actor and historical guide. She has portrayed Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe, Captain Sally Tompkins, Patsey Henry Fontaine, and Rosie the Riveter for previous summer sessions of The Parsons’ Cause Foundation.
john paul jones
Performance on August 3
Hear the story of how merchant John Paul Jones came to Virginia and, by befriending other Scottish Virginians, Jones became embroiled in the Revolutionary War. Learn how as young officer, Jones quickly arose to the rank of Commodore while helping to forge what eventually became the United States Navy of today.
Presenter: Beau Robbins is an historical interpreter, speaker, consultant and model for historical artists. He is also an historical tailor and mantua maker, bringing to life fashions of the past for other interpreters and museums, specializing in the 18-19th centuries. He has performed at historical sites and events throughout the US including national and state parks, as well as private venues and film.
orville wright
Performance on August 10
Orville Wright grew up in Dayton, Ohio with his brother Wilbur, and became the first man in history to fly into the air on a motorized airplane. Listen as Orville recounts the story of their triumphs and failures and what inspired them to take to the air and find out what his thoughts are about where aviation is headed in the future.
Presenter: Steve Hawkins is a retired salesman. He portrays numerous characters at St. John’s Church for over 20 years and portrays Sheriff Tompkins in The Parsons’ Cause Trial. Steve has also portrayed George Washington for various audiences in Virginia and beyond.
abigail adams
Performance on August 17
The wife of the second president and the mother of the sixth, Abigail Smith Adams is famous for her admonition to her husband to "remember the Ladies," and was a woman well ahead of her time. Essentially self-taught from her prestigious parents' expansive library, Adams was an early proponent for women's education and rights as well as the abolition of slavery. This program will explore the fascinating, intelligent woman behind two U.S. Presidents.
Presenter: Debbie Phillips is a well-known local actor and historical guide. She has portrayed Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe, Captain Sally Tompkins, Patsey Henry Fontaine, and Rosie the Riveter for previous summer sessions of The Parsons’ Cause Foundation.
The Parsons’ Cause – Prelude to Revolution
Performance on August 24
On December 1, 1763, a country lawyer from Hanover stepped from obscurity into the forefront of legal and political circles in Virginia. His name was Patrick Henry. The event that shaped his destiny was the trial of The Parsons’ Cause. Henry challenged the two most potent entities of colonial Virginia—the King and the clergy. The case proved to be one of the opening salvos of the revolution, and started Henry on the path of becoming the “Voice of the Revolution.”