• About Us
• News
• Events
• Shop

Press Releases

Two Performances of Conversations with Thomas Jefferson, featuring Charles Willson Peale on May 2 -

Forest, VA – Join the conversation on May 2, 2009 for two engaging performances of historical theater as President Thomas Jefferson hosts his friend Charles Willson Peale at his Poplar Forest retreat. As always, the audience is invited and encouraged to participate, posing questions for Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Peale!

Born two years apart, almost to the day, Peale and Jefferson shared an interest in many topics and activities.  Both were patriots, archaeologists, scientists, and inventors. They were endlessly fascinated with agricultural innovations, science and natural history. 

Jefferson’s relentless curiosity was closely matched by Peale. Many of the specimens Jefferson received from the Lewis and Clark expedition were exhibited in Peale’s natural history museum in Philadelphia, considered the first museum in America. In 1801, as Jefferson began his first term as President, Peale conducted the first scientific exploration in the United States, unearthing the bones of a mastodon.

The two men shared an interest too, in public education, particularly Jefferson’s University of Virginia and Peale’s museum of natural history and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Peale is perhaps best known as an artist, having painted the founding fathers -- Jefferson, George Washington, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton and others.  Close to 1,100 paintings are credited to Peale.

Bill Barker has portrayed Thomas Jefferson for more than twenty years, headquartered at Colonial Williamsburg but appearing in diverse locations including The White House and the Palace of Versailles.  He has performed in programs aired on ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, The History Channel, and C-SPAN.  For his portrayal of Mr. Jefferson, Bill Barker has received awards and commendations from the Hellenic Ideas Foundation, the Jefferson Legacy Foundation and the cities of Philadelphia, St. Louis, and New Orleans.

Joining Mr. Barker in this year’s Conversation will be Christian Johnson, an actor and historical interpreter. Johnson has appeared at the White House Visitor's Center, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Archives, and in Paris, where he performed at UNESCO's headquarters last fall.

Two performances in 2009
For the first time, guests will have the opportunity to attend either a matinee or an evening performance.

Matinee at 2:15 pm (reception at 1:30 pm)
Tickets in advance: $22.00 adult, $12.00 youth
Tickets at the door: $25.00 adult, $14.00 youth

Evening Performance at 8:00 pm (reception at 7:00 pm)
Tickets in advance: $28.00 adult, $12.00 youth
Tickets at the door: $32.00 adult, $12.00 youth

Advance tickets are strongly recommended and may be purchased through Friday, May 1st by calling Poplar Forest’s Museum Shop at (434) 534-8120. 

For more information about Conversations with Jefferson, please call (434) 534-8108.

About Poplar Forest
Poplar Forest is Thomas Jefferson's secluded plantation and retreat home, now a National Historic Landmark. Undergoing award-winning restoration and archaeology, Poplar Forest offers tours and special events. Poplar Forest is open Wednesday through Monday, April through November; except Thanksgiving Day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Call (434) 525-1806 or visit www.poplarforest.org for additional information.

NOTE:  Images are available. Please contact Anna Bentson in advance at (434) 534-8116 or anna@poplarforest.org for information about interviewing the interpreters.

Poplar Forest is open to the public seven days a week, March 15 through December 15 (closed Thanksgiving Day). Group tours are available year-round by appointment.