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Brookneal Elementary School to talk with Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry in 2010 Shaping the World: Conversations on Democracy -

Members of the press are invited to attend as a class of 5th graders, selected from Brookneal Elementary School in Campbell County, interview Thomas Jefferson and his guest, Patrick Henry, on Friday, April 23, 2010 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Shaping the World: Conversations on Democracy, produced annually by Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest in collaboration with Blue Ridge PBS, will be recorded at the PBS studio on McNeil Drive in Roanoke. 

If you are interested in attending, please contact Carol Jennings, production manager at Blue Ridge PBS, at (888) 332-7788 or Octavia Starbuck, Director of Interpretation and Education at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, at (434) 534-8108. Arrangements also may be possible for brief interviews with students and the two professional interpreters immediately following the taping.

About “Conversations on Democracy”
In its tenth season of production, Shaping the World: Conversations on Democracy brings together Thomas Jefferson and his contemporaries with bright young minds from area classrooms. This year a class of 5th grade students from Brookneal Elementary School was selected for the program as Patrick Henry’s last home and burial site, Red Hill, is located in Brookneal.

The students have been learning about Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry and are excited to have opportunity to interview the famous Americans about their roles during the Revolutionary War, the political issues facing the young country, and their tenures as two of the first Governors of Virginia.

Thomas Jefferson is played by renowned interpreter Bill Barker, courtesy of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Barker has been Poplar Forest’s Jefferson since the beginning of the Democracy programs and is no stranger to Poplar Forest student and adult audiences. He has performed as Jefferson for more than 20 years, appearing at the White House and the Palace of Versailles as well as in programs aired on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and C-SPAN.

Patrick Henry is portrayed by Richard Schumann. Schumann has portrayed Patrick Henry at Colonial Williamsburg for the past fifteen years. He is seen and heard by thousands of people through television, movies, podcasts, the Internet, magazines, and radio – as well as walking the streets of Colonial Williamsburg.

The student interviews on April 23rd will be used to create the educational program that is aired annually in the fall by Blue Ridge PBS and other public broadcasting stations in Virginia. The program will also be video-streamed by Virginia’s Education Department to schools throughout the Commonwealth. Airing dates and the associated web curriculum containing lesson plans and support materials will be announced in early fall.   

The educational program Shaping the World: Conversations on Democracy is generously supported by the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust.

For more information on the Democracy program, contact Director of Interpretation and Education Octavia N. Starbuck, Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest at (434) 534-8108 or Octavia@poplarforest.org.

Don’t miss Conversations with Thomas Jefferson!
Both Mr. Barker and Mr. Schumann will reprise their respective roles the following day, Saturday, April 24, at Poplar Forest for two performances of Conversations with Thomas Jefferson.  A matinee performance will begin at 2:15 pm (reception at 1:30). An evening reception with stationed tours of Jefferson’s retreat home will take place at 7:00 pm followed by the conversation at 8:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased for either performance in advance by calling the Poplar Forest Museum Shop at (434) 534-8120.

The event Conversations with Thomas Jefferson is generously supported by The Trust Company of Virginia, the News & Advance, Progress Printing and Meriwether Godsey.

MEDIA NOTE:  Jefferson and Henry will be available to the media for interviews from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 23rd.  Please contact Anna Bentson in advance at (434) 534-8116 or anna@poplarforest.org for information about interviewing the interpreters. Images are available.

About Poplar Forest
Poplar Forest is Thomas Jefferson's secluded plantation and retreat home. Poplar Forest is a National Historic Landmark that was recently added to the U.S. nomination list to become a World Heritage Site. Exhibiting award-winning restoration and archaeology, Poplar Forest offers tours, special events and school outreach programs. Open April through November, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays (closed) and Thanksgiving Day (holiday). For more information about Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, call (434) 525-1806 or visit www.poplarforest.org. 

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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.