Living History

William Kashatus has done living history for the National Park Service, Pennsylvania Cable Network, colleges, civic groups, retirement communities and primary, middle and secondary schools. His film credits include PBS documentaries on: Independence National Historical Park (1989), where he portrayed Thomas Paine; Whispers of Angels: A Story of the Underground Railroad (2001) where he portrayed a young Thomas Garrett; and William Penn and Pennsylvania (2006) where he portrayed William Penn.

Living history is an interactive presentation that uses material culture, period costumes and historical images to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back into the past. Used by living history museums, historic sites, schools and reenactment groups to educate the public on a particular time period, living history focuses on the human element of the past and offers an inspirational method to convey the life, activities and beliefs of a particular historical figure or provide viewers with a sense of everyday life during a certain period in history.

The historical figures performed by Kashatus are listed below.

Length of performances: 40 mins. each, followed by 20 minute question and answer period

Cost for each performance is $250. Fee is non-negotiable

Quaker founder George Fox will burst through the front doors of the meeting house and reveal the personal, spiritual turmoil he experienced as a young man and his eventual discovery of the Inner Light, or presence of God in each person. Fox will tell

Quaker founder George Fox will burst through the front doors of the meeting house and reveal the personal, spiritual turmoil he experienced as a young man and his eventual discovery of the Inner Light, or presence of God in each person. Fox will tell the story of early Friends, how they spread Quaker beliefs across the British Isles and how they suffered persecution for those beliefs.

William Penn discusses his plans to establish a New World Colony and how his Quaker faith inspired a Holy Experiment in self-government, religious toleration and brotherly love. An alternative school program will allow students to participate in th

William Penn discusses his plans to establish a New World Colony and how his Quaker faith inspired a Holy Experiment in self-government, religious toleration and brotherly love. An alternative school program will allow students to participate in the planning.

Tom Paine, an English immigrant with a fiery temper, tries to promote American independence from Great Britain by cajoling the audience. His arguments are based on his stirring pamphlet, "Common Sense," which mobilized public support for the America

Tom Paine, an English immigrant with a fiery temper, tries to promote American independence from Great Britain by cajoling the audience. His arguments are based on his stirring pamphlet, "Common Sense," which mobilized public support for the American Revolution. Passionate about the patriot cause, Paine was an unworldly man who sacrificed his life for the rights of humankind.

Quaker abolitionist Thomas Garrett reminisces about his experiences in assisting more than 2,000 runaway slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Arrested for violating the Fugitive Slave Law, Garrett emphasizes the moral courage needed to act

Quaker abolitionist Thomas Garrett reminisces about his experiences in assisting more than 2,000 runaway slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Arrested for violating the Fugitive Slave Law, Garrett emphasizes the moral courage needed to act on God’s law instead of man’s.

Immigrant Patris Kaseta describes his struggle to achieve the American Dream in the anthracite coal mines of Pennsylvania. Sometimes humorous, other times sad, Kaseta discusses ethnic discrimination, the origins of trade unionism and assimilation int

Immigrant Patris Kaseta describes his struggle to achieve the American Dream in the anthracite coal mines of Pennsylvania. Sometimes humorous, other times sad, Kaseta discusses ethnic discrimination, the origins of trade unionism and assimilation into American society at the turn of the 19th century.

Eddie Collins shares his experiences of playing baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics and the infamous Chicago White Sox team that threw the 1919 World Series. Collins recalls the early days of the game, how it was played in the Dead Ball Era and

Eddie Collins shares his experiences of playing baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics and the infamous Chicago White Sox team that threw the 1919 World Series. Collins recalls the early days of the game, how it was played in the Dead Ball Era and the men who played it.