The League of Most Interesting Gentlemen, LLC is a group of five gentlemen with a deep interest in bringing to life the early history of our nation. With decades of individual historical interpretation experience, the 21st Century members of the League combined their talents in 2014 with a mission to teach and inspire audiences by reanimating the players, stories, and connective threads of history that comprise our collective legacy as Americans. It has been said that an educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people. The League takes this mission to heart in its interactive first-person interpretations of Presidents Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, & James Madison, and diplomats, thinkers, and notables such as Dr. Franklin, Albert Gallatin, and the Natural Philosopher (modeled on men of science such as David Rittenhouse, Andrew Ellicott, and Charles Willson Peale). The League and its members have performed extensively at museums, historic sites, places of business, festivals, in addition to social and educational institutions nationwide.
America's 250th, The League's Approach : As the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial, The League of Most Interesting Gentlemen hopes to offer its unique brand of historical interpretation to the forefront of the festivities. Imagine being able to rub elbows, converse, or even share a toast with some of our Founding Fathers. The events of the founding of our nation are more than recited facts, dates, and texts. They were a living discourse on the conditions and ideals of that time… and of our time, today!
Focused recreations of historical events have indisputable value but can be limited in providing a broader learning experience. The League's forte are interactive programs that incorporate thematic and/or speculative presentations that allow for sensible creative discourse that goes beyond dates, battles, names, and places. Freeman Tilden’s “rules” of historical interpretation place great emphasis on provoking curiosity and a hybrid-style historical interpretation format.
For instance, consider what could be learned from a hypothetical discussion between Presidents Adams, Jefferson, and Madison and their peers. Although the four men never convened whilst holding their office concurrently, the discourse between the characters could be creative, lively, and informative in a wider perspective that allows listeners to grasp a bigger picture of history. The “what if” nature of the setting and interplay can provide a different perspective to the characters, and to the site in which they are performing. The League's customized “group approach” allows for audience to imagine what it would be like discussing enlightenment ideals… politics, the arts, science, and philosophy… within a conclave of characters that might have adorned one of Dolley Madison's famous salons, an intellectual society's meeting, Dr. Franklin's parlor, a Philadelphia coffeehouse, or even the Constitutional Convention.
The League's characters use their individual expertise as threads to weave a richer historical broadcloth. Our “themes” attempt to provide an interdisciplinary context and gravitas which will be carried away by audience participants so that they themselves will continue to contemplate the “big ideas” from two and a half centuries ago…and more importantly how they still resonate in the 21st century.
Possible Themes: Crafting a Constitution / Science & the Founders / Patriots & Loyalists / The Declaration & its Inalienable Rights / Cloak & Dagger Diplomacy / Our French Allies / Journalism, Pamphleteers, & the Free Press … To name but a few!
If you would like to learn more about our presentation themes, methods, and how we can customize our skills to suit your needs regarding the 250th, please reach out:
Contact / Bookings / Performance Information
Tom Pitz
(540) 223-7168
tompitz@yahoo.com
Instagram @leaguemostinterestinggentlemen
Meet The League
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, the “American Sphinx”, as he has been called, enlightens 21st century Americans with his potent words to explain the motives for our forefathers to fight for a government based upon reason rather than force, a novel concept. At the same time he fails to “first take the log out of [his] own eye” because slaves are forced to serve this new country he helped to form. Question him.
Long an aficionado of Revolutionary Era history, Tom Pitz has been performing as Mr. Jefferson since 1987. He considers it an honor and a privilege to bring one of America’s greatest historical figures back to life for audiences. His performance sites include Michie Tavern, Denver Museum of Natural Science, the College of William and Mary, Keswick Hall, the United States Treasury, University of Virginia, Virginia Genealogical Society, Hampden Sydney College, Carthage College, and the National Geographic Society. As a graduate of Mr. Jefferson’s University, he is well aware that John Adams’ dying statement, “Jefferson survives.” is as true today as it was on July 4th, 1826.
Call (540) 223-7168
Dr. Benjamin Franklin
The elder statesman, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, is known to all, has seen it all, and done much of it himself. His wit and wisdom captures the hearts and minds of 21st century audiences as it did in the 18th century salons of Paris.
Barry Stevens has been presenting Benjamin Franklin since 2005. Prior to this he participated as a Revolutionary War soldier with the First Virginia Regiment. His education on the life and times of Dr. Franklin has led him to read and travel extensively to locations throughout the Colonies and even to Paris, France. His audiences have been found in Michie Tavern, The Treasury Executive Institute, The National Fire Heritage Center, The City Tavern in Philadelphia, The National Institutes of Health, Proprietary House in Perth Amboy, NJ, The National Science and Engineering Festival and a variety of schools and business conventions.
Albert Gallatin
Money may be of interest to some of your visitors or members. No one in American history knew more about that, and the influence it had on government, than Alexander Hamilton and Albert Gallatin.
The former is known to all, if for no other reason than he was shot and killed by a Vice President of the United States, and therefore is unavailable to The League. The less well known Mr. Gallatin, however, should be introduced to all Americans today; and The League is happy to oblige. He knows more about the issues of an expanding nation and its government, indebtedness, and republican values than any caucus of 21st century politicians.
Ron Duquette (MAJ, USA, Ret.) has portrayed Albert Gallatin since 2011. Ron is fluent in French and, during his Army duties in Europe, acted as a deputy liaison officer to the French Forces in Germany (FFA) in Baden-Baden, Germany.
He has appeared at the Swiss Embassy, the State Department, the Museum of the Rockies, NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Studies, and established the Annual Gallatin Project programming at Friendship Hill.
The Natural Philosopher
Can you locate your longitude and latitude without your smart phone or computer? Can you hold a mammoth tooth in your hand or cast a hypnotic spell on someone? Alexander Ellicott, Count Rumford, and Dr. Franz Mesmer can. They would be happy to teach children about the science of the Enlightenment so that their elders, who wish to appear too sophisticated to reveal their genuine curiosity, can also learn. The role of the Natural Philosopher in the Age of Enlightenment (seventeenth, eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries) was a combination of the roles played by today's scientists, educators, and philosophers.
Dean Howarth is a veteran science teacher and living history instructor, who specializes in interpretations based on the Sciences. He has portrayed dozens of scientific personae, such as Isaac Newton, Count Rumford, William Herschel, David Rittenhouse, Ebenezer Kinnersley, Alessandro Volta, and Franz Anton Mesmer. Presentations on early physics, astronomy, natural science, paleontology, electricity, chemistry and medical quackery are accompanied by his extensive collection of replica instruments.
Mr. Howarth has appeared at numerous historical sites, educational venues, and festivals such as Gadsby’s Tavern, Mount Vernon, Montpelier, Hugh Mercer Apothecary, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary, Wren Hall, Rumford House (MA), Priestley House (PA), Carlyle House (VA), The White House, Sully Plantation (VA), The Science History Institute, Baltimore Science Museum, American Philosophical Society, The Franklin Institute (PA), St. Mary City (MD), Arlington Planetarium, and the Smithsonian Institution.
Call 703-671-9624
James "Jemmy" Madison
The fourth president of the United States, James Madison, is portrayed by Kyle Jenks. Mr. Madison is often called the Father of the Constitution, and was also instrumental in drafting the Bill of Rights.
Prior to becoming President, James Madison was the Secretary of State for his friend Thomas Jefferson. In that capacity, he supervised the Louisiana Purchase with the able financial guidance of the Honorable Albert Gallatin.
He is also known as one of the collaborators in the writing of the "Federalist Papers". These documents were circulated only in New York in support of the ratification of the new Constitution. They were co-authored with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay in 1788.
During his Presidency, Mr. Madison ably dealt with the administrative woes attendant on the War of 1812 and the agreements reached during the negotiation of the Treaty of Ghent, negotiated by Mr. Gallatin, in the closing months of 1814.
Mr. Jenks, agent for the Fourth President, entered into historical interpretation as a reenactor of individuals in the French and Indian War and American Revolution. From that experience he developed and interprets a researched 18th century composite character, Douglas McKenna in connection with a number of historic interpretation activities. To round out his 18th century historic interpretation he portrays various roles on both sides of the War of Independence.
Partial list of previous appearances:
Mount Vernon
New York Historical Society
Mass. Historical Society
American Philosophical Society
National Constitution Center
Call (216) 509-7502
Testimonials
At Hiddencroft [Winery] I found myself totally engaged listening in on four men enjoying a pleasant afternoon sharing old stories, historical events, laughing and joking while talking about their past. And I realized that this is something I probably do when I have the opportunity to spend an afternoon with several of my old friends. But you men were our founding fathers of this great country called America and I felt transported back in time.
On behalf of the Sweethearts and Patriots Steering Committee and the members of the DC Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and the DC Daughters of the American Revolution that organized and planned the Sweethearts and Patriots Gala, I send my heartfelt appreciation to your esteemed League. Your attendance and participation in the Gala added a unique flair to our event and helped to set it apart as, as one of our attendees commented, ‘the best event in DC of the year.’
First and foremost, I must say what a wonderful group you all are! It is very much appreciated that you were able to come at a moment’s notice, creating an atmosphere for our group that fit exactly what we were going for. Being able to watch you work [at The Newseum, Washington, DC] was such a pleasure, and everything worked out perfectly for our group.
I am more than happy to recommend The League of Most Interesting Gentleman to other organizations—just let me know if I can do anything for you.
It was a pleasure to meet all of you—thank you for doing such a wonderful job.
You can definitely use Fox Meadow as a reference. We always enjoy when you come to visit and plan to schedule additional events in the future.
Our attendees for the League of Most Interesting Gentlemen loved every minute of their experience! Thank you and the entire league for providing an interesting and engaging event."