Lewis & Clark Expedition Scout, York, to perform tonight
COSHOCTON — Marvin Jefferson, from Mont Clair, NJ, will portray York, a member of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, tonight during Ohio Chautauqua.
Jefferson has been a professional actor and director for over 30 years and has toured with chautauqua programs in eight states. He was introduced to first-person interpretation in 1997 when he was asked by the New Jersey Historical Commission to develop Paul Robeson as a character. “My first time to Ohio was in 2010 when I toured with Ohio Chautauqua as Paul Robeson,” said Jefferson. “I have also portrayed Martin Luther King, Jr. many times as both an actor and as a chautauqua character.”
Jefferson says that York is a new character for him. “Ohio Chautauqua suggested this character to me to develop,” he explained. “Last summer was my first time to portray York, and it went over really well with audiences.”
York was a bit difficult for Jefferson to research and develop since there was no written material available written by York himself. “Many people have no idea how integral York was to the Lewis and Clark Expedition,” stated Jefferson. “York’s story is very riveting and audience members learn a lot about York’s interactions with the Native Americans encountered during the expedition as well as about his life after the expedition.”
Jefferson is looking forward to coming to Coshocton for his first time. “I hope people come in and want to hear York’s story,” he said, “and that they come away with a greater appreciation of him and his contribution to history.”
York will take the stage under the Ohio Chautauqua tent located at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds, tonight at 7:30 p.m. Prior to his performance, there will be musical entertainment by Wildwood and Friends at 6:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
The youth workshop today, sponsored by the Coshocton Public Library, will be at the Presbyterian Church at 10:30 a.m. and will feature Dan Cutler entitled, ‘Adopted by Indians’. The adult workshop will be at COTC at 2 p.m. and feature Hank Fincken on John & Johnny: Past, Present and Future.
Sponsors and contributors to the Ohio Chautauqua in Coshocton include The Coshocton Foundation, Montgomery Foundation, Simpson Family Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Coshocton, Kraft Foods, Given Dawson Funeral Home, Tom Leech, Raven’s Glenn Winery, Coshocton Village Inn & Suites, Central Ohio Technical College, Coshocton Presbyterian Church, Coshocton Public Library, Coshocton County Beacon, Annin & Co., and Frontier Power.
There is no charge to attend the evening performances or the daytime workshops. For more information about The Ohio Humanities Council and Ohio Chautauqua visit www.OhioHumanities.org. For more information about schedule for Ohio Chautauqua in Coshocton, contact the Coshocton Visitors Bureau at (740) 622-4877, 1-800-338-4724 or www.VisitCoshocton.com.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
