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Press Release

October 29, 2015

Contact: Steve Hawkins
Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-0754
shawkins@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/historycenter

Oklahoma History Center Hosting the Rushmore Four

Oklahoma City, Okla. — The Oklahoma History Center is proud to present the Rushmore Four, a program featuring the presidents who appear on Mount Rushmore, on Thursday and Friday, November 19 and 20. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt will be portrayed by four living history professionals. Each president will offer stories from his respective era and will answer questions about his service to the United States. Performances are scheduled for Thursday, November 19, at 7 p.m., and Friday, November 20, at 10:30 a.m. for students and 2 p.m. for the general public. There is no charge for these performances, but seating is limited so an early arrival is suggested.

As the official George Washington historical actor at Mount Vernon, George Washington's Estate and Gardens, Dean Malissa has become the nation's most sought-after Washington reenactor. He has portrayed General Washington in several television productions for the Discovery Channel, NBC, National Geographic Channel, Armed Forces Network, CNN and the Showtime Network. He also has appeared in many films.

Professional actor and theater director Bill Barker has been portraying Thomas Jefferson since 1983 when he was invited to interpret the author of the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. He has portrayed Jefferson on television, in film and at locations including Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, the University of Virginia, the Jefferson Memorial, the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the National Archives, the Newseum and the Palace of Versailles. Barker is featured throughout the year as Jefferson in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.

Fritz Klein of Springfield, Illinois, has been an actor and speaker for many years. He was first asked to portray Abraham Lincoln for a small, local celebration during the bicentennial year. Now a full-time actor and a member of the National Speakers Association, he has had the opportunity to travel the world portraying Lincoln on stage, in feature films, documentaries and for professional speaking engagements.

Gib Young is a businessman from Huntington, Indiana, and has played many roles in local theater productions. He is also an avid American history buff. After a lifetime of being asked, "Has anyone ever told you that you look like Theodore Roosevelt?" Young decided to take on the role professionally. He truly admires the 26th president and wishes he had the zest and energy for life that Roosevelt displayed every day.

The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Association of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains 31 museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.





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