A Visit from Henry David Thoreau

Kevin Radaker
as
Henry David Thoreau

a highly acclaimed and widely performed one-man dramatic show
presented over 400 times around the nation since 1991

To see video clips of a 2004 performance, click here.

  • "A Visit from Henry David Thoreau" is now available to bring one of America's most incisive and thought-provoking voices to your campus, library, conference, state or national park.
     
  • In a dramatic monologue of 40-50 minutes set in 1860 and that can be designed to suit the topical interests of your venue, Kevin Radaker presents the provocative, eloquent words of Henry Thoreau, America's mid-nineteenth-century apostle of the wilderness, social critic, and political dissenter.
     
  • Immediately after the monologue, Radaker, while still in character, will answer questions from the audience for 15-20 minutes as if it is still 1860, always attempting to quote Thoreau whenever possible.
     
  • Then, after he is introduced to the audience, Radaker will answer questions as a scholar of Thoreau for another 15-20 minutes.
     
  • In all, the program usually lasts 90 minutes, but Radaker can shorten its length and tailor its content to fit your wants and needs.
     
  • Since 1991, Kevin Radaker has presented his dramatic characterization of Thoreau over 400 times around the nation at universities, colleges, libraries, museums, conferences, state and national parks. In addition, he has presented his "Thoreau" as a part of summer Chautauqua tours in the Great Plains States (1991-1993), Missouri and Illinois (1997, 1998), Massachusetts (1998), the Carolinas and New Hampshire (2001), Oklahoma (2003), Maryland (2004), Ohio (2008, 2014, 2015), and Colorado (2008, 2011, 2019). In 2009, as part of the "John Brown and New England" program, he offered his "Thoreau" on the 150th anniversaries of Thoreau's spirited defense of John Brown in Concord, Boston, and Worcester, Massachusetts.
     
  • This outstanding interactive humanities program is certain to entertain, educate, and inspire your group or audience as it takes them back to 1860, to that point in history when America was poised on the brink of the Civil War, the railroad and industry were changing the character and pace of our lives, and few Americans had begun to consider the value of our wild lands.

For more information or to book a performance, contact Professor Radaker at kpradaker@anderson.edu.