An evening with John Carlyle, Alexandria Merchant, town supervisor and leading citizen
This well-heeled gentleman has agreed to join us at the Lyceum for a rare person interview. In addition to his success in business, Mister Carlyle was related through marriage to the famous Fairfax family, and to Sally Fairfax and George Washington. He is expected to share his thoughts on his im-posing guest, General Edward Braddock, and to discuss the commercial opportunities he found in Alexandria during its early years.
An evening with Sally Cary – wife of George William Fairfax and dear friend to George Washington
Alexandria’s grande belle has graciously consented to spend an evening with us at the Lyceum where she will participate in a rare personal interview. Lady Fairfax will remember her aristocratic family, its many connections and contributions to the history of the colony and the founding of the city. We hope she will also share the secrets of her friendship with Alexandria’s most famous son.
June 12
Sunday Afternoon
2:00 - 4:00
These six famous figures from Alexandria’s founding era have agreed to be interviewed by James Thompson, author and publisher of Commonwealth Books. They will share their memories of the city’s founding, the birth of the British Empire, the patriot movement, the war for American independence and tidbits of gossip about their friends, rivals and associates. These rare discussions will be supported by colorful ill-ustrations of the events remembered and portraits of the people who produced them. Meet the stars after their interviews over light refreshments.
Wine will be available at a cash bar.
The Lyceum
Alexandria’s History Museum
201 South Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 838-4994
technical support provided by
The Little Theater of Alexandria
Beverly Benda is
Lady Sally Fairfax
Generous support for this program has been provided by:
MCA-Construction, Inc. & Mercedes Benz of Alexandria
3106 Colvin Street 200 S. Pickett St
Alexandria, VA 22314-4503 Alexandria, VA 22304
Michael Cornish: 703-823-4330 Jim Stohlman: 703-341-2115
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Jim Carmalt is
General Edward Braddock
Program sponsors to be announced
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Matthew West is
John Carlyle
Program sponsors to be announced
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Doug Cohen is
George Mason
Program sponsors to be announced
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Gneral George Washington
Program sponsors to be announced
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Billy Lee
Program sponsors to be announced
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Sally Fairfax
pictured with her admirer
George Washington
September 22
Thursday Evening
7:00 - 9:00
An evening with General Edward Braddock, Commander of the British Army in North America
This imperious general has condescended to join us for an evening at the Lyceum where he will provide a rare per-sonal interview. Briefly commander of all British forces in North America, His Excellency will share his private opinions about the empire vision of his superiors, his role in their enterprise and his uncooperative colonial subordinates.
.November 17
Thursday Evening
7:00 - 9:00
January (TBA)
Thursday Evening
7:00 - 9:00
An evening with George Mason, author of the Fairfax Resolves, the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution
This reclusive philosopher has thoughtfully consented to spend an evening with us at the Lyceum where he will participate in a rare personal interview. He is expected to discuss his views as to the rights of British Americans and all mankind. We hope to learn his thoughts on the Law of Nature as the source of human rights and how these divine statutes relate to the enactments of the people’s representatives.
March (TBA)
Thursday Evening
7:00 - 9:00
An evening with George Washington, patriot and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army
Our brave and noble leader, Alexandria’s most illustrious son, has kindly agreed to spend an evening with us at the Lyceum. During this interview, we expect to learn how he transformed the Continental Army it into a fighting force after taking command in July 1775, his expectations for winning American independence and the assistance he received in this perilous enterprise from the Continental Congress. Time permitting he will share his thoughts on the great lessons of his life.
May 2012 (TBA) Thursday Evening at 7:00 - 9:00
An evening with Billy Lee, George Washington’s wartime aide and lifelong servant
George Washington’s life-long aide and trusted servant, now retired, has agreed to share our final evening at the Lyceum. During this interview, we expect to learn more about the personal qualities of the man who directed the American victory in its war for political Independence. We also expect to learn the sentiments and aspirations of a man who, though he lived most of his life in the company of America’s greatest man, remained until Washington’s death, the general’s property.
Jim Carmalt is General Edward Braddock
Active on stages for over 35 years Jim is pleased to have the opportunity to create a character whose name has reverberated throughout the Alexandria area since his stay in 1755 at the Carlyle House prior to his fateful march on Fort Duquesne. Having played many colonial characters including Roger Sherman, Samuel Chase, Ben Franklin and others in the famous award winning musical “1776”, Jim’s most recent credit as a colonial character would have been as a shopkeeper in the another award winning mini-series “John Adams” starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney. A lifelong Alexandria/Mt. Vernon resident Jim has literally been able to reach-out and touch the history every day since childhood. To create any character is a thrill, but to create a character that made a serious impact on history here in Alexandria with George Washington serving as his aide-de-camp is a personal and welcome challenge!
Meet Our Interpretors
Beverly Benda is Sally Fairfax
Soprano Beverley Benda appears frequently on stage in musical theater and concert productions. She has been featured in pops concerts across the country with such organizations as The Greenville Symphony, The Richmond Symphony, The Dallas Wind Orchestra, and The Mt. Vernon Chamber Orchestra, and has performed leading roles in musicals and operettas such as The Pirates of Penzance, Hollywood Pinafore, Showboat, My Fair Lady, and Brigadoon. As a concert artists, she has appeared with The Rochester Oratorio Society, The Rochester Light Opera, The National Cathedral Choral Society, The McLean Orchestra, and The National Symphony Orchestra. She has recorded film scores for National Geographic and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.
As a member of the voice faculty at the Eastman School of Music, she completed her coursework for the DMA in Performance & Literature, and was awarded the prestigious Performers’ Certificate. She has also been on the faculties of Lynchburg College, Sweet Briar College, and Eastern Illinois University. She earned her Certification in CCM vocal techniques from the Lovetri Institute at Shenandoah University. She currently teaches from her private studio, is on the faculty of the Adult Education Program at the Little Theatre of Alexandria (VA), and works with drama departments in the Metropolitan Washington area as a teacher and free-lance vocal coach. From 1984-1987, she was Program Administrator for the Opera-Musical Theater Program of the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC.
Currently, Ms. Benda is a Master Vocalist with The United States Army Band (Pershing’s Own) in Washington, DC, performing regularly with The Army Band Downrange and The Broadway Trio for heads of state, the White House, and visitors to the Nation’s Capital.
