History on the Hoof brings an authentic and entertaining historical touch to your classroom, special event, festival, or other occasion. Historical interpreters Stacy Roth and David Emerson engage audiences of all ages through historically-based character portrayals, songs, activities, and/or storytelling.

Stacy F. Roth, co-director, is an interpreter, museum educator, historian, and information specialist who has performed and presented for museums, libraries, schools, civic organizations, and festivals throughout the Delaware Valley. Stacy is a popular speaker with the New Jersey Council for the Humanities and holds a BA in History from Kean College of NJ, an MA in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MLS from Rutgers. Stacy is also the author of Past Into Present: Effective Techniques for First-Person Historical Interpretation, Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1998.

David Emerson, co-director, is an interpreter, storyteller, writer, lecturer, and tour guide whose credits include Colonial Williamsburg, Plimoth Plantation, Morristown National Historical Park, The Old Barracks Museum, and Centipede Tours of Philadelphia. David is an alumnus of Alvescot College, Oxford, the State University of New York at Oswego and the College of William and Mary where he majored in History, Philosophy and American Studies.

• Totally Tea: An 18th century tea experience. Why was tea so important in the lives of 18th century people that fashion-conscious families posed for portraits with their tea sets? Did Great Britain lose her American Colonies over "the cup that cheers?" Find out in this unusual costumed presentation of tea lore, history, songs, poetry, living history display and demonstration. For small audiences (36 or fewer) speaker Stacy Roth can work with your organization to turn Totally Tea into a tea tasting or 18th century tea party. Childrens version available.
  
  
• "The Shannachie of Glendunbun Ballybeg: Traditional Celtic Tales:" The wit and wisdom, humor and horror, and hubris and humanity of a people are found in their traditional stories. Compelling storyteller David Emerson retells (and embroiders) the colorful and ancient tales of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall in a presentation that will "warm, tickle, or chill the heart."
  
  
• Colonial Songs, Games, and Stories: Get ready to bounce those limberjacks and set to your partner. Stacy Roth and music therapist/concert trumpeter Flora Newberry present their favorite rhymes, riddles, rounds, ditties and dance tunes from the 17th and 18th centuries. Fun for kids, adults, seniors. Lots of audience participation.
  
  
• The Distaff Muse (New): What qualities define the 18th Century Woman? Virtue? Piety? Gentility? Spirit? Wit? Fortitude? Resignation? Passion? Historical interpreter Stacy F. Roth explores the private thoughts and popular image of women of the 18th century through songs, quotations, poetry and prose. In this unique presentation from a revolving repertoire, audiences will visit with humble heroines, brave Amazons, bold actresses, wise wits, warriors in disguise, and backbones of society. Miss Roth will sing songs by and about women from folk, popular, and theater traditions, and illustrate the struggles, triumphs and private thoughts of women both renowned and little known, with a special emphasis on women of New Jersey. She accompanies herself occasionally on guitar, penny whistle, and concertina. Come, be amused with the distaff muse.
  
  
• Training/Consulting: Effective Techniques for General Living History Interpretation and First-Person Interpretation.
  
  
• Spiced Punch: Quartet with David, Stacy, and musicians and puppeteers Tom & Marianne Tucker. Costumed performance of Victorian (and earlier) Christmas Songs, Colonial Tavern Ditties, and Sea Songs of all periods -- in appropriate historical dress. (This link will take you to the Spiced Punch webpage, operated by Tom & Marianne Tucker. Please use the "Back" button on your browser if you wish to return to THIS page.)
  
  
  

• Over Here, Molly Pitcher!: A dramatic presentation highlighting the lives of women who "belonged to the army" during the American Revolution. "Molly" reminisces about the days when she accompanied her husband through summer battles and winter encampments from Valley Forge to Monmouth to Morristown. Relating her tales of firing a cannon in the heat of battle to trudging "behind the baggage," she provides a glimpse into what it was like to be a "camp follower" in the days when American Independence was a dream rather than a certainty. For more information, see www.mollypitcher.net.
  
  
• The Tall Tales of Davy Crockett and Lies of the Mountain Men: Come share the adventures of the rugged trappers and traders who tamed the wilderness beyond the Appalachian Mountains. Brave the hardships, hazards and heartbreaks of the way West! Storyteller David Emerson, in the guise of frontiersman-politician-raconteur Davy Crockett, recounts humorous, terrifying, and heroic tales that "you can't hardly tell the truth about without lying."
  
  
• Stranger Among Saints: Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower: Stephen Hopkins was no Saint (as the separatist founders of Plimoth Colony referred to their congregation, the Church of Saints), but his previous experience in the New World made him a useful and respected member of the group of New England settlers popularly known as "the Pilgrims." Find out about the politics, religion, economics, Native American relations, and social life of the first permanent settlement in New England from his unique perspective. This program is targeted to adult audiences.
  
  
• "…and six and two-thirds dollars per month on account of pay": The founding fathers fought for freedom, the officers for honor; but what motivated the common soldier? Historical interpreter David Emerson, as recruiting sergeant David MacCaffrey, presents an enlisted man's-eye view of the American Revolution.
  
  
• GEORGE WASHINGTON for your CELEBRATION?: David Emerson portrays the Revolutionary War General for special events. Horse optional. David has been customizing his interpretation to the needs of 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution commemorations. He has appeared as “His Excellency” at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, & Monmouth, the Middlebrook encampment, and more. Now we’re really history “on the hoof.”
  
  
• Votes for Women: A 1915 suffragist and policeman can visit your festival. The year: 1915. Street corner suffrage speaker Flora Bookbinder and traditionalist officer Patrick O' Donahue exchange (sometimes heated) views on women's right to vote with festival-goers and each other.
  
  
• Greasy Luck: Meet Leland Emerson, captain of the whaling ship Sarah Ann in the year 1843. Find out about life at sea, including encounters with the infamous "Mocha Dick." All ages.