Bring The Dead To Life At Legendary Acoustic Music Series

Charles Sullivan is no stranger to acting. This time traveling performer has appeared on stages across the Island with Sea View Playwright's Theatre, Sundog Theatre, and In the Wings. He most recently played Scrooge with Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre.

For this season of the legendary Guyon Tavern Concerts, Sullivan portrays James Guyon Jr., proprietor of Historic Richmond Town's Guyon Inn and Store. The circa 1819 Tavern serves up an authentic 19th century acoustic music experience with a warm and resonant sound quality illuminated by candlelight and warmed by a potbelly stove.

"I am thrilled to be the inaugural portrayer of James Guyon, Jr. at the rollicking Guyon Tavern Concert Series," comments Sullivan, acknowledging that "a lifetime of hard work and studying has prepared me for the role of a lifetime - hanging around in a tavern, drinking ale and singing and storytelling!"

With a nearly 20-year history of concerts being presented in the nearly 200-year setting, the tavern comes to life with period-authentic servers pouring mugs of beer, wine, and hot mulled cider in the flickering glow of candles, in a room warmed by a wood-burning pot belly stove.

"Bringing history to life by portraying the dead is challenging, and Charlie's theatrical interpretation will add a compelling new dimension to the Guyon Tavern Concerts this year, one not to be missed," notes Ken Bach, interim executive director at HRT. "This interactive theater experience adds context to the people behind the names of HRT's buildings and the streets of Staten Island. Experiential learning and interpretive activities are a cornerstone of HRT's programming, and I am thrilled to be working with an actor of Charlie's caliber as he joins us in our mission."

Sullivan recently directed The Richie Byrne Show, a sketch comedy/musical revue, at the Gotham Comedy Club in Chelsea, and appeared in two films - Major Key and Be-yond Kepler - and one comedy series - Pipsqueak & Stretch. In an earlier life, he sang his way throughout the US and Europe with the Yale Whiffenpoofs. He is a corporate and litigation attorney, with a client list that includes Exxon, Goldman Sachs, Prince, Roger Daltrey and DMX.

James Guyon Jr. (1778-1846), was born in Richmond, Richmond County, N.Y., December 24, 1778. He was an entrepreneur and a descendent of a prominent south shore family on Staten Island, and was the proprietor of the Nautilus Inn at Tompkinsville Landing. He was associated with Daniel D. Tompkins in local Republican party politics, and in the development of Tompkinsville. During his life he pursued an academic course, and was appointed captain of the Second Squadron, First Division of Cavalry, in 1807; member of the State assembly 1812-1814; promoted to the rank of major in 1814, and in 1819 colonel of the First Regiment of Horse Artillery; successfully contested the election of Ebenezer Sage as a Republican to the Sixteenth Congress and served from January 14, 1820, to March 3, 1821 He died in Richmond, N.Y., March 9, 1846. Interment is in St. Andrew's Cemetery.

The annual acoustic music marathon at New York City's only living history village. All performances are at 6 & 8 p.m. Saturdays, January 13 through March 31. Guyon Tavern, Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave.; 718-351-1611, ext. 281. Tickets are $16 in advance. Reservations strongly recommended. For more information and to purchase tickets: http://hrtown.eventbrite.com.