“The Road to 250: America’s Story” will present the third of its 12-part series on the nation’s history on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
“Writing the Constitution” by Austin Peay State University history professor, Dr. Kevin Tanner, will tell the story of how delegates to a Grand Convention met in 1787 to hammer out the foundation for rules of government to save a young nation on the verge of collapse.
After three hot summer months of equally heated debate, a committee kneaded the compromises and provisions into a final document in less than four days.
On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates plus one surrogate signed the document that has been the bedrock of American government for more than 200 years.
A narrator, dramatic reading and multimedia presentation will bring these events to life.
Joel Evans, who portrays James Madison, is a graduate of Clarksville High and APSU. He was a pilot in the US Air Force and flew for American Airlines for 27 years. He was active with the Civil Air Patrol’s Fort Campbell Composite Squadron for 28 years and performed duties at both state and national levels. He is a member of Sons of the American Revolution.
Colin F. Crowley, who plays Alexander Hamilton, was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas of Virginia. A member of Sons of the American Revolution, Crowley is descended from several revolutionary war ancestors. A former active duty US Army and current Tennessee National Guard member, he served in several theaters, including Afghanistan and Iraq. He currently works full time on Fort Campbell as an airfield government contractor.
The performance will take place at 4 p.m. in the APSU Mabry Concert Hall, Music/Mass Communication Building, 266 Marion Street.
America celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026. This will be the nation’s semiquincentennial, and the greater Clarksville-Montgomery County area is prepared to help things unfold.
All “Road to 250” events are free and open to the public.