Neill Hartley to Bring FDR to Life This Coming Tuesday, Oct. 13 as Deane Center’s History Comes Alive Program Ends

This coming Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m., actor and living historian Neill Harley of Havertown, PA, near Philadelphia, will portray the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, one of the most influential presidents of all time. This will be the last program in the Deane Center's History Comes Alive series for 2026.

This fully staged historical presentation will entertain and educate school age children to adults. Experience firsthand the history that shaped our nation.

When the show opens, the date is Dec. 29, 1940. Roosevelt has just been re-elected to an unprecedented third term as president. The world is in crisis. Nazi Germany has blazed a path of destruction across Europe and America may soon be drawn into war.

The president is greeting his friends (the audience) who have gathered at the White House, just prior to the delivery of his famous “Arsenal of Democracy” speech, his 16th Fireside Chat radio broadcast.

What was he thinking? Find out and listen to his plea for the support of America’s Allies as Hartley brings Roosevelt to life.

Hartley will talk like FDR, wear period clothing and sit in a wheelchair from that era. Hartley has also woven the informational sections about Roosevelt into his program.

Following the presentation, Hartley as FDR will answer questions from the audience.

Born on January 30, 1882, Roosevelt was the only U.S. president to be elected to four terms in office, in 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944. He served as president until his death on April 12, 1945 at the age of 63.

"My father taught American History in college, and I have always loved history,” Hartley said. "He actually gave me a biography of FDR, and mentioned that I would be good at portraying him.”

Hartley continued, "I first portrayed Ichabod Crane and started touring with a one-man version of 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' in 2001. I have always included an educational component in all of my programs because it is so important to bring history to life.”

In 2009, 17 years ago, he began portraying Franklin Delano Roosevelt. “I find the time period that he was president fascinating, especially the New Deal of the early 1930s. I have read many books and articles about him, listened to multiple recordings and visited Hyde Park where he was born and raised.”

To bring FDR to life, Hartley studied FDR’s vocal patterns and physical movements, as well as his speech and its historical context. "I’m always pleased when I play FDR and people feel they saw him come back to life.”

Hartley earned a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Temple University. From 1989-2000, he was a Temple University faculty member and returned in 2005 to teach Acting there. "I stopped teaching at Temple a few years ago,” Hartley said.

He was also on the faculty of the University of the Arts for more than 30 years, from 1994 to 2024, teaching Speech & Voice.

This AFTRA/SAG/CORE theater professional joined the American Historical Theatre in 2000 with his historically based one-man shows. He presents three different programs about FDR and also portrays Ichabod Crane, PT Barnum, Sherlock Holmes, Charles Lindbergh, Woodrow Wilson and Joshua Lionel Cowen (trains).

Hartley credits his voice and movement training from Temple University for his fluid “morphing” from one easily identifiable character to another. His programs have been tremendously popular at theaters and other venues.

Grants from America250PA and the Charles Knox and Margaret Etner Foundation made this year’s History Comes Alive series possible.

Tickets are $15. Children 12 and under accompanied by a paying adult will be admitted free. For information or tickets, call 570-724-6220 or visit deanecenter.com. Tickets, if available, will also be sold at the door on Oct. 13, the night of the show.