George Buss and Tim Connors will portray Abraham Lincoln and his political rival, Stephen A. Douglas at the Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum. The two will appear at the museum on Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $3 for adults and $1 for children, with proceeds supporting future museum programs, exhibitions and initiatives.
Buss and Connors are life-long residents of Freeport, Illinois, one of the original sites of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Buss serves on the Board of Directors for the Stephen Douglas Association of Chicago, the Lincoln Fellowship of Wisconsin and the Lincoln-Douglas Society of Freeport. He is also a charter member of the Lincoln Forum and holds degrees from Ball State University and National-Louis University. He has conducted research on Lincoln, Douglas and the politics of their era for more than 25 years and has portrayed Abraham Lincoln for more than two decades.
Tim Connors serves as the Director of Speech and Theater for Freeport Public Schools and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University. Under his direction, Freeport has produced nearly two dozen state qualifiers in the annual IHSA Speech Competition, eight state finalists and one state champion. He has appeared in more than 30 theatrical productions and directed more than 20. Connors is a member of the Lincoln-Douglas Society and the Stephen A. Douglas Association.
This program is being held in conjunction with the traveling exhibition, Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made in America, which runs through June 16. The museum will be offering extended hours throughout the run of this limited engagement show. Visit Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon-8 p.m., Fridays-Sundays from noon-4 p.m., during the Grayslake Farmers’ Market or any downtown events. The Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum is located at 164 Hawley Street in the heart of downtown Grayslake. For more information, visit the museum’s website at www.grayslake heritagecenter.com or contact Dave Oberg, Executive Director at 847-543-1745 or doberg@villageofgrayslake.com.