John Adams: A Nation’s Voice with William G. “Bill” Chrystal

Living History with William G. “Bill” Chrystal

Tuesday, Feb 10, 2026 | 3-4:30 pm CT | Zoom

Step back into the founding era with William G. “Bill” Chrystal, one of the nation’s leading Chautauqua scholars, as he brings President John Adams to life. In this virtual living history event, Chrystal will portray Adams in character, sharing insights into his role as a revolutionary leader, political thinker, and second President of the United States.

Following the performance, audience members will have the rare opportunity to ask questions of “John Adams” directly, experiencing history as if they were speaking to the man himself. Chrystal will then step out of character to answer additional questions as a scholar, offering historical context and reflections on Adams’s enduring legacy.

Attendees will strengthen soft skills such as historical awareness, critical thinking, empathy, perspective-taking, civic literacy, and public dialogue, deepening both their understanding of America’s founding and their ability to engage across ideas.

About William G. Chrystal:

William G. “Bill” Chrystal is Pastor Emeritus of the First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) of Reno, Nevada, and a leading historical interpreter of Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. A Seattle native, he studied at the University of Washington (B.A., M.Ed.), Eden Theological Seminary (M.Div., D.D.), and Johns Hopkins University (M.A.). He served as pastor in several states and as a Navy Chaplain with both the 1st Marine Division and aboard the U.S.S. Samuel Gompers, receiving the Meritorious Service Medal and other commendations.

A noted scholar of Reinhold Niebuhr, Chrystal has written three books and numerous articles, and for twelve years he hosted the nationally syndicated radio program The Thomas Jefferson Hour. He has performed hundreds of Chautauqua presentations nationwide, appeared in major media outlets including USA Today, The Washington Post, and C-SPAN, and continues to bring America’s founding figures to life. Bill lives in southern Virginia with his wife and rescue pets.

Moderator Susan Marie Frontczak is a living history performer with 24 years of experience developing six Chautauqua portrayals, presented in 43 U.S. states and nine countries. Her characters include Marie Curie, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mary Shelley, Irene Castle, Clara Barton, and Erma Bombeck. She has coached Living History presenters since 2004 and is the author of the Young Chautauqua handbooks for Colorado Humanities.

Sponsored By: