Past into Present ─ Effective Techniques for First-Person Historical Interpretation

First-person interpretation - the portrayal of historical characters through interactive dramatization or roleplaying - is an effective, albeit controversial, method used to bring history to life at museums, historic sites, and other public venues. Stacy Roth examines the techniques of first-person interpretation to identify those that have been most effective with audiences while allowing interpreters to maintain historical fidelity.

Stacy F. Roth is codirector of History on the Hoof, a company that creates, organizes, and performs a variety of interpretive presentations on historical themes.