What happens when a British officer is accused of spying, an American general is exposed as a traitor, and the fate of a nation hangs in the balance?
Yorktown-area residents are invited to step back into the American Revolution for The Trial of Major John André, a dramatic historical performance on Friday, December 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown, 2880 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, New York.
Written and performed by local educators Sean Grady, portraying British Major John André, and Gary Petagine, portraying American General Benedict Arnold, the play brings audiences into the tense military proceedings that followed the exposure of Arnold’s plot to betray the American cause.
“Yorktown has a remarkable Revolutionary War story, and programs like The Trial of Major John André provide a wonderful opportunity to bring that history directly to our community. By engaging audiences through live performance, we can make the people, dramatic events, and difficult decisions of the American Revolution meaningful and memorable, particularly for younger generations. We are proud to work with talented local educators Sean Grady and Gary Petagine to present this important chapter of our nation's history as part of Yorktown's ongoing 250th anniversary commemoration,” stated Lynn Briggs, Chairman, Yorktown Heritage Preservation Commission / Yorktown 250
In September 1780, British Major John André became entangled in a secret agreement with American General Benedict Arnold, who commanded the strategically vital American fortress at West Point. Arnold planned to surrender the stronghold to the British in exchange for money and advancement in the British Army.
The plot unraveled when André was captured by American militiamen while traveling toward British lines. Documents revealing West Point’s vulnerabilities were discovered concealed in his boot. Arnold escaped to the British before American authorities could apprehend him, leaving André to face the consequences.
On September 29, 1780, André appeared before a board of American military officers at Tappan, New York. The central question was whether he should be treated as a captured enemy officer or condemned as a spy for operating in disguise behind American lines.
The tribunal found André guilty of espionage, and he was hanged on October 2, 1780.
Through dramatic reenactment and historically grounded interpretation, Grady and Petagine invite audiences to consider the motivations, decisions, and consequences surrounding one of the Revolution’s most notorious episodes. Their performance brings the opposing perspectives of André and Arnold into focus while illuminating the high stakes of the struggle for American independence.
The program offers an engaging opportunity for families, students, history enthusiasts, and community residents to explore the people and events that shaped the nation’s founding.
Information provided by Lynn Briggs
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