I’m Ken Futernick, and I host two podcasts: Courageous Conversations about Our Schools and Teacher Stories. From This Desk: A Visit from Thomas Jefferson is a wonderful three-act play written by my friend Don Pollard. A video of the production was produced but, until now, not available for public streaming. I created this webpage so that others could enjoy this masterful performance.
The play premiered at the San Juan Community Theatre in Friday Harbor, Washington, on September 26, 2013. Directed by Helen Machin-Smith and starring Daniel Mayes as Thomas Jefferson, it invites audiences into Jefferson's study for a thoughtful reflection on his life, his legacy, and the enduring relevance of the ideals that shaped the American experiment.
In honor of the United States' 250th anniversary, the San Juan Community Theatre presented a special encore screening of the recorded performance in July 2026, introducing the production to a new audience more than a decade after its premiere.
Although the play includes a courageous conversation between Jefferson and present-day Americans, it is not specifically about our schools. I wanted to share it here because, until now, this remarkable production has not been available for public viewing.
As our nation reflects on the ideals that inspired its founding, Jefferson's observations raise questions that remain as relevant today as they were at the nation's beginning: What kind of democracy are we striving to build? What responsibilities accompany freedom? How do we preserve our founding principles while continuing to expand the promise of liberty and equality to all?
I believe this performance will be of particular interest to high school and college teachers seeking to engage students in thoughtful discussions about Thomas Jefferson, American democracy, and the continuing challenge of living up to our nation's founding ideals.
Credits:
Written and Produced by Donald Pollard
Directed by Helen Machin-Smith
Featuring Daniel Mays as Thomas Jefferson
Directors of Photography: Alan Geddes and Wesley Benstine
Edited by Joan Benney
Don Pollard is a resident of San Juan Island in Puget Sound, having lived in Southern California for many years. During the last few years, he has written a variety of plays for performances at the Friday Harbor Community Theatre. A common element of his plays is a monologue, frequently involving more than one character, seeming to talk to each other. In one monologue, the character seems to challenge the live audience from two previous centuries.
The result of these plays is an opportunity for the audience to enjoy their own imagination. He searches for nearly lost historic moments or other ridiculous situations.