York College of PA to host Sept. 22 performance by living-history artist Gwendolyn Quezaire-Presutti

York College of Pennsylvania will host a performance of “If I Am Not for Myself Who Will Be for Me” by living-history artist Gwendolyn Quezaire-Presutti at 7 p.m., Sept. 22, in DeMeester Recital Hall, Wolf Hall. The event is open to the public free of charge.

During the fall of 1796, George Washington’s final months in office, Oney Judge Staines, an enslaved woman, escaped from the Executive Mansion in Philadelphia. Her story, written by Queziare-Presutti and shared through this production, is not a stereotypical runaway account. 

Quezaire-Presutti’s portrayal of historical women introduces untapped history, drawing on a wide array of primary historical resources. For the past 20 years, she has engaged audiences with performances giving voice to real life accounts, struggles, self-determination and triumphs of women she portrays. Each performance is infused with her unique fingerprint, giving an integral portrait of a historical event or person.

An award-winning artist, in recognition of the quality and range of her work, Quezaire-Presutti received Theatre in Museums/Theater and Interpretation Techniques Certification at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. She has been recognized with the Alliance Award for valuable service and support Institute of Texan Cultures of San Antonio, the Institute of Texan Cultures Director’s Award for Excellence, a Certificate of Merit from the Office of Secretary of State Connecticut, a Greater Hartford Arts Council & Boston Fund Individual Artist Fellowship, first-place International Toastmaster Award, and a Connecticut Arts for Learning Signature Core Services Certificate. She was crowned Ms. Senior Connecticut in 2010.