Historic Philadelphia adding more performers for 250th anniversary

The organization is hiring 10 more costumed characters to populate Old City for the semiquincentennial celebration.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 3:30pm

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Historic Philadelphia Inc. is adding 10 more performers, including costumed characters portraying Revolutionary War heroes, to its roster of "History Makers" who populate the cobblestone streets of Old City. The organization is anticipating increased interest in the nation's 250th birthday and has seen a record number of auditions this year, though it maintains a nearly 100% retention rate among its existing performers.

Why it matters

Philadelphia's Historic Philadelphia program has become a beloved part of the city's tourism experience, allowing visitors to interact with costumed characters who bring the city's revolutionary history to life. As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the increased number of performers will help meet anticipated demand and ensure the continued vitality of this unique living history experience.

The details

The new hires will join Historic Philadelphia's seasoned team of performers, who are trained in the art of urban history performance through the organization's annual "Benstitute" training program. The performers, who are instructed not to break character, can interact with visitors in fun and informative ways, such as posing for photos or providing recommendations on where to find the best cheesesteaks.

  • Historic Philadelphia launches a casting call for new performers every year.
  • This year, the organization received more auditions than ever before, likely due to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the nation.
  • The new performers will join the existing team for the 2026 tourism season.

The players

Historic Philadelphia Inc.

A nonprofit organization that stations costumed historic characters out on the cobbled stone streets of Old City to bring the city's revolutionary history to life for visitors.

Amy Needle

The president and CEO of Historic Philadelphia Inc.

Johanna Dunphy

A longtime performer with Historic Philadelphia who sometimes appears as Dolley Madison.

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What they’re saying

“Our History Makers don't break character. If you want to take a selfie with one of our History Makers, they may say, 'Oh! A portrait!' and will pose with you.”

— Amy Needle, President and CEO, Historic Philadelphia Inc. (whyy.org)

“That's the only thing that's better than this.”

— Johanna Dunphy, Longtime Historic Philadelphia performer (whyy.org)

What’s next

The new performers will undergo training through Historic Philadelphia's annual "Benstitute" program before joining the existing team for the 2026 tourism season.

The takeaway

Philadelphia's Historic Philadelphia program has become an integral part of the city's tourism experience, and the increased number of performers for the upcoming 250th anniversary celebration will help ensure the continued vitality of this unique living history experience for visitors.