Presentations
Engaging, Entertaining, and Inspiring
“A gifted presenter...listening to Gordon has to be experienced to be believed!” ~ Jeannie Cramer, audience member
"I want to say how much I truly enjoyed your keynote address at last year's conference of New Jersey Association of Library Assistants." ~ Warren Spengler, New Jersey State Library ~
Maine can now claim "New Jersey's Troubadour" as its own "Downeast Troubadour"! While GRAMMY®-balloted singer-songwriter, presenter, and author Gordon Thomas Ward has moved to Maine, he continues to book performances throughout the northeast. Schedule this unique and celebrated musician, historian, and raconteur, dubbed "the total package" by his fans, for very special presentations at venues such as a LIBRARIES, HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, MUSEUMS, SCHOOLS, or COMMUNITY GROUPS! Presentations can also be done in your home as a unique and intimate gathering for a group of your friends. This option allows for expanded Q&A time and opportunities to delve deeper into the presentation topics. Performances of songs may also augment many of these performances.
Bookings are being accepted. Check the CALENDAR link for available dates.
Check out my exciting HOUSE CONCERTS link and bring the performance to you!
If you would like to book a presentation and/or share feedback, visit the CONTACT link.
Children and Families
Mr. Harenten and the Serenity Ledge Picnic Presentation
Imagery, Puppets, Storytelling, and Live Music…50 Minutes
“Superb and engaging! Our children's audience was transfixed!” ~ The Grand Theatre
“Absolutely wonderful and adorable! Perfect for families!” ~ Kathy P.
Let your imagination soar with this delightful, multimedia presentation of the beloved children’s literature story Mr. Harenten and the Serenity Ledge Picnic. Author and award-winning songwriter Gordon Thomas Ward will transport you to a charmed woodland realm along the coast of Maine that is home to Mr. Harenten, a thoughtful and timid Snowshoe Hare, and an assortment of his animal friends.
Mr. Harenten dreams up the idea of having a grand picnic with his friends. When he realizes he’s created a predicament, his solution relies on devising a plan to overcome his fear of gathering clover behind the dark and imposing Ledge House. Mr. Ward guides the audience through the story with the help of projected images, puppets, storytelling, and the performance of several original songs.
Ideal for grades K-5 children, family audiences, theatres, libraries, and school groups!
Music and History
An Evening with
Gordon Thomas Ward
inspiring adventures, engaging music, and spine-tingling tales
Audiences have loved Gordon’s varied and engaging presentations, songs, and stories for years. This new program provides audiences with a cross section of some of the best of everything this Renaissance man has to offer from his story-songs, books, and other presentations. This entertaining, multimedia show is filled with live music, photos, stories, adventure, history, and ghostly tales presented by this accomplished singer-songwriter, author, podcast host, historian, and researcher. Plus, if you’re new to Gordon’s work, this is the best way to get a wonderful taste of what he has to offer. Something in this show is always new and is perfect for just about any venue. Its diverse content is sure to keep people entertained and leave them wanting more!
“Gordon’s enthusiasm and engagement with the audience gave the evening the feel of a ‘private tour’ with Gordon’s many talents on display. His musical performance was particularly spot-on, providing both the narrative and evocative resonance of the past which only music, well performed, can draw forth from our collective heart.”
~ Dr. Jude Pfister, Local historian, author, and Chief of Cultural Resources at Morristown National Historical Park ~
Troubadour Tales
live music and stories
Everyone loves good stories, and when they’re paired with music and song, they get even better! That's why audiences adore this captivating, live performance of stirring tales, told through music and spoken word that capture their attention and imagination. Entertaining anecdotes complement his acoustic, contemporary folk songs, which include haunting melodies, multi-instrumental accompaniment, evocative vocals, and poetic lyrics. Similar to a HOUSE CONCERT, listeners embark upon a captivating journey that may find them in the company of Revolutionary War soldiers from Maine and NJ, Robert Frost, the ghosts of a Headless Hessian or a woman on Schoodic Point, or transported to the historic Trail of Tears, the Civil War, the trail of Lewis and Clark, and other times and places! This presentation has been described by adults as "spellbinding," and, as a high school student remarked, "The people and events seem real, so I can relate to them." Audiences will find this program to be a real treat! Troubadour Tales is absolutely perfect for libraries, historical and community groups, or for an extraordinary house concert with a group of your friends!
"Gordon Thomas Ward was amazing! Bravo! He has one of the best voices I've heard in a long time and well-tuned instruments to go with it. The way he weaves stories and historical events in his acoustic songs is truly an art form - it is very engaging. His ability as a raconteur and minstrel were both provocative and soothing at the same time. He totally amazed me!"
~ Tom Martin, Director of Communications at Rutherfurd Hall ~
Retracing the
Lewis & Clark Trail
live music and adventure stories
This engaging program draws from the author’s book Life on the Shoulder and details his entire 1,800 mile journey by canoe and bicycle along the Missouri, Clearwater, Snake, and Columbia Rivers and by foot over the Bitterroot Mountains. Described as “like hitting the trail with Lewis and Clark” by the Mystic Seaport Museum, this presentation includes stunning, projected photographs and Gordon Ward’s personal anecdotes, which allow attendees to travel back through time, revisiting the places explored by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and recorded in their journals and the pages of history as they searched for the Northwest Passage. One also embarks on a journey through the diverse environments of the current American West. Aside from the historical aspects of the topic, the presentation compares and contrasts the differences between a modern retracing and the original expedition two hundred years ago. In addition, audience members will also hear how the original journey was also very much a story about the strength and guidance of women and investigate the two journeys from psychological and philosophical perspectives.
"You were witty, knowledgeable, energetic and engaging. You brought in the largest crowd that we have ever had, and you held them to the end, which is a tribute to the dynamics of your presentation.”
~ Karin Soderberg, Membership Program Manager, Mystic Seaport, The Museum of America and the Sea ~
Ghosts and Hauntings
Ghosts I’ve Come to Know
chilling stories and live music
Did you ever wonder what’s on the other side? As a well-respected investigator of ghosts and hauntings for forty years and an author on the topic, Mr. Ward has developed a distinctive approach and body of evidence to support the belief in the survival of the human consciousness after death. This program includes new photos, audio recordings, developing theories, information collected from his favorite, historic, investigation sites, and the live performance of one or more songs. This presentation will leave you with a fresh perspective on what happens to us all after the transition we call death.
"I think I speak for everyone who attended in saying that it was very fascinating and intriguing. You had a captivated audience!”
~ Mary C. Sanders, Program Coordinator, Morris County Library ~
Ghostly Discussions
engaging audience interaction
One of my favorite parts of my presentations on ghosts and hauntings comes from the all-to-brief Q&A period at the end of each show. The questions are numerous and the answers can be quite complex, leading to further questions. Ghostly Discussions is an opportunity for the audience to play a role in driving the content of this fascinating topic for the entire show through a facilitated discussion of developing theories, my forensic evidence, and their questions and experiences! What are ghosts? Should we fear them? What happens to our spirits when our bodies die? Any of these questions and more can be addressed in this very unique, thought-provoking, multimedia presentation that examines ghostly, paranormal encounters within an open forum.
"Wow! Your presentation Historic Haunts of Central Jersey was excellent and brought out over 300 people, the largest group we have ever had for a program!"
~ Katie Hardesty, Director of PR and Special Events, Cherry Hill Public Library ~
Ghosts: What They Are and How to Investigate Them
"how to" information and Q&A
What’s the real scoop is on ghosts? The answer is not found in Gothic novels or Hollywood. The descriptions of what ghosts are and what they are not has come a long way. The word “ghost” is really an umbrella term that defines many types of paranormal phenomena. Survival of the human personality has become a popular topic and one that has mounting evidence to support its claims. Combining many years of involvement in the level-headed investigation of haunted locations with a unique, spiritual perspective on the topic, audio clips, and photographs, Gordon Ward will share his experiences and evidence, explain his views on ghosts, and teach attendees how to conduct their own, sound investigations without costly equipment.
"As a professional who considers myself to be a ‘skeptical believer’ in an afterlife, I found your presentation to be both eye-opening and fascinating. Your program was excellent! We had a great turnout and everyone stayed glued to their seats for the entire talk!"
~ Carol Anderson, Adult Program Coordinator,Teaneck Public Library, Teaneck, NJ ~
Spiritual Topics
In the Midst of Angels
a new perspective and inspiring stories
Do angels exist? Do they interact with and intervene in our lives? Is there an unseen force that accompanies us in our daily lives? This presentation, based upon Gordon's book Tracing Infinity: Bridging the Gap between Earth and Heaven, addresses these questions and takes you on a journey to uncover the signs and experiences in life that can teach us about them. Gordon will share captivating experiences, instructional metaphors, and stories of angelic encounters from meadows, mountains, coastlines, open rangeland, and our own backyards to lead listeners to some fascinating and thought-provoking conclusions.
“Mr. Ward’s talk was both informative and inspirational. Men and women of all ages will relate to his stories of adventure and ‘God-incidents.’ I highly recommend this presentation for schools, fellowship groups, book clubs, and more!”
~ Jeff Gibelius, Pastor of The Presbyterian Church at Pluckemin, NJ ~
Divine Encounters
on the Lewis & Clark Trail
a new look at the journey's "coincidences"
Adults and youth will find meaning in this inspirational presentation by the author of Life on the Shoulder discussing how his travels along the Lewis and Clark Trail altered his life and made his faith a permanent reality to him. Come and hear how awareness can be one of our most precious gifts. Augmented by illustrative PowerPoint photographs and numerous, remarkable stories, the presentation will detail how Gordon’s 1,800 mile journey by bicycle, foot, and canoe and the original expedition are also stories about being in the presence of a divine presence, angels, and their constant, protective and guiding force. Gordon’s expedition ultimately proved to be a discovery of self and a connection with everything outside of his being and demonstrated how narrow our scope of life can be, how much energy is wasted on worry, and how, at the moment when we feel we are most alone, we are truly in the company of our most trusted and dependable guides.
“Wow! Listening to Gordon has to be experienced to be believed! In an hour and a half, my weak faith was given a boost like no other experience. It is an incredible performance of love and faith.”
~ Ginny Shedd, audience member ~
Programs Specific to NJ
Welcome to the Past
childhood, history, stories, and song
Immerse yourself in this entertaining and informative evening of tales, songs, poetry, and ghost stories regarding the local history of Somerset/Morris Counties on NJ, including the Lenape, the NJ Encampment at Jockey Hollow during the Revolutionary War, farming, industry, the "landed gentry," and others. This timeless, multimedia presentation, based upon Gordon's book A Bit of Earth, celebrates the layers of history in our landscapes, which can be truly magical places where the past exists right at our fingertips. In brilliant detail, Mr. Ward both entertains and illustrates the signatures we leave behind us and celebrates the geographies of our lives.
“I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a presentation more than the one you gave on Welcome to the Past. The audience was captivated with your stories that reminded each of us of our own. We left inspired to begin preserving our own bit of earth. Thank you so much.”
~ Gayle Geiger, Library Media Specialist, Waynesville High School, Waynesville, MO ~
Gateways to History
facts, folklore, and live music
Celebrated author and presenter Gordon Thomas Ward (author of local history books A Bit of Earth and Ghosts of Central Jersey) will present different perspectives on the era of the American Revolution as it relates to the Morristown, NJ, area. First, This program reviews the Ford family of Morris County, New Jersey, along with their mansion in Morristown. Both the Ford Family and their home participated in and witnessed some of the most trying times of the first century of the American pageant. The multi-layered family history is tangibly represented in the multi-floored and memory-laden mansion, which stands to this day as a testament to the passage of time and the enduring power of place. Following this, Mr. Ward will discuss the 1779-1780 encampment of the New Jersey Brigade in Jockey Hollow and their encampment site, which was discovered in the 1960s. He will also entertain you with several, seldom-told ghost stories connected with local historic sites from the time of the American Revolution. Projected photos will complement the entire presentation.
“If you have never heard Gordon speak, do it, and spread the word! His creativity and engaging delivery are infectious. I have seen many of his presentations, and I believe them to be among the most elite, enjoyable, and informative that I have ever seen!”
~ Annette Dilauri, audience member ~
Historic Haunts
of Central Jersey
documented tales with live music
What ghosts roam within the historic sites and buildings of central New Jersey? How accurate are the traditional stories? From the shadowed woods of the Somerset Hills to the dappled banks of the Delaware River, Historic Haunts delivers a rich mix of factual history and the sound investigation of ghostly phenomena. This presentation, based upon Gordon's book Ghosts of Central Jersey, also mixes in numerous PowerPoint Photos of investigation sites and audio clips of unexplained voices. The combination of an open-minded enthusiasm and a level-headed approach underscores this collection of reports that will inform, entertain, and lead audience members to places where the past is considered to be very much alive and entwined with the present.
“I've actually attended this presentation three times, and on each occasion I came away with a new piece of information. The blend of history and the paranormal is very interesting and informative.”
~ Kam Callahan, audience member ~