City of Alexandria Searches for new Town Crier

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA: 

The City of Alexandria is searching for a new town crier, and tryouts

are scheduled for early next month. Can you shout but still be

understood clearly? Do you have a sense of humor that can stand up to

the extremes of cold and heat? Are you available for most City-wide

commemorative events? If so, you may have what it takes to be the next

town crier!

For those interested in applying for this volunteer position, the Office

of Historic Alexandria is hosting an information session on Thursday,

September 1, at 7 p.m., at Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal

Street. Then tryouts will be held at the same location on Wednesday,

September 7, at 7 p.m.

Town crier applicants should call Historic Alexandria at 703.746.4554 to

RSVP for the September 1 information session.

Applicants must have a powerful but clear voice, a strong sense of civic

pride, and a willingness to make public appearances in early

19th-century attire. Applicants must possess excellent public-speaking

and writing skills, a sense of humor, and a love of children, parades,

crowds and tourists. Helpful experience includes Toastmasters and

activity with community theatre. The ceremonial duties of the new town

crier include reading proclamations, announcing upcoming events, and

acting as master of ceremonies at special events.

The City's most recent town crier, William North-Rudin, served for

five years before resigning last year to relocate out of state. One of

the earliest Alexandria town criers on record is Peter Logan, an African

American man who served as the town crier and on holidays as the town

piper. Born into slavery, Logan purchased his freedom as well as his

wife's and children's, and worked as a ship carpenter and later

operated his own boot and shoe black business.

A City panel of judges, including members of City Council, will review

applications and tryouts to make the final selection. Town crier

applicants will be judged on Call Content, Clarity, Sustained Volume,

and Deportment. Historic Alexandria staff will assist any potential

applicant with period attire, a bell and necessary props.

The new town crier will make his or her first public appearance at the 

first Legislative Meeting of the Alexandria City Council on Tuesday, 

September 13.

For more information or to download an application, visit

www.alexandriava.gov/towncrier <www.alexandriava.gov/towncrier> .

Scroll down to the 2nd photo to see former Del Ray resident Bill

North-Rudin as Town Crier in action.

(I can personally attest to the wonders of Bill voice; those mellifluous

pipes waking me at 5:30 am, when I, as keeper of the truck & barricades,

failed to meet the Art on the Avenue barricade crew on time. A call I

will remember forever!)