By Mary Ann Bourbeau
SHREWSBURY – The Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library will feature two programs this month showcasing the 250th anniversary of American independence.
At 7 p.m. Monday, April 13, Michael Grillo as George Washington, will discuss Washington’s life, his presidency and his activity in Monmouth County during the Revolutionary War.
At 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18th, Anne and Ridley Enslow, dressed in authentic 18th century attire, will present a concert using colonial instruments to celebrate the anniversary with songs of the American Revolution.
Grillo has been involved in reenactments since 1992, when he lived in Washington Heights in New York near Bennett Park, the site of the Revolutionary War’s Fort Washington.
“While living there, I was attracted to a very large group on the battlefield, the recreated 23rd Regiment of Foot, the Royal Welch Fusiliers,” said Grillo. “The first group that I joined fought for the British! I was with the unit for 20 years. Recently, I joined the recreated 42nd Regiment of Foot, a Scottish unit that fought for the British and is popularly known as the ‘Black Watch.’ I’m also part of the 2nd New York Regiment, a unit that fought for the colonies.”
Grillo has been portraying Washington since 1998. Over the last 20 years, he has taken numerous tailoring classes and reproduced two dozen different uniforms, both American and British, including one of the uniforms Washington wore during the American war for independence – the one he is shown to be wearing during the Battle of Princeton.
“Since then, I’ve made other outfits for Washington, including a coat based off a British Dragoon officer’s coat, the first regimental coat Washington ever had made, the black suit he wore as president and the brown suit he wore during his inauguration,” he said.
Grillo’s interest in history began at age 7 on a Cub Scout field trip to Valley Forge and Philadelphia.
“I was interested in who Washington was and how he pretty much had to learn from experience by doing, as well as the struggles he had in life to become the man he became,” Grillo said. “My wife portrays Lady Washington and our son, who is approaching 19, has been re-enacting since he was 3 weeks old.” His infant son portrayed, in jest, a personal guard of Washington’s.
Grillo works as the site interpreter at St. Paul’s National Historic Site in Mount Vernon, New York, an 18th-century church and graveyard. Prior to that, he was educational director at the Van Cortlandt House Museum, which dates back to 1748. He said he is proud to have portrayed Washington at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia; George Washington Memorial Chapel in Philadelphia; the N.Y. Historical Society in Pottstown, Pennsylvania; and Federal Hall and the Samuel Fraunces Tavern, established in 1762 as the epicenter of patriotic activity in New York City.
Colonial Concert
On April 18, Anne and Ridley Enslow will present a concert celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary, playing instruments appropriate to the period. Ridley plays an 18th- century violin while Anne performs on a hammered dulcimer. Dressed in historically accurate clothing, they sing in harmony and tell stories of the times that gave rise to the music.
They both come from musical backgrounds. Anne was a member of the orchestra for Broadway’s “The Secret Garden” and sang for 10 years with the Cecilia Chorus at Carnegie Hall. Since meeting Ridley, her focus has been on the music of America’s history, doing research and combing through original sheet music, manuscripts and songbooks from historical archives.
Ridley began playing violin at age 8, playing classical, country and bluegrass before discovering colonial American music while working at Morristown National Historical Park. Their show celebrating the country’s semiquincentennial is a lively one with songs about the struggle for independence and liberty, with a few sea shanties thrown in for fun.
“The show will include humorous ballads lampooning the British troops and songs celebrating American victories, plus drinking songs and a dance tune or two,” said Ridley. “There will even be a song by a signer of the Declaration of Independence about the so-called Battle of the Kegs. Come prepared to join in some entertaining toasts and ‘raise a glass to freedom.’”
For more information or to register for these programs, visit monmouthcountylib.org.
The article originally appeared in the April 9 – 15, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
