MOUNT VERNON – Mount Vernon local Jim Stoner will be starring as Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes in an upcoming virtual production by Ohio State Mansfield Theatre.
In a living history character portrayal, Stoner will bring to life legendary Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes as part of a collection of short performances offered in a streaming event entitled Separate Together.
Stoner is regionally recognized as the author of "The Black Cyclone," a play about another football legend, Charles Follis. Growing up in the birthplace of American football, Stoner said the history of the game has always fascinated him.
His upcoming performance will revisit one of Hayes’ famed halftime pep talks.
“He became a huge personality and a huge figure for winning Ohio State’s first national championship, but it was more for his dedication to seeing that his players get an education and be crafted into good citizens,” Stoner told the Mount Vernon News.
He estimates investing six to 10 hours in getting Hayes' speech delivery just right, the performer said, noting that Hayes had a speech impediment.
An actor, singer, playwright and screenwriter, Stoner originally caught the theatre bug as a child observing his older brother on stage.
“He was eight years older than I was and I saw him play Captain von Trapp in 'The Sound of Music,' and I really loved that and said at that point, ‘I want to do that!’” he said.
While attending Ohio State, Stoner became more involved with performing arts, participating in theatre and glee club. After graduating with his English degree, he fell away from the performing arts as he followed a path of career and family, but admitted he was still passionate about it.
In 2004, Stoner became involved in performing again when he was asked to help open an outdoor theatre by portraying Johnny Appleseed. Later, he became involved with living history through the Mount Vernon Chautauqua Series, and it was the series’ founders Christina and Mike Petee who eventually suggested Stoner develop Hayes’ character.
Since becoming involved with the Chautauqua Series, Stoner and his wife together have embodied more than 40 historical figures. It’s a labor of love, and it is obvious Stoner loves it.
“We write the script, we put together the costume and we do our best to be that person live,” Stoner said.
Held via Zoom, Separate Together will start at 7 p.m. on Nov. 12 and is free to the public. To view the performance, people can simply go to www. mansfield.osu.edu/theatre anytime after 6:50 p.m. the evening of the performance and click on the red "watch performance" button.
