Casting a live-action staging of micro-scenes from Joseph Addison's "Cato" to be filmed as part of a historical video essay series. The staging reflects George Washington's 1778 production at Valley Forge. To unite a starving army, George Washington staged the classical tragedy "Cato" about the last day of democracy in Rome. Addison's masterful blank verse and themes of civic virtue made the tragedy a touchstone for the Founding Fathers. The plot is highly dynamic, propelled by two complex love triangles, a high-stakes abduction, and an unforgettable tragic conclusion. The founders understood what the people have started to forget: Cato's democracy is worth dying for, and Caesar's autocracy is the enemy. By focusing on the theatrical crucible that forged Washington's identity and united the army, the program is a timely reminder that democracy sometimes requires the unifying power of art to survive.