Saturday, January 17, 2026 – 7:30 p.m. at The Palace Theatre, Greensburg
Professor Greg Jackson, creator of the popular podcast History That Doesn’t Suck!, will collaborate with the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Daniel Meyer. Together, they will present a live orchestra adaptation of Jackson’s acclaimed touring show, which recounts the first 100 years of American history.
A New York-based film crew will arrive at The Palace Theatre to record a live performance of The Unlikely Union: A Storytelling Symphony of America for a planned June 2026 broadcast on public television, coinciding with the America 250 celebration.
Professor Greg Jackson, the charismatic storyteller behind History That Doesn’t Suck!, is renowned for his ability to make history engaging and accessible. His podcast consistently ranks at the top of Apple and Spotify history charts, counting millions of listeners with its unique blend of humor and insight. Jackson masterfully narrates “The Unlikely Union,” a gripping 100-year journey beginning with thirteen distinct British colonies uniting to form a new republic that will become the model for Western democracy. This young nation’s durability and commitment to its founding ideals are then tested in a bloody civil war.
“This story actually begins right here in Western PA in 1754,” says Jackson, “when a young George Washington, in his first command of a colonial militia, inadvertently ignites a world war that will lead to an American Revolution. So, I can’t think of a better place to debut this storytelling symphony than with the Westmoreland Orchestra.”
