Chautauqua
CHAUTAUQUA 2008, 17-21 JUNE 2008, IN LEBANON, OHIO
Chautauqua is an annual program in Ohio, hosted in five different communities. The programs are developed and and performed by the Ohio Humanities Council and the Ohio State University’s Humanities Institute. This event in Lebanon was hosted by the Warren County HIstorical Society. The free programs consist of five trained scholars/performers portraying the character and costume of a historical American figure, presenting an exciting and engaging living history performance, over the course of five evenings. The performances are entertaining and fun for the entire family.
This year’s theme is “Inventors and Innovators”, with the actors portraying Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Andrew Carnegie, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Dr. George Washington Carver.
The performances were held under the old-fashioned white Chautauqua tent-this time at Harmon Park in Lebanon, Ohio. Following the performances, the actors spent time responding to queries from the audiences regarding the performance and questions about the history and character they portrayed. In addition during the week the performers conducted a series of ten free workshops open to children and adults in venues throughout the community.
