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Chautauqua: What Connects Us
July 22 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
The 2023 Chautauqua presented by Humanities Nebraska will be held at Stuhr Museum on July 21 & 22, with additional workshops led by the presenting scholars at the Grand Island Public Library during the day on Saturday, July 22. The four scholars presenting during this year’s Chautauqua are returning from popular past events to explore the theme, “What Connects Us.” All events are free and open to the public!
FRIDAY, JULY 21: MARK TWAIN & EDITH WHARTON AT STUHR MUSEUM
Warren Brown will appear as American humorist and author Mark Twain as he did in 2012-2015’s Nebraska Chautauqua, “Free Land? 1862 and the Shaping of Modern America.” Karen Vuranch will join him as author Edith Wharton, whom she portrayed in “World War One: Legacies of a Forgotten War” from 2016-2018. Food will be available for purchase at the Silver Dollar Cafe in Railroad Town.
5:30 pm – Musical Entertainment: David Seay
6:30 pm – An evening with Mark Twain
7:30 pm – An evening with Edith Wharton
8:20 pm – Q & A with scholars Warren Brown & Karen Vuranch
SATURDAY, JULY 22 AT THE GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Grand Island Public Library is located at 1124 W 2nd St, Grand Island, NE 68801
10:00 am – “African and American: Connecting through Story and Song” presented by Becky Stone
11:15 am – “What Connects Us: Indigenous Peoples & All Americans” presented by Taylor Keen
12:15-1:15 PM – Lunch Break (on your own)
1:15 pm – “Human Connections through the Literature of WWI” presented by Karen Vuranch
2:30 pm – “Reformer in Disguise: Using Humor to Make Connections” presented by Warren Brown
SATURDAY, JULY 22: ROSA PARKS & STANDING BEAR AT STUHR MUSEUM
Becky Stone will appear as Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks from 2019-2022’s “The Fifties in Focus.” She will be joined by Taylor Keen, reprising his portrayal of Chief Standing Bear, also from “Free Land? 1862 and the Shaping of Modern America.” Food will be available for purchase at the Silver Dollar Cafe in Railroad Town.
WHAT IS CHAUTAUQUA?
With origins in the late 19th century, Chautauqua combines oratory and lectures with literary readings and musical entertainment. In the past, these touring groups would entertain and inform people living on the plains about political and cultural happenings. The name itself comes from a resort community in New York State where in 1875, a summer program of lectures, sermons, and music attracted such enthusiastic audiences that within a few years similar programs sprang into existence for the public in other parts of the country. Today, Chautauqua upholds the tradition of offering entertainment, education, and community-based heritage. Humanities Nebraska has re-imagined Chautauqua to include contemporary experts offering insight regarding how historic events and achievements affect our lives today, along with scholars-in-residence presenting first-person portrayals of some of our most important historical figures. It’s family-friendly fun, history and activities for all ages.