Woman Chautauqua to be presented in Nevada

Herald-Tribune

Nevada, Mo. -- If you could be a famous character from history -- anyone you choose, who would you be? Bess Truman? Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis? Helen Keller?

Chautauquans are more than just historians. Their task is to research and become that character on stage, and to share not only history, but a piece of who that person was with the audience.

Prior to a similar event conducted last year, Kay Kuhlmann explained that Chautauqua was a cultural movement that swept through the United States in the late 19th century to 1932. It takes its name from Chautauqua, N.Y., where Sunday school teachers gathered annually for a week of Bible study. The Chautauqua movement became a touring program of lectures, music and socializing under a big tent in the summertime. Some would bring camping gear and furniture and would set up tent cities for a week or more. The Chautauqua craze spread across the nation. At its height in 1924, the movement saw these week long programs visit 12,000 towns and entertain 32 million people.

Now the tradition continues, as notable women from history will take the stage at Cottey College when the Women's Leadership Council of Nevada presents a Chautauqua Series on Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19.

"We have a great line-up -- First Ladies are taking over Nevada," said Sharon Didden, who is helping to coordinate the event and related projects.

In partnership with the Woman Chautauqua Institute at Cottey College, the event offers a lineup that includes First Ladies such as Truman, Onassis, Mamie Eisenhower, and others who have made their mark on history, like Settlement House founder Jane Addams, the Unsinkable Molly Brown, Malinche of Mexico, clara Barton, Louisa May Alcott, Carrie Chapman Catt and Golda Meir.

The Chautauqua Series will take place indoors at the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts at the northeast corner of Austin and Tower streets in Nevada.

Beginning times for the sessions are 8 p.m., Friday, May 18, and 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday, May 19. Each character will perform only once, and there will be a dinner break for Missouri barbecue between the sessions on Saturday.

This programming is made possible by funding from the Missouri Humanities Council and National Endowment for the Humanities.