Chautauqua in North Platte 2010

North Platte announces Chautauqua highlights

The community of North Platte has planned a five-day schedule of events surrounding the visit June 23-27 of “Bright Dreams, Hard Times: America in the Thirties,” the Nebraska Humanities Council’s 2010 Chautauqua program.

The schedule includes a “Dust Bowl” exhibit of photographs, a youth day camp and youth workshops. Among the opening-day events is a 6 p.m. social at Cody Park to meet the Chautauquans with local entertainment beginning at 5 p.m.

Main events will be held each evening June 23-27 at Cody Park, located at 1400 N. Jeffers St. Evening stage performances offer local entertainment and first-person interpretations of historical figures from the era of the Great Depression. Evening Chautauqua sessions begin at 7 p.m. Daytime workshops will be held for adults and youth of all ages. All events are free and open to the public.

Scholars will portray five historical characters who helped shape America’s response to the Great Depression. The scholars are Doug Watson as humorist Will Rogers, Patrick McGinnis as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Fred Krebs as Louisiana governor and U.S. Sen. Huey Long, Tonia M. Compton as evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson and Wanda Schell as WPA folklorist Zora Neale Hurston.

A collaboration of the Nebraska Humanities Council and the Kansas Humanities Council, the Chautauqua also visits Columbus June 16-20, with additional visits in Colby, Kan., June 2-6, and Belleville, Kan., June 9-13.

The “Bright Dreams, Hard Times” Chautauqua is funded, in part, by a major three-year grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the NEH’s special “We The People” initiative.

For additional information on this summer’s Chautauqua, go to the Kansas-Nebraska Chautauqua website, www.knchautauqua.org, or contact Kristi Hayek at (402) 474-2131 ext. 108 kristi@nebraskahumanities.org.

North Platte in the 1930′s

This picture of East 4th and Tabor Ave shows some of North Platte in the 1930′s Looks like the cross walks were already ADA accessible. Has North Platte always been a head of the times? Click the photo for larger view,

Thanks to Larry L. Britton for use of this photo

What To Expect Under the Tent

Chautauqua audiences will gather under the big tent to enjoy entertainment, followed by first-person interpretations of important characters of the 1930s. There are four parts to a Chautauqua evening:
1. Entertainment by a musical or theatrical performer
2. Presentations from historical figures (the moderator and the evening’s guest)
3. Questions from the audience directed at the historical figures, who will answer as the figures would have responded
4. Questions from the audience directed at scholars, who will answer as their research suggests and correct self-serving answers by historical figures or shed light on a subject the historical figure would not have been able to do

The Kansas-Nebraska Chautauqua begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday with a social that provides an opportunity to meet and mingle with the Chautauquans.

Humorist Will Rogers (Doug Watson) opens the Thursday evening presentation with antics, rope tricks, and humor. He also will be the moderator for each evening’s performance. Thursday night’s main presentation is by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Patrick McGinnis), the father of the New Deal and a new hope for Americans in the Thirties. Evening tent performances begin at 7:30 p.m. with opening entertainment at 7 p.m.

Friday night’s performance opens with the 2010 Youth Chautauquans from the Ride Into History Youth Camp at 5:30 p.m., who will recreate local history with their first-person interpretations. Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson (Tonia Compton) will follow, heralding messages of spiritual zest and relief for the poor. Saturday night features the folktales, music, and lively stories of Harlem Renaissance author and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston (Wanda Schell).

Closing the “Bright Dreams, Hard Times, America in the Thirties” Chautauqua week on Sunday, Will Rogers will warm up the crowd for some energetic and contrary political perspectives provided by Louisiana Sen. Huey Long (Fred Krebs).

The tent will be located in Cody Park just North of the tennis courts. For more information about Chautauqua consult the Chautauqua Reader by clicking here. (PDF reader required) Pick up a copy of the Chautauqua Reader at many North Platte locations including coffee shops and the North Platte Library.

“Dust Bowl” Exhibit

In the 1930s, the Farm Security Administration(FSA) photographed the faces and landscape of the Dust Bowl. Forty years later, Nebraska photographer Bill Ganzel found and re-photographed the survivors for a book and exhibition. The “Dust Bowl” exhibit, from Humanities Texas, combines the FSA photographs with Ganzel’s photographs to tell a story of strength and triumph in the face of despair. Check the calendar for exhibit’s scheduled location.

Youth to play a role in the upcoming Chautauqua

Local youth of all ages in North Platte area will have a unique opportunity for learning and community involvement as part of the 2010 Kansas-Nebraska Chautauqua, “Bright Dreams, Hard Times: America in the 1930s.”

The Chautauqua, a traveling tent show where scholars portray historical characters, is making North Platte a stop this year. From June 23 -27 at Cody Park, scholars will portray figures from the 1930s-era, including Franklin Roosevelt, Aimee Semple McPherson, Zora Neale Hurston, Huey Long, and Will Rogers. The program, a collaboration between the Nebraska Humanities Council (NHC) and the Kansas Humanities Council (KHC), is free to the public.

During the week, North Platte will have a number of Chautauqua related activities, including adult and youth workshops, “The Dust Bowl” traveling exhibit, and local history programs.

North Platte’s Chautauqua in June will offer the three programs for youth: Camp Chautauqua, from June 21-25; How Butterflies are Made workshop on  June 24 and Dear Eleanor, Dear Michelle workshop on June 25.

Youth Chautauqua Camp, for middle school children (grades 4-8), offers the opportunity for youth to become young historians, led by Drs. Ann Birney and Joyce Thierer of the Chautauqua Ride Into History project. Participants will explore and learn how to portray North Platte historical characters from the 1930s and will present their portrayals at the Friday evening performance of Chautauqua. Pre-registering for this workshop is required. Space is limited to the first 25 applicants.

Dear Eleanor, Dear Michelle is a 90-minute morning workshop where elementary students (ages 8 and older) will learn about the correspondence that First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt had with children nationwide during the 1930’s Great Depression. At the workshop, children will be invited to write to First Lady Michelle Obama.

How Butterflies Aree Made is an hour-long morning workshop for preschool and lower elementary children (ages 4 to 7) who will learn about folk tales and create a colorful mural. Wanda Schell, who portrays Zora Neale Hurston, will share the folktale, “How Butterflies Are Made.”

Registration forms for the three youth events are available at the North Platte Public Library and on the North Platte School District website: www.nppsd.org or the North Platte Chautauqua webstie: www.chautauquanorthplatte.com. For more information contact Margaret Engle at 534-1311 or maengle49@hamilton.net.

All Chautauqua events are free and brought to you by the Nebraska Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities and The North Platte Chautauqua Committee.

FREE!!Join the Fun! Youth Chautauqua Activities

1. How Butterflies are Made, June 24, 10:00-11:00
Children 4-7 will paint murals to illustrate the story, How Butterflies are Made Click for Registration form More information here.

2. Dear Eleanor, Dear Michelle, June 25, 10:00-11:30 Click here for Registration form.

Children grades 2-4 will learn about First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and write a letter to First Lady Michelle Obama  More information here.

3. Camp Chautauqua, June 21-25: Registration Form

Students out of grades 4 through 8 will investigate, create, and perform as a local historic figure.

Registration materials available in May at the North Platte Public Library, at the North Platte Visitor’s Center and on the North Platte School District website www.nppsd.org, and www.chautauquanorthplatte.com For more information contact Margaret Engle at 534-1311 or maengle49@hamilton.net

Chautauqua at “Woofstock 2010″

Volunteers Needed: As a result of a generous contribution, North Platte Chautauqua will have a booth/table at the 2010 “Woofstock”. “Woofstock” 2010 “A Festival for Dogs” will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 9 am – 3 pm at Memorial Park. We are looking for some volunteers to help us staff the table. We will provide cards and materials to distribute during the Festival. If you are willing to take a shift at the table please let us know. Contact us at chautauqua@originaltown.com. We are looking for two people per a one hour shift. Thanks Diane!

Candy of the 1930′s

About 40 candy lovers gathered at the North Platte Library Thursday. Cecelia Lawrence, Director of the North Platte Library, was the speaker at the Library’s Chautauqua Luncheon Series. During her presentation, “Candy of the 1930’s. Cecelia told the assembled candy lovers the popular Snickers candy bar was named after a Mars family horse. “Believe it or Not” started out not only as a column about unbelievable events, people or objects but also a candy bar—“Believe it or Not.”

Each participant received a bag of ‘30’s style candy to enjoy during the first luncheon program. The next event in the series will be “Introduction to the Films of the 1930s” which will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2010 beginning at noon. Bring your lunch and prepare for an introduction to the films of the 30’s. Call the library at 535-8036 to reserve your seat. “Action!”

Candy lovers gather to learn about candy of the 1930's

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