2023 History Alive! Colorado West Chautauqua
In 2023, the Museum of Western Colorado, Colorado Humanities, and local partners Colorado Mesa University, Edward and Lois Gardner, and the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture presented History Alive! Colorado West Chautauqua, September 7 – 9, 2023. The theme was “Power of the Pen,” which included presentations by national Chautauqua performers Susan Marie Frontczak as Mary Shelley, Brian “Fox”Ellis as Edgar Allan Poe, Katie Knutson as Rachel Carson, and John Dennis Anderson as Ernest Hemingway.
Kathy Applebee, of the Grand Valley History Players, performed as Nellie Bly at the opening welcome event Thursday evening. The performers/scholars gave talks on Friday morning at local schools and Mesa County libraries, followed by live performances both Friday and Saturday evenings as well as Saturday daytime lectures or workshops. All events were held at Love Recital Hall free of charge.
Two Rivers Chautauqua
Today, Chautauqua has been reinvented as a way to bring the humanities, especially history, back to life. Organizations across the country bring in professional scholar-actors (Chautauquans) who portray historical characters then answer questions in and out of character. These modern-day Chautauquas are usually sponsored by state humanities councils.
Special thanks to our sponsors
Lois and Edward Gardner
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