EVENT: 14th annual Chautauqua celebration at OSU-Tulsa
DATE: June 6-11
Many Oklahomans are about to receive a six-day history lesson they won’t soon forget.
The Renaissance period will come alive June 6-11 at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa as the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa presents their 14th annual Chautauqua celebration.
“Portraits of the Renaissance: Poets, Pirates and Playwrights” is the theme for this year’s living history program, which will feature scholar performers portraying Leonardo da Vinci, Christopher Columbus, William Shakespeare and Grace O’Malley. Appearing in costume, the scholars recount stories in the character's own words and in the language of their time.
Following each portrayal, there will be a question-and-answer session, one part with the performer remaining in character, another out of character. Live Celtic and Renaissance music and workshops relating to the historical figures will be a part of each day’s festivities. All performances are free and open to the public.
President Gary Trennepohl said OSU-Tulsa is pleased to sponsor and host Tulsa’s Chautauqua each year.
“Chautauqua combines living history presentations, education, musical entertainment, theater and audience interaction into an exciting cultural event that the entire community can enjoy,” Trennepohl said.
The first chautauqua was held in the 1870s at New York’s Lake Chautauqua, originally a camp for Sunday school teachers. In the early 20th century, chautauqua was a tent show traveling along a circuit in the Midwestern United States that presented a stage for contemporary culture, political oratory and discussion of modern social issues. The modern Chautauqua movement began during the American bicentennial, as a tent revival for humanities and as an entertaining means to provoke discussion of American history.
Funding for the Tulsa Chautauqua is provided in part by a challenge grant from the Oklahoma Humanities Council and the National Endowment of the Humanities. Major support for this program is provided by the following: OSU-Tulsa, Tulsa Community College, Crowe & Dunlevy, Joe Parker Fund of Tulsa Community Foundation, Lorene Cooper Hasbrouck Charitable Trust, Chuck Laenger, George Krumme, Oral Roberts University, DoubleTree Hotel Downtown, and United Ford.
OSU-Tulsa is located at 700 North Greenwood Avenue, near I-244 and Detroit Avenue. For more information and a schedule of events, contact the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa at 918-584-3333, extension 19, or visit their web site at www.ahct.org.