RENO - Nevada Humanities presents the 23rd Nevada Humanities Chautauqua festival June 19-27, 2014, in Reno. Founded by Nevada Humanities in 1992, Nevada Humanities Chautauqua has inspired many Chautauqua events around the globe and is one of the longest running Chautauqua festivals in the nation. Chautauqua is a living history program in which performers, in costume and in character, bring historical figures to life in theatrical monologues. Educational and entertaining, Chautauqua programs provide dramatic insights into the people and events that have shaped our nation, and also provide a historical lens for looking at contemporary issues.
Reno's weeklong Chautauqua celebration features workshops, roundtable discussions, and other daytime events hosted by community partners throughout northern Nevada, as well as ticketed evening theatrical performances. In celebration of Nevada's sesquicentennial, this year's evening performances explore the theme "Battle Born: Making Nevada," and feature performances of characters that have greatly influenced the growth and development of the Silver State, including Reno civil rights activist Alice Smith, Las Vegas entrepreneur Howard Hughes, and Comstock journalist and writer Dan DeQuille. Distinguished Chautauqua scholar Clay Jenkinson will also be returning to Reno to perform John Wesley Powell the evening of June 24.
"We are thrilled to be part of the state's sesquicentennial celebration. We are bringing the focus of this year's Chautauqua festival home to the Silver State with characters who have contributed to the making of Nevada in important ways," says Christina Barr, executive director of Nevada Humanities. "It also seems very fitting that Clay Jenkinson should be here to celebrate with us. Clay lived in Nevada for years, and has thought deeply about Nevada's history. This year's festival promises to be very exciting. "
Ticketed evening shows begin June 24 and run three consecutive evenings with local musical performances followed by theatrical Chautauqua presentations. Gates open at 5 p.m., music starts at 6 p.m., and Chautauqua presentations begin at 7 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
