My Work as a Chautauqua Scholar and Historical Education Performer

 

What Is Chautauqua?

Chautauqua (named for Lake Chautauqua, where this historical education format was first started in 1874) is a unique way to present historical characters.

A Chautauqua scholar typically spends 18 months to 2 years preparing a historical character. This includes research (first-hand documents if possible, scholarly research, site visits, interviews, etc.)

They then write a 35- to 50-minute monologue (each hiring organization is different) to be presented to an audience.

There is some debate about whether this is a lecture in costume or a theatrical performance, with most scholars somewhere in the middle.

I prefer to treat it as a theatrical performance, looking as much like the character as possible, using an accent or otherwise changing my voice, and writing the monologue with a broad spectrum of experiences that allow for a variety of emotions. 

After the monologue, there are two Q and A sessions, lasting 10 to 20 minutes each. One as the character and one as the scholar. This is my favorite part of Chautauqua.

Scholars are often asked to do workshops related to the character and time period as part of a Chautauqua weekend or week as well. 

Chautauqua/Historical Education Performances:

Sex, Drugs & Rock n Roll (1960s)  

Allen Ginsberg (with permission from the Allen Ginsberg Project, Allen Ginsberg Estate, and 

Wylie Agency)                 

OK Chautauqua (2022), https://vimeo.com/channels/1769132

Latin Americans in N. CA History   

Mariano Vallejo 

Sierra Nevada Mountain Chautauqua

Chautauqua                                       

Ernesto “Che” Guevara     

OK Chautauqua (2019); Ed Kinney Series (2021)

Golden Age of Piracy                      

Samuel Bellamy                 

Hadley Library, Winchester, VA (2020); Athens (GA) Chautauqua (2021); Ed Kinney Series (2022);

Ashland Chautauqua (2023); Boulder City, NV Chautauqua (2025)                          

Golden Age of Piracy                      

Seven pirates/Royal Navy Lt.   

Numerous organizations (2016–)

Legend of Blackbeard                     

Six Golden Age Pirates     

Port City Tour Company (2016–2018)

Puzzle at Port Royal                         

Capt. Luis Emilio               

Voices from the Earth (WV) (2011–2013)

Woodlawn Cemetery                        

Capt. Thomas Maulsby     

Marion County Historical Society (2011/2012)

Confirmation celebration                 

St. Francis of Assisi           

Bricktown, NJ private event (2007)

**I am preparing to tour as Cyrus Avery, "Father of the Mother Road," as part of the Centennial of Route 66 in 2026.

Edgar Allen Poe

During this one-man show, hosted by Auguste Dupin, Poe's contribution to detective fiction, I used Poe's unreliable narrators and Dupin's detective work to postulate on Poe's life and the circumstances of his death.

The final part of the performance was a reading of Annabel Lee by Poe, followed by half an hour of Q and A. 

For a reel of my characters, visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2MExgeowzM