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 o...
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