Chautauqua: History that Just Won't Stay in a Book

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George Washington, Abraham Lincon, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks

WELCOME TO CHAUTAUQUA -- Chautauqua is audience-participation theater presenting:  History that just won’t stay in a book.   We take you on an astonishing journey into the past where historic figures come to talk with us -- a Colonial Williamsburg-on-stage.  And it's not a Chautauqua performance unless audience questions are the most fun part.  In the guise of entertainment, Chautauqua gathers generations from diverse cultures together to think about and discuss the problems of the day.  We're not about answers; we're about asking questions.  So come and enjoy yourself.   After all this is your story. 
 

JUNE FESTIVAL:  AMERICA IN CRISIS
June 19 - 24, 2009 

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Opening night Friday June 19 @ 7 pm
Falls Park Carolina First Amphitheater
George Washington and Nathanael Greene debate the role of South in the Revolutionary War. Enjoy a summer night outdoors and experience your history.  The evening opens with the Carolina English Country Dancers performing in Colonial costume.  And the audience gets to join in the fun. Out-doors - bring picnics and lawn chairs family Shakespeare-in-the-Park style.  Rain Site:  Greenville Tech, Faris Rd entrance. “We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again”. - Nathanael Greene - namesake of Greenville SC.

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Sat through Tue June 20 – 23 @ 7 pm, under the Chautauqua Tent Greenville Technical College, Faris Rd entrance Enjoy a summer evening under the Chautauqua tent - chairs provided.  Come early and picnic on the lawn and listen to great music.   Closing night performance Wed June 24 - indoors.

    Sat June 20 @ 7pm Rosa Parks discusses America's "Crisis in Black and White". The Phillis Wheatley Repertory Theatre opens the show with music and dance. “The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” R. Parks.

•    Sun June 21 @ 7 pm Eleanor Roosevelt demonstrates us that “a woman is like a tea bag - you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water”. - E. Roosevelt.  The Greenville Concert Band opens the show.

•    Mon Jun 22 @ 7 pm Franklin D. Roosevelt encourages us with a message of hope that we will survive this Depression and win this war. Whitney Walters and Sentimental Journey open the show.  “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.”  FDR

•    Tue Jun 23 @ 7 pm Abraham Lincoln will be witty and urbane telling stories, laughing at himself and cajoling a nation through its most bitter crisis.  The Fine Arts Ramblers open the show. "I laugh because if I didn't I would weep." A. Lincoln

•    Wed June 24 @ 7pm George Washington indoors TRC Aud. Greenville Technical College, 506 S. Pleasantburg   The foundingest father of them all, leads us through crisis after crisis out of which emerged a new nation. Now it is up to us to keep it.  Larry Zarella opens the show - just voice and guitar - folk rock at its best. 

Garden House Bed and Breakfast, Simpsonville, SC

Lunchtime Performances Indoors

Mon Jun 22
11:30 am Eleanor Roosevelt, Warehouse Thr.
12:00 n Rosa Parks, McAlister Square

Tue Jun 23
11:30 am George Washington, Garden House
1:00 pm Franklin D. Roosevelt, Senior Action

Wed Jun 24
12:00 n Abraham Lincoln, FYI Teen Center
1:00 pm Rosa Parks, West End Comm. Center

Greenville Chautauqua is funded in part by a grant from the Metropolitan Arts Council, which receives funding from the City of Greenville, BMW Manufacturing Company, LLC, Michelin North America, Inc. and the South Carolina Arts Commission with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC.

Greenville Chautauqua is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which received support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Schedule of Events & Locations

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Festival Schedule:  June 19 - 24
All performances FREE and open to the public

EVENING PERFORMANCES
Fri June 19 @ 7:00 pm
George Washington & Nathanael Greene, outdoors Falls Park Amphitheatre
-- bring lawn chairs and picnic.  Rain Site:  Greenville Technical College, Faris Rd
Music & Dance:  Carolina English Country Dancers

Sat June 20 @ 7:00 pm  
Rosa Parks, outdoors under the Tent Greenville Technical College, Faris Rd
Music:  Phillis Wheatley Repertory Theatre

Sun June 21 @ 7:00 pm    
Eleanor Roosevelt, outdoors under the Tent Greenville Technical College, Faris Rd
Music:  The Greenville Concert Band

Mon June 22 @ 7:00 pm  
Franklin D. Roosevelt, outdoors under the Tent, Greenville Technical College, Faris Rd Music:  Whitney Walters & Sentimental Journey

Tue June 23 @7:00 pm
Abraham Lincoln, outdoors under the Tent Greenville Technical College, Faris
Music:  The Fine Arts Ramblers

Wed June 24 @ 7:00 pm   
George Washington, indoors at the TRC Auditorium, Greenville Technical College, 506 S. Pleasantburg Dr
Music:  Larry Zarella

SPECIAL EVENT
Sun June 21 @ 12:30-2:30 pm
Chautauqua Celebrity Luncheon Rendezvous with History ($30) Saffrons, 1 Augusta St @ Main  – reservations:   292-6338

INDOOR LUNCH-TIME PERFORMANCES:
Mon June 22  @11:30 am     
Eleanor Roosevelt - Warehouse Theatre
Mon June 22  @12:00 noon  
Rosa Parks – McAlister Square Center Court
Tue June 23    @11:30 am     
George Washington – Garden House B&B, Simpsonville
Tue June 23    @  1:00 pm     
FDR – Senior Action, Orchard Park
Wed June 24  @12:00 noon 
Abraham Lincoln -- FYI-Furman Series FYI Teen Center
Wed June 24  @  1:00 pm    
Rosa Parks -- West End Community Center

9 am COFFEE WITH SCHOLAR
At Brew & Ewe, 108 W. Broad St across from Peace Center
Sat  June 20  Washington & Nathanael Greene
Mon June 22 Eleanor Roosevelt & Rosa Parks
Tue  June 23 Franklin D. Roosevelt
Wed June 24 Abraham Lincoln

Chautauqua Festival Characters can also be seen at two near-by Chautauqua Festivals

WOFFORD COLLEGE CHAUTAUQUA, SPARTANBURG, SC
Sat 6/20 FDR
Sun 6/21 George Washington
Mon 6/22 Abraham Lincon
Tue 6/23 Rosa Parks
Info:  pesarojb@wofford.edu  864-597-4207
website:   wofford.edu
 
Held at the historic Leonard Auditorium, Wofford College, 429 North Church St, Spartanburg, SC 29303. 
Shows start at 6:30 pm
 
BUNCOMBE COUNTY CHAUTAUQUA, ASHEVILLE, NC
Mon 6/22 George Washington
Tue 6/23 Eleanor Roosevelt
Wed 6/24 Abraham Lincoln
Thu 6/25 Rosa Parks
For info:  (828) 250-4741

Held at the historic Smith-McDowell House Museum, 283 Victoria Road Asheville NC 28801 (828) 253-923.  Shows start at 7:00 pm

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*   Greenville Chautauqua   *   943 Rutherford Rd   *   Greenville, SC  29609   *   (864) 244-1499   *
 
Sponsors:  Metropolitan Arts Council, South Carolina Arts Commission, Graham Foundation, The Jolley Foundation, The Open Book, Palmetto Bank, Greenville Technical College, PSAV, Greenville News , Greenville Parks & Recreation, Furman University, Dry Ridge Productions

Presenting Partners:  Greenville County Library System, Greenville County Museum of Art, Upcountry History Museum, Buncombe Co Library, Wofford College