ASHLAND — The COVID-19 pandemic cannot stop Ashland Chautauqua. July’s traditional week of Chautauqua activities was postponed until 2021, but there will still be seven virtual events in a series called “Ashland Chautauqua Conversations.”
The events are free. Sign-up information is given below.
The events will span fall, winter, and spring. Two of the events will involve both a prerecorded presentation and a real-time Q & A session. Q & A is always a Chautauqua audience favorite pastime: trying to stump the scholars.
Five other events will be book discussions led by each of the scholars who will give in-character performances at Ashland Chautauqua’s “In Times of War,” July 13-17, 2021.
A panel of Chautauqua scholars headlines the first event entitled “Living History Pioneers.” This illustrious group of scholars are the founders of modern-day Chautauqua, creators of the format that devoted fans love: the first-person living-history dramatization, followed by Q & A with the character and then with the scholar.
The founding scholars will be all familiar to Ashland audiences. They include George Frein (Mark Twain, Dr Seuss, and, most recently, Herman Melville), Charles Pace (Frederick Douglass), Doug Watson (Will Rogers) and Kevin Radaker (Henry Thoreau and C.S. Lewis).
On November 5, a prerecorded video of the panel presentation will be released for viewing on demand.
Then, on November 19 at 7 p.m., Ashland Chautauqua will host the panel for a real-time Q & A. All four scholars will be available to answer questions.
The other prerecorded video presentation with live Q & A will be held on March 25, 2021 at 7 p.m. “A Cultivated Friendship: Edith Wharton and Louis Bromfield” is a conversation between authors Wharton and Bromfield, portrayed by Karen Vuranch and John Anderson.
Both scholars are long-time favorites at Ashland Chautauqua. Vuranch will portray British spy Gertrude Bell and Anderson will portray war journalist Ernest Hemingway next summer during Ashland Chautauqua’s, “In Times of War.” The prerecorded video conversation will be released on March 11, 2021.
Among these two events and spanning the winter and spring months, there will be five book discussions. Each of these virtual events will be led by one of the scholars who will appear in person next summer at Ashland Chautauqua. As with the other events, registration is required, but there is no cost.
The schedule for the book discussions is as follows, with all discussions beginning in virtual format at 7 p.m:
On December 3 John Anderson will host a discussion of Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms.
On January 21, 2021 Karen Vuranch will host a discussion of Fergus Mason’s Queen of the Desert: A Biography of the Female Lawrence of Arabia, Gertrude Bell.
On March 4 George Frein will host a discussion of Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front.
On April 22 James Armstead will host a discussion of Davis’s autobiography, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.: American.
On May 20 Kevin Radaker will host a discussion of Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance during the Blitz.
All events are free. However, participants must pre-register to access the events. Email info@ashlandchautauqua.org for more information and to request an invitation to participate.
The disadvantage of virtual programming is, of course, not meeting friends at the Band Shell and sharing a lovely evening in the park.
However, there are many advantages of virtual programming. Chautauqua can still entertain and educate us even during a pandemic; individuals who have not been able to come to the in-person venues can enjoy the programming from where they live; and local Chautauqua fans can invite their friends and family to attend Ashland Chautauqua’s events from wherever they live in the state, the country, or the world.
It is not too early to add your name to the list so you will receive invitations and other information about “Ashland Chautauqua Conversations.” Again, the email address is info@ashlandchautauqua.org.
