2000 CHAUTAUQUA TOUR BRINGS CIVIL WAR TO IHE MILENIUM
05/30/2000
Heartland Chautauqua Comes to Illinois on June 12th
CHICAGO -This summer, Illinois will be swept up in the history of the Civil War era. Towns in Illinois and Missouri will gather together under a large tent and soak in the real life experiences of some of the Civil War era’s most fascinating historical figures. The towns of Canton, Belvidere, and Alton will soak in the real life experiences of some of the Civil War era’s most fascinating historical figures with this year’s Heartland Chautauqua (pronounced “shuh-TAH-kwuh”), “Inside the Civil War.”
Sponsored by both the Illinois Humanities Council and the Missouri Humanities Council, the 2000 Heartland Chautauqua tour will visit eight sites (five in Missouri, three in Illinois) beginning in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on June 5 and concluding in Kirksville, Missouri on July 8th. Each day, a different Chautauquan will perform. The 2000 Heartland Chautauqua tour will visit three Illinois towns for one week each: Canton (June 12- June 17); Belvidere (June 19 – June 24); and Alton (June 26- – July 1). This summer’s Chautauqua features historical portrayals of diverse figures from that tumultuous era. This year, Louisa May Alcott (Gayle Stahlhuth), Mathew Brady (Dave Dickerson), General James Longstreet (Danny Goble), Harriet Tubman (Shene King), and Elizabeth Van Lew (Annette Baldwin Kolasinski) will enthrall audiences with their unique tales and perspectives on the Civil War.
Chautauquas began in the 19th century as a vehicle to bring education and entertainment to small Midwestern towns by presenting great oratory, music and drama under a big circus tent. Chautauquans, including William Jennings Bryant and Theodore Roosevelt, would travel from town engaging exchanging ideas under the big tent, typical of all Chautauqua performances.
In the 1970s, the humanities councils of the Midwest revived the lost art of Chautauqua as a community event for all ages. In 1993, the Missouri Humanities Council launched
“Missouri Chautauqua” and in 1995 the IHC joined them, thus creating the “Heartland Chautauqua.”
2000 Illinois Heartland Chautauqua Schedule
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June 12 – June 17 |
Canton, IL
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June 19 – June 24 |
Belvidere, IL
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June 26 – July 1 |
Alton, IL
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For more information about the 2000 Heartland Chautauqua, contact the IHC at 312-422-5585 ext. 233 or visit our website at http://www.prairie.org.
The Illinois Humanities Council is the only statewide organization dedicated to fostering a culture in which the humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities. Through its programs and services, the IHC promotes greater understanding of, appreciation for, and involvement in the humanities by the citizens of Illinois, regardless of their economic resources, cultural background, or geographic location. The IHC is a nonprofit education organization, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Illinois General Assembly and contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations. For further information, please visit our website at www.prairie.org.
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