Chautauqua: Cape selected to hold 2006 history festival

~ City is one of three Missouri communities picked to hold the celebration.

From Teddy Roosevelt to George Washington Carver, some seriously famous historical figures will be brought to life in Cape Girardeau next June when the weeklong historical festival known as Chautauqua comes to town.

From June 19-24, an area probably near the Osage Community Centre will be transformed, thanks to a community tent-raising and four Chautauqua performers, who will portray historic figures in full costume. There also promises to be music and other events that allow residents to tell their own stories to be saved for posterity, organizers say.

"It's really five nights of storytelling," said Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Chuck Martin. "We think this works wonderfully well with how the city is positioning itself."

The city's slogan is "Where a river turns a thousand tales."

Martin said that Dr. Frank Nickell and Dr. Joel Rhodes at Southeast Missouri State University were responsible in applying for the event, which happens in only three Missouri communities each year. The other two communities are Maryville and Kirkwood.

The theme for this year's Chautauqua celebration is "America the bountiful," said Beth Felice, development associate for the Missouri Humanities Council. The characters who will be portrayed at this year's event will be:

* Mary Elizabeth Lease, an American lecturer, writer and political activist who championed diverse public causes including the plight of the farmer. She will be portrayed by Glenna J. Wallace of Seneca, Mo., a newly retired teacher who taught for 35 years at Crowder College in Neosho.

* Theodore Roosevelt, the U.S. president whose love of nature never wavered. As president, his environmental legacy became secure as he took on greedy corporations and demanded a "square deal" for society. He allotted huge tracks of land for public use. Roosevelt will be portrayed by Doug Mishler of Reno, Nev. Mishler is a professor of history at the University of Nevada-Reno.

* John James Audubon, the famous artist, explorer and hunter. Thanks to his Audubon Society, he has intrinsically connected with the preservation of wildlife habitats. Audiences might be surprised, however, to learn that Audubon routinely boasted about the number of birds he killed. Audubon will be portrayed by Richard Johnson of Claremont, Calif., a professor of history at California State University.

* Dr. George Washington Carver, who was born the son of a slave and later became known for his work as a scientist and botanist. His work with peanuts made him a national hero, discovering 300 valuable uses. He also developed practical farming methods. He will be portrayed by Paxton Williams, who holds a master's degree from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

* Fred Harvey, who worked in a variety of restaurants from New York City to New Orleans and finally St. Louis. He is said to be a pioneer of fast food. Harvey will be portrayed by William Worley of Kansas City, Mo., a consulting historian for Union Station and an adjunct doctoral faculty member in the University of Missouri-Kansas City's history department.

Felice said the events are always a big hit in the communities they are held. After acting as the character, the scholars hold question and answer sessions with the public under the tent. She said local organizers also generally provide live music and other entertainment.

Martin said many of the details have yet to be determined. He said that no official site has been selected, but added they are "leaning toward" the Osage Centre.

He said that the $4,500 fee is partially coming from private donations and that the organizing committee is coming up with some of the funds.

"But this is eight months out," Martin said. "We are in the earliest stages of planning."

Missouri's "Heartland Chautauqua" is a revival of that old feeling, Felice said. She said the scholars basically present a monologue based on their extensive research and others perform a one-person play. At the end of each program they take audience questions, answering as they think their character might have answered. Finally, they step out of character and take additional questions. This exchange is often the most dramatic and exhilarating part of the program, Felice said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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