Live Performances Planned at Library Chautauqua April 28-30
April 8, 2011 — “Voices Remembered: The 2011 Chautauqua” Planned April 28-30 at the Library Center and Republic Branch Library
Musicians and actors will perform the ballads, personalities and words of the men and women who witnessed the American Civil War during a three-day Chautauqua in the Springfield-Greene County Library District.
"Chautauqua" (shuh-TAW-kwuh) is the Library's version of the series of cultural and educational performances popular during the early 1900's.
This series caps the Library’s April 2011 Big Read celebration, which features literature and programs for all ages on the theme of “Voices of Conflict: The American Civil War.” All programs are free and open to the public. A library card is not required to attend.
For a complete schedule of the April events, go to thelibrary.org/bigread, and click on “events.”
- Thursday, April 28, 7 p.m., Library Center auditorium. Cathy Barton and Dave Para: Civil War Music of the Western Border. Funded by Friends of the Library.
- Friday, April 29, 7 p.m., Library Center auditorium. "There Was No Civil War -- “There Was An Invasion: The Campbell Women in Wartime." Two "voices of conflict" are represented in readings from "Confederate Girlhoods: A Women's History of Early Springfield, Missouri," by Drs. Clark Closser and Tita F. Baumlin; piano music by Drs. Peter Collins and Carol Chapman, narration Dr. James Baumlin.
- Friday, April 29, 8 p.m., Library Center auditorium. John Brown, Saint or Sinner? Arnold Schofield, superintendent of the Marais des Cygnes Massacre and Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Sites in Linn County, Kan. will portray John Brown. Funded by Friends of the Library.
- Saturday, April 30, 2 p.m., Republic Branch. The Holmes Brigade presents Fiddle Music of the Civil War. Chris Schafer and John Stuart, living historians and members of the Holmes Brigade U.S. Volunteers, will perform.
- Saturday, April 30, 2:30 p.m. Republic Branch. Mary Chesnut: Civil War Diarist. Dianne Moran, chautauqua scholar, portrays Mary Boykin Chesnut, author of "A Diary from Dixie," a record of life in the South during the Civil War. Funded by Friends of the Library.
- Saturday, April 30, 7 p.m., Library Center auditorium. Judy Domeny and the Music of the Civil War. This mix of Civil War songs tell us about the uses of music during the war. Funded by Friends of the Library.
- Saturday, April 30, 7:30 p.m., Library Center auditorium. "Beloved Exile and Other Voices of Community & Conflict." "Beloved Exile" is an original Civil War short play by Ozarks Technical Community College theater arts instructor Jon Herbert. Funded by Friends of the Library.
- Saturday, April 30, 8 p.m., Library Center auditorium. Zerelda James Samuel, Mother of Frank and Jesse James. Chautauqua scholar Dianne Moran will portray the mother of two of Missouri's most infamous sons.
The Big Read 2011 event partners: Friends of the Library, Missouri State University; KSMU Radio Station/MSU; Springfield Public Schools, Victory Trade School, Video Billboards of the Ozarks/Steve Stith, Missouri Neon Sign Co./Steve Raper, Journal Broadcasting Group/KTTS, KSGF