ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Thursday, June 28, 2007

The Worthington community will once again be the site of Ohio Chautauqua.

Presented by the Ohio Humanities Council and hosted by the Worthington Arts Council, Ohio Chautauqua in Worthington will be held from Wednesday, July 4, through Sunday, July 8, under the big tent on the grounds of Thomas Worthington High School.

Worthington also hosted Ohio Chautauqua in 2003 as part of the city's Bicentennial celebration.

The Ohio Chautauqua is a traveling tent show that presents history in the compelling form of first-person historical characterizations. This year's theme is World War II.

As one of the sites for Ohio Chautauqua 2007, Worthington will host five humanities scholars-in-residence for five days. In addition to a living history presentation under the tent, each scholar will present two daytime workshops during the week, one for children and one for adults.

For the under-the-tent shows, the scholars will portray President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Life magazine photographer Margaret Bourke-White, author and humanitarian Pearl Buck, real-life "Rosie the Riveter" Rose Will Monroe and Tuskegee Airman Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.

A local host committee is responsible for coordinating Worthington's participation in Chautauqua. In addition to the scholar performances, each night will also feature music. The schedule of performers is as follows:

July 4, 3 p.m. music with Matt Munhall; 4 p.m. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. (portrayed by James Armstead)

July 5, 6:30 p.m. music with Chamber Music Connection; 7:30 p.m. Franklin D. Roosevelt (portrayed by Peter Small)

July 6, 6:30 p.m. music with Capriccio; 7:30 p.m. Rose Will Monroe (portrayed by Angela Bartley)

July 7, 6:30 p.m. music with the Worthington Chorus; 7:30 p.m. Margaret Bourke-White (portrayed by Doris Dwyer)

July 8, 6:30 p.m. music with the Worthington Songsters; 7:30 p.m. Pearl S. Buck (portrayed by Karen Vuranch)

All Chautauqua events are free and open to all. There are 500 seats available underneath the Chautauqua tent. Anyone wishing to bring their own chair can do so, but it must be set up outside the tent.

Concessions will be made available for purchase by the Dublin-Worthington Rotary Club.

A complete schedule of workshops for youth (appropriate for children ages 8 and above) and adults can be found online at www.worthington.org (click on News & Events). For additional information, call Lisa Fuller at 614-807-2604.