It originated as an adult education movement in the US, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid 1920s. The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainer, preachers and specialist of the day. As former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was quoted as sa
ying that Chautauqua is "the most American thing in America." So our first evening, 2022, was Jeremy Meier as Robert F. Big River Chautauqua
photos by scottie
Chautauqua is:
A living history show with an historic figure portrayed by professional actors with a ‘first-person’ presentation of the character on stage, under the big tent as it was done over a hundred years ago when folks like Mark Twain came round, town to town, along with political folks and side-shows and musicians