Tulsans to Revisit the '60s for Oklahoma Chautauqua

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

(May 27, 2008   TULSA) – Oklahomans will soon turn back to the age of hippies, peace anthems and political tensions for the 2008 Oklahoma Chautauqua at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa.
 
“A Time for Every Purpose: America in the 1960s” is the theme for the living history program which takes place June 2-7. The 17th annual event is presented by the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa.
 
Scholars performing in this year’s Oklahoma Chautauqua will portray Barry Goldwater, 1964 presidential candidate credited for reigniting the conservative base of the Republican Party; Betty Friedan, feminist, activist and author of “The Feminine Mystique;” Julia Child, chef, author and television personality; George Wallace, 1964 presidential candidate known for his segregationist stance; Rachel Carson, a marine biologist and nature writer whose writings helped advance the global environmental movement; and Malcolm X, internationally revered, though controversial spokesman for universal human rights.
 
Performances will take place Tuesday through Saturday 7:30 p.m. under the tent. Appearing in costume, the scholars recount stories in the character's own words and in the language of their time. A question-and-answer session, with the scholar both in and out of character, will follow each performance.

Daily workshops will take place Monday through Saturday at Noon and 1:30 p.m. in OSU-Tulsa’s Conference Center, North Hall 150. Local musicians will provide entertainment Wednesday through Saturday at 6:30 p.m. prior to the evening performances.
 
All workshops and performances are free and open to the public and guests are encouraged to bring a picnic or purchase snacks and refreshments on site.

The first chautauqua was held in the 1870s at New York’s Lake Chautauqua, originally a camp for Sunday school teachers. In the early 20th century, chautauqua was a tent show traveling along a circuit in the Midwestern United States that presented a stage for contemporary culture, political oratory and discussion of modern social issues. The modern Chautauqua movement began during the American bicentennial, as a tent revival for humanities and as an entertaining means to provoke discussion of American history.

Funding for the Tulsa Chautauqua is provided in part by a grant from the Oklahoma Humanities Council. Major support for this program is provided by the following: OSU-Tulsa, The Mervin Bovaird Foundation, the Downtown DoubleTree Hotel and Williams.

OSU-Tulsa is located at 700 North Greenwood Avenue, near I-244 and Detroit Avenue. For more information and a schedule of events, contact the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa at 918-584-3333, extension 19, or visit their web site at www.ahct.org.