Chautauqua History Comes Alive Festival: Image or Truth?

From antebellum America to the Golden West, from the world of Nazi Austria to the world of American pop music, we have an image of these times, these people. From the Chautauqua stage we will explore the truth of those images.

Charles Dickens – He twice visited America and gave us his unvarnished view of what he found – Portrayed by Larry Bounds.

“Stagecoach Mary” Fields – She rose from slavery to become a living Western legend – Portrayed by Becky Stone.

El Vaquero – When it comes to legends, what is a greater image of the West than the cowboy? Learn what the culture of life in the saddle was really like – Portrayed by Angel Vigil.

Maria von Trapp – The Sound of Music told her story, now hear her side of that story – Portrayed by Elsa Wolff.

Cass Elliot – She takes us behind the scenes with the Mamas and the Papas for a backstage look at the swinging ’60s and ’70s – Portrayed by Karen Vuranch.

Live performances will be held outdoors in the evenings and indoors during the day. Bring lawn seating for outdoor shows. 

This project is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

This program is funded in part by the Metropolitan Arts Council which receives support from the City of Greenville, BMW Manufacturing Company, SEW Eurodrive, the South Carolina Arts Commission, and many other sources.