Chautauqua gives viewers a peek into history, worker event planning experience

Editor's note: Anne Blank-ley, a graduate of Cottey College, is helping to lead the Chautauqua series this weekend, an event in which characters from the past are brought to life by accomplished actresses who have delved into the lives of those they portray. This is the first in a series about the project, in which Blankley will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the event and its characters, plus reviews of the performances.

By Anne Blankley

Special to the Daily Mail

Hello. I'm Anne Blankley, from Chamberlain, S.D.

You might have passed through my small town on the Missouri River toward your destination to Mount Rushmore or the Sturgis motorcycle rallies. I arrived in Nevada in August 2005 for my first semester at Cottey College and soon became acquainted with the Nevada community through my involvement with local organizations such as the Vernon County Arts Council and area churches; blood, clothing, and food drives; and road clean-ups.

During my two years at Cottey College, I held a student job at the Center for Women's Leadership under the direction of Kay Kuhlmann. I soon realized that this position was unlike a typical work study job in food service or reception. My position as leadership assistant tested my knowledge of computers, the subject of leadership, and communication giving me real-world work experience. The job also provided me with many travel opportunities. In the fall of 2005, I traveled to Red Cloud, Neb., to aid Kay with the Willa Cather writing contest organized by Cottey. My duties to the leadership program included organizing the LEO (leadership, experience, opportunities) online student entries through our Web site, developing two annual reports for the center, and hosting events, trips, and tours for students and members of the PEO organization.

At the beginning of this year, Kay approached me about devoting one week to the Chautauqua acting workshop, as business manager. My duties would include publicity and organizing activities. At first, I was not quite certain what Chautauqua was, but I was soon educated about the amazing program. Cottey hosts this workshop to promote women Chautauqua actors young and old, beginners to advanced, who research historic women, then portray them through performances, acting in character, reciting monologues, and answering questions about their lives.

This is the first year in which Cottey will invite Nevada High School students to participate in a young Chautauquan workshop which will culminate with a performance later this summer. Sharon Didden, who works at the Cottey College library, has been instrumental in the preparation of the workshop for the young women. She has helped me become enthusiastic about the program and suggested that I write about my experiences through these articles.

I accepted this internship not only because it is a great opportunity for me to learn more about Chautauqua acting but also that this experience is directly related to my future career goals. I am majoring in arts management at my transfer institution, Buena Vista University of Storm Lake, Iowa, next fall. All the knowledge I have gained at Cottey College and with the Nevada community will help prepare me for a position in theatre or museum management. I hope the series of articles we're planning will give you a glimpse into the Chautauqua experience.

Performances will be staged at the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts in the Missouri Recital Hall on the campus of Cottey College. Admission is free. Session one, "First Ladies," will be held Friday, May 18, at 8 p.m. Session two, "Reformers of Societies," will be held Saturday, May 19, at 5 p.m. After a dinner break, the event will continue with session three, "Two Women of the 20th Century," at 8 p.m.