Chautauqua

The Chautauqua Series is a series of living history performances.  We are pleased to present several recent Chautauqua programs during the 2015 Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival.  Here is what you can look forward to!

Dan Emmett (portrayed by Carl Young) - Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Dan Emmett's birth, portrayed by Carl Young, Dan Emmett is the namesake of this music and arts festival, the father of minstrelsy along with his fellow Virginia Minstrels and the author of Dixie, Old Dan Tucker, Turkey in the Straw and Blue Tail Fly among 100's of others. Carl Young portrayed Emmett in Mike Petee's play about Emmett called "With Pen in Hand - The Dan Emmett Story" and the play with music from Emmett appears to be heading back to the stage in 2016.

Red Skelton (portrayed by Ken Barnett) - An amazing comedian, mime, author, and showman whose television show ran from 1951 through 1971.  Red Skelton will be portrayed by another amazing showman, Ken Barnett.  Ken will take you through mimes and stand up comedy as only Red could present it, highlighted by talking with the audience as he puts on his Freddy the Freeloader make up and presenting Red's patriotic presentation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Woody Hayes (portrayed by Jim Stoner) - If you think of Ohio State Football, the first name that comes to mind is Woody Hayes.  Winner of 13 Big Ten titles and 5 national championships, many don't realize that he also was the host of a Columbus-based television presentation of six WWII movies and showcased his knowledge of the war.  Portrayed by Jim Stoner, Hayes was presented as the first program at the new location for the Chautauqua Series in November, 2014.  Woody Hayes's live-in nurse, who cared for Hayes and his wife until their deaths, was at the program and commented that when Jim came on stage, she thought she was seeing the real man . . . and she should know.

First appearing at the 2011 Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival, the Chautauqua Beatles filled [email protected] to overflowing. With the type of response the group performed for the FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY for the last three years leaving all those in attendance wanting more. The Chautauqua Beatles consist of Desmond Wall, Bill Miller, Roy Rush and Mike Petee and will bring a full year of rehearsals and additional Beatles songs not performed last year at the DEF or for FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY. So if you missed them before, don't miss them again, and if you saw them before, come and see more of your Beatles favorites.  After the 2015 Festival, the band intends to change the name to Sgt. Pepper, but don't worry!  They will still give you the incredible performances you have come to love.