The Young Chautauqua Program
Young Chautauqua is a nationally recognized and award-winning youth program in which young scholars portray historical figures. Through monologs and question-and-answer sessions, young scholars- in and out of character- first engage the audience in lively discussions with people from the past, and then provide insight into historical study. The Young Chautauqua program is valuable way to increase young people's understanding of and engagement with the humanities.
The Young Chautauqua Handbook and Creating a Young Chautauqua Program are available upon request for anyone wishing to start a program. Using Great Basin Young Chautauqua as a model, programs now take place in schools and communities throughout Nevada and in other states.
Great Basin Young Chautauqua
The Great Basin Young Chautauqua program, which started in Reno in 1993, is the youth adjunct to the Nevada Humanities Chautauqua. The Young Chautauqua program in Reno continues to provide a six month training program each year that culminates in performances during the Nevada Humanities Chautauqua. The program is open to children ages 8 - 18.
Young Chautauqua is an intense program of scholarship, research, rehearsing, and performing. A Young Chautauquan must love to read, act and learn. Young Chautauquans commit to developing a character in January and spend more than six months reading biographies, learning stories and rehearsing their character in front of other Young Chautauquans at bimonthly meetings.
In April and May, their characters are ready and Young Chautauquans go on the road to perform. They each create a costume and polish flexible 5-, 10-, and 15-minute monologues that they present to community groups, schools, libraries and service organizations.
Performances at Bartley Ranch during the Nevada Humanities Chautauqua are the final event for the Great Basin Young Chautauqua program. Six months of research and practice will be displayed.
Young Chautauquans are available for performances throughout the year.