Chautauqua program details released

Details of a locally organized Piqua Chautauqua program to be held Sept. 19-21 from 6-8 p.m. daily at Hance Pavilion in Fountain Park have been released by the committee.

The Chautauqua features humanities scholars who perform as first person historical figures.

The tradition was popular in the early 1900s, including in Piqua where the first Community Chautauqua was held at the park in 1912.

The upcoming Piqua program will feature Karen Vuranch who will portray Edith Wharton, Pulitzer Prize novelist best known for The Age of Innocence and Ethan Frame, on Sept. 19. On Sept. 20, Charles Pace will take the stage as W.E.B. DuBois, a sociologist, historian, civil rights activist and co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1909.

The program will conclude Sept. 21 with Paul Vickery, Ph.D, a professor of history at Oral Roberts University.

He will portray President Woodrow Wilson as he went against a campaign promise to keep the country out of World War I.

The local Chautauqua is supported by the Miami County Foundation, the Piqua Community Foundation, Hartzell-Norris Charitable Trust and the city of Piqua.

For more information, contact Mainstream Piqua at 937-773-9355.