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Young Chautauquan Sarah Ferguson, 18, and breakfast with the scholars, which included presentations by three Incline Village Young Chautauquans stood out in the second annual Lake Tahoe Chautauqua Festival, for executive director Lyn Karol.
Ferguson, who portrayed Abigail Adams, held her own, to the point of being "sassy" to the third President of the United States, said Cindy McClelland, publicist for the event. She began to challenge Thomas Jefferson before he came on stage, she said.
Ferguson started doing Chautauqua performances when she was 10 years old, and has been a protZgZ of Clay Jenkinson, who is known throughout the United States for his performances of Jefferson.
"It was much smoother this year - especially Sunday evening," McClelland said. More people came from out of town this year, and it was better supported by the community, as well, she said.
Word of mouth from many in the community who had attended the event and were looking forward to this year's festival, plus an experienced core of volunteers were key in its success this year, according to McClelland.
Saturday's performances of Benjamin Franklin by scholar Fred Krebs and Phillis Wheatley by scholar Dorothy Mains Prince, were appreciated by an audience of about 400, the same number as last year's performances, McClelland said.
"On Sunday, more than 700 attended," she said. "It looked more like (the attendance of) Shakespeare."
"The scholars loved the setting, and Sunday, Krebs and Prince were treated to the VIP seating, which they enjoyed immensely," Karol said.
Krebs, a veteran of many Chautauqua events, thought having it over a weekend was a wonderful idea, she said. "All the scholars said the food here is the best of any Chautauquas across the country."
Krebs came to Tahoe from Kansas and Prince from Boston, and both have years of portraying various historical figures in many settings.
The musicians that preceded the performances, playing harpsichord and violoncello and singing 18th century music were found by Sam Folio, but last-minute creative help by some of the volunteers made their appearance on the outdoor stage a reality.
"I had just bought the tent at Costco," Karol said. It protected the harpsichord from sun damage. The troupe also donned costumes and wigs of the era.
"Carol Bucks' foundation funded their performance, and the Nevada rangers helped lift the instrument on and off stage," Karol said. "I'm so appreciative of them all.'
Although the brunch Sunday at Sierra Nevada College was attended by relatively few, it was deemed a success by those who were there. Because the question-and-answer period needs to be curtailed at a performance, not everyone gets their questions answered, and the small gathering, sharing a meal with the scholars, provided the opportunity for questions as well as for informal conversation.
"Sierra Nevada College did a beautiful job in the outdoor ambience," Karol said. Many commented on the excellent weather during the entire weekend, and said it contributed to the event's success.
The Great Basin Chautauqua in Reno's Rancho San Raphael Park has been going for more than a decade, yet Jenkinson said it began with a core of only three Young Chautauquans, McClelland said. This kind of historical portrayal is catching on in the classroom, and fourth-graders are required to do these, she said. "With more awareness and nurturing, it will grown," she said.
"This year Nevada Tourism contributed to the Tahoe festival," Karol said. She is certain now the event is here to stay as one of Tahoe's mainstay events.
"I think what I like best about Chautauqua is seeing these famous people from our history talk about their everyday concerns," she said. They talk about their problems and how they attempted to solve them. "You can see the universality of human problems," she said.
Photographs from the weekend are on the Web site, www.tahoehistoryfestivals.com, and those who missed any of the festival can make up for that by going to the Reno event July 14 through 18 this year, the first evening featuring cameo performances by several scholars.
Ferguson, who portrayed Abigail Adams, held her own, to the point of being "sassy" to the third President of the United States, said Cindy McClelland, publicist for the event. She began to challenge Thomas Jefferson before he came on stage, she said.
Ferguson started doing Chautauqua performances when she was 10 years old, and has been a protZgZ of Clay Jenkinson, who is known throughout the United States for his performances of Jefferson.
"It was much smoother this year - especially Sunday evening," McClelland said. More people came from out of town this year, and it was better supported by the community, as well, she said.
Word of mouth from many in the community who had attended the event and were looking forward to this year's festival, plus an experienced core of volunteers were key in its success this year, according to McClelland.
Saturday's performances of Benjamin Franklin by scholar Fred Krebs and Phillis Wheatley by scholar Dorothy Mains Prince, were appreciated by an audience of about 400, the same number as last year's performances, McClelland said.
"On Sunday, more than 700 attended," she said. "It looked more like (the attendance of) Shakespeare."
"The scholars loved the setting, and Sunday, Krebs and Prince were treated to the VIP seating, which they enjoyed immensely," Karol said.
Krebs, a veteran of many Chautauqua events, thought having it over a weekend was a wonderful idea, she said. "All the scholars said the food here is the best of any Chautauquas across the country."
Krebs came to Tahoe from Kansas and Prince from Boston, and both have years of portraying various historical figures in many settings.
The musicians that preceded the performances, playing harpsichord and violoncello and singing 18th century music were found by Sam Folio, but last-minute creative help by some of the volunteers made their appearance on the outdoor stage a reality.
"I had just bought the tent at Costco," Karol said. It protected the harpsichord from sun damage. The troupe also donned costumes and wigs of the era.
"Carol Bucks' foundation funded their performance, and the Nevada rangers helped lift the instrument on and off stage," Karol said. "I'm so appreciative of them all.'
Although the brunch Sunday at Sierra Nevada College was attended by relatively few, it was deemed a success by those who were there. Because the question-and-answer period needs to be curtailed at a performance, not everyone gets their questions answered, and the small gathering, sharing a meal with the scholars, provided the opportunity for questions as well as for informal conversation.
"Sierra Nevada College did a beautiful job in the outdoor ambience," Karol said. Many commented on the excellent weather during the entire weekend, and said it contributed to the event's success.
The Great Basin Chautauqua in Reno's Rancho San Raphael Park has been going for more than a decade, yet Jenkinson said it began with a core of only three Young Chautauquans, McClelland said. This kind of historical portrayal is catching on in the classroom, and fourth-graders are required to do these, she said. "With more awareness and nurturing, it will grown," she said.
"This year Nevada Tourism contributed to the Tahoe festival," Karol said. She is certain now the event is here to stay as one of Tahoe's mainstay events.
"I think what I like best about Chautauqua is seeing these famous people from our history talk about their everyday concerns," she said. They talk about their problems and how they attempted to solve them. "You can see the universality of human problems," she said.
Photographs from the weekend are on the Web site, www.tahoehistoryfestivals.com, and those who missed any of the festival can make up for that by going to the Reno event July 14 through 18 this year, the first evening featuring cameo performances by several scholars.
