Watch costumed performers presenting original first-person monologues, based on weeks of research and practice. A different line-up each date. This Saturday & Sunday, 2:30 to 4:30 pm.

2020 Performance Dates and Times (in the Libary’s Fireside Theater):

Saturday, March 7 — 2:30 – 4:30 PM  /  Sunday, March 8 — 2:30 – 4:30 PM  /  Thursday, March 12, 6:30 – 8:30 PM  /  Saturday, March 14 — 7 – 9 PM  /  Sunday, March 15, 2:30 – 4:30 PM  / Encore: Wednesday, April 8 — 6:30 – 8:30 PM   

No registration required

Imagine telling your life story to an audience. Where would you begin? What events would you select to hold an audience’s interest? Could you remember all the dates and names and places?

Then imagine learning someone else’s life story. From scratch.

For four months, that’s been the ambition of many local students who are part of the 2020 Young Chautauqua project. These young people have chosen a figure from history. They’ve read and memorized all they can. They’ve thought deeply about how to outline their story and write a monologue. They’ve assembled their costume. They’ve practiced before their friends.

And now they’re ready for you: the audience.

You can support these local students—and delve into history—by attending this season’s Young Chautauqua performances at the Library. With so many participants, there will be four evenings of Chautauqua, with a different roster of performers each evening. There’s no registration to attend.

Those who have attended in years past know they’re in for an evening of enjoyment. It’s truly fascinating to watch how these students have worked to develop their narrative—and how they are able to field questions, both in and out of character.

Colorado is recognized around the U.S. for its top-notch Young Chautauqua program. And Estes Park certainly has one of the most thriving programs in the state, led again this year by instructor Katherine Dumont, who has been mentoring each student at weekly meetings held at the Library—the perfect place to research all these intriguing figures of history.

The students also got to work with professional storyteller and coach Susan Marie Frontczak, thanks to a partnership with Colorado Humanities.

The program raises student interest and knowledge of history by providing opportunities to learn research skills and to practice public speaking while being mentored at each step. It builds self-esteem and reveals insights into life choices and challenges—for both performers and audience members alike.

Gratitude goes to the Library Friends & Foundation for making Young Chautauqua possible, and specifically to funds from the Katie Speer Memorial Grant.

The project is one more element in the Library’s objectives toward literacy, lifelong learning, and community. Come support these performers.