Chautauqua comes to the Virden Center

3:52 p.m., May 27, 2005--Come meet and listen to George Washington, George Washington Carver, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and other historical figures (or at least their interpreters) at the seventh annual Chautauqua Tent Show, sponsored by the Delaware Humanities Forum.

Entitled “Thinkers, Doers, Makers: Novelty to Necessity, American Inventors and Innovators,” the free program is open to the public from Sunday, June 19, through Wednesday, June 22, at UD’s Virden Center in Lewes. The schedule of events is listed below.

Sunday, June 20:

2 p.m., “George Washington,” portrayed by William Sommerfield of the American Historical Theatre;
3 p.m., reception and light refreshments in the Virden Center;
4:30 p.m., “George Washington and Thomas Jefferson Together,” with Jefferson portrayed by Steve Edenbo of the American Historical Theatre;
6:30 p.m., music presented by the Delaware Music School; and
7 p.m., “Thomas Jefferson.”

Monday, June 20:

10:30 a.m., “George Washington Carver,” portrayed by Willis Phelps, storyteller and historical interpreter; and
7 p.m., “Madame C.J. Walker,” inventor of cosmetic and hair products for African-American women and a self-made millionaire, portrayed by Denise Cross, who wrote and acted in a play about Madam C.J. Walker in Washington, D.C.;

Tuesday, June 21:

7 p.m., “Benjamin Franklin,” portrayed by Dean Bennett of the American Historical Theatre.

Wednesday, June 22:

7 p.m., “Eldridge Reeves Johnson,” a native of Delaware and the founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company, which became RCA Victor and changed the history of music and the recording industry, portrayed by noted local actor, Dick Pack.

For more information, call the Delaware Humanities Forum office at (800) 752-2060 or (302) 657-6750.

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