By Jo Petteruti
The new Young Chautauqua Program is running from March 1 through May 10 at the Churchill County Museu for children aged 12 to 18. Each Wednesday the group meets from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the museum to learn how to bring local historical Fallon families and figures to life.
By definition, a Chautauqua is a combination of education and entertainment in the form of plays, concerts, and lectures. Under the tutelage of instructor Glen Perazzo, participants will each choose a local historical figure, learn aspects of that person’s life, and then perform in costume as that person using the correct dialog for that time in history to portray them. Perazzo said, “They will first learn about one of these characters, and will then become of these characters. They will re-enact them at selected venues in town such as the Pennington Life Center, Highland Village, and the Homestead. We’ve also talked about doing a performance on stage at the Fallon Theatre, especially since it’s also historical. The final performance will be done later this summer at the museum’s annual meeting.”
Museum Director Mel Glover gave an overview of the program to the first two participants, Finn and Rosie Holenck. “Whatever you learn, whatever research you dig up on the person you choose is what you can use. Then we’ll have you dress in the period clothes and you give a little demonstration, just talk about whom you learned about. It might be for just a couple of minutes, or it might be for ten minutes. It’s whatever you’re comfortable with.” He told them about when he was a community actor and would get stage fright. “But that’s okay, we’ll help you with that too.” He went on to explain primary and secondary resources. “Primary is when the information is first captured, first-hand journals, letters, and such. Secondary is what you will be doing, researching from the primary sources and turning it into your own story.”
Perazzo has been the drama teacher at Churchill County High School for over 31 years, so he’s got a bit of experience in performances to lend to this program. He also likes to refer to himself as an amateur genealogist/historian. Museum staff members Jennifer Jones, Marilyn Moore, Rae Sottile, and Donna Cossette are also involved and provided lists of recommended characters that included men and women, Native and non-Native to choose from, discussing many of them. They did also say any other Fallon character could be chosen if that person would be of more interest to the performer.
By delving into the background of the character the participants choose, they become familiar enough to become that person on stage, talking about their life and possibly even answering questions as that person. The research can all be done at the museum, and the staff is ready to assist with that research.
“We are very, very excited about this. When Mrs. Jones first talked to me about this program, my eyes just lit up I was so excited. Then I told everyone else about it, and they got excited.” Finn and his sister Rosie, ages 13 and 11½ respectively are pretty excited to get started too.
Visit the museum’s website for program and registration information. https://www.ccmuseum.org/.
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