Series Begins at La Plata Campus July 10, 11, 12
Commemorating the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, the Maryland Humanities Councils annual Chautauqua program will open the Twilight Performance Series at the College of Southern Maryland at the La Plata Campus July 10, 11 and 12.
Chautauqua is an educational program of the Maryland Humanities Council, presented in partnership with CSM and includes opening musical acts at 6:45 p.m., followed by performances from Chautauquan actors who portray historical figures. This year will feature British Major General Robert Ross; Fourth President of the United States of America, James Madison; and a member of a wealthy Maryland family whose extensive correspondence illuminated life on the Calvert plantation, Rosalie Stier Calvert.
Ross will be played by Doug Mishler, an independent scholar who has taught at the University of Nevada and Western Washington University. He is the author of a history of the Ringling Brothers Circus and has consulted on several public television and Chautauqua programs. Since 1995, Mishler has appeared at the Maryland Chautauqua as P.T. Barnum, Theodore Roosevelt, William Lloyd Garrison, Henry Ford, Upton Sinclair and George Wallace. He also portrays Ernie Pyle, Billy Sunday, William Clark, Andrew Carnegie, Andrew Jackson, Edward R. Murrow and Thomas Hart Benton. Mishler has a Ph.D. in American cultural history from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Madison will be played by John Douglas Hall, who has portrayed Madison at Montpelier, the Presidents home in Orange County, Va, since it re-opened in 1987. Hall has also represented Madison at conferences, colleges, museums and historic sites around the country. In his unique approach to living history, he studies and portrays events as they occurred 200 years ago to the day, starting each day by reading gazettes and pamphlets of that particular date in history.
Calvert will be played by Mary Ann Jung, the award-winning actress behind the History Alive! interactive performances. Jung has been a lead actress and director of renaissance history and Shakespearean language at the Maryland Renaissance Festival for more than 30 years and has appeared on CNN, the Today Show, and Good Morning America. Jungs living history performances include Julia Child, Clara Barton, Mistress Margaret Brent, Rosalie of Riversdale, Amelia Earhart, Good Queen Bess and Rosie the Riveter. She received her bachelor of arts in British history from the University of Maryland.
This year the Twilight Performance Series will be held on the Fine Arts lawn, located directly behind the Learning Resource Building on the La Plata Campus. In the event of inclement weather, performances will move indoors to the Fine Arts Center. Closest parking is available in Lots 4 and 8.
In its sixth season the Twilight Performance Series is a free, family-friendly evening of entertainment held on each campus. Support for the series is being made available through a partnership with the Maryland Humanities Council and the Leonardtown Business Association and is made possible in part by a grant from the Charles County Arts Alliance, Arts Council of Calvert County, St. Marys County Arts Council and the Maryland State Arts Council. Sponsorships include contributions from Old Line Bank, BB&T, Donald and Mary Smolinski and Sue and Frank Taylor.
For information on the Twilight Performance Series call 301-934-7703 or visit www.csmd.edu/arts.
Chautauqua is a program of the Maryland Humanities Council presented in partnership with College of Southern Maryland. The Maryland Humanities Council, Inc. is an independent non-profit organization which receives support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Maryland Division of Historical and Cultural Programs, corporations, foundations and individuals.
Calendar Listings
Charles County
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Chautauquan British Major General Robert Ross. 6:45 p.m., July 10, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. CSMs Twilight Performance Series kicks off with Robert Ross, one of the historical figures featured as part of the Maryland Humanities Councils annual Chautauqua program. The night begins with musical entertainment provided by Steve Hickman, followed by the evenings historical performance. Bring a picnic with a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. 301-934-7828, 240-725-5499, 443-550-6199, 301-870-2309, Ext. 7828 or www.csmd.edu/Arts.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Chautauquan President James Madison. 6:45 p.m., July 11, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Twilight Performance Series kicks off with James Madison, one of the historical figures featured as part of the Maryland Humanities Councils annual Chautauqua program. The night begins with musical entertainment by David and Ginger Hildebrand, followed by the evenings historical performance. Bring a picnic with a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. 301-934-7828, 240-725-5499, 443-550-6199, 301-870-2309, Ext. 7828 or www.csmd.edu/Arts.
CSM Twilight Performance Series: Chautauquan Rosalie Stier Calvert. 6:45 p.m., July 12, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. CSMs Twilight Performance Series kicks off with Rosalie Stier Calvert, one of the historical figures featured as part of the Maryland Humanities Councils annual Chautauqua program. The night begins with musical entertainment by Steve Hickman, followed by the evenings historical performance. Bring a picnic with a lawn chair or blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted.) Free. 301-934-7828, 240-725-5499, 443-550-6199, 301-870-2309, Ext. 7828 or www.csmd.edu/Arts.
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