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MOUNT VERNON – Hers was the voice sold over 80 million records and 3 Grammy Awards for hits like “Close to You,” “We’ve Only Just Begun” and “Rainy Days and Mondays.” After being called chubby as a teenager, she began dieting. When she slimmed down from 145 to 120 lbs., her friends and family praised her weight loss. It was only after her weight continued to plummet, dropping to a skeletal 90 lbs. in the mid-1970s that they realized her health was in jeopardy. At the time of her death most people were unaware of a condition called anorexia.

This Thursday, June 29, meet Karen Carpenter as portrayed by Mary Spence. As part of the Chautauqua Series, Elixir Presents with support from the Ariel Foundation bring talented writers, actors and scholars to our community, presenting first person living history. The wide variety of historical people from George Washington to Lucille Ball, Mozart to Jim Morrison, the Chautauqua Series goes beyond the history books and presents as close to the real person as possible to enrich our community. The programs are donation based with all money collected going to the presenters on stage.

Mary Spence is making her Chautauqua debut with her presentation of Karen Carpenter and opening the program will be the acoustic music of Desmond Wall.

The Chautauqua will be presented at ThePlace@TheWoodward (101 S. Main Street in downtown Mount Vernon) on Thursday June 29 at 7 PM. Doors open at this first floor theater at 6 PM and Elixir Presents encourages families, home schoolers, those with special needs to come as these programs are family friendly and a good way to meet friends and neighbors for an evening out.
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For more information on this program and future programs in the series, visit www.elixirpresents.com or www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 740-392-6102. If you would like to receive a gentle reminder the Sunday before each program, please send a request to Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com.

MOUNT VERNON - Clyde Champion Barrow and his companion, Bonnie Parker, were shot to death by officers in an ambush near Sailes, Bienville Parish, Louisiana on May 23, 1934, after one of the most colorful and spectacular manhunts the nation had seen up to that time. Bonnie and Clyde met in Texas in January, 1930. At the time, Bonnie was 19 and married to an imprisoned murderer; Clyde was 21 and unmarried. Soon after, he was arrested for a burglary and sent to jail. He escaped using a gun Bonnie had smuggled to him, was recaptured and was sent back to prison. Clyde was paroled in February 1932, rejoined Bonnie, and resumed a life of crime.

On Thursday, June 15, 2017 at ThePlace@TheWoodward (101 S. Main Street, downtown Mount Vernon) meet Bonnie & Clyde portrayed by Chautauqua veterans Jim and Amy K. Stoner. Jim and Amy will bring to life a man and woman who have had an enduring appeal to those people who consider themselves outsiders, or oppose the existing system. Bonnie and Clyde represent the ultimate outsiders, revolting against an uncaring system.
Doors open at this first floor theater at 6 PM, with the program starting at 7 Pm with music provided by Joshua Hill and Bonnie and Clyde taking the stage at 7:45 and then the couple will field questions from the audience.

These Chautauqua programs are brought to you on a donation basis by Elixir Presents with the assistance from The Ariel Foundation. The programs are family friendly, assessable to those with special needs and a wonderful way to learn more about the real people and the times in which they lived.
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For more information on this and future programs in the series, call 740-392-6102 or visit www.elixirpresents.com or www.VisitKnoxOhio.org. For a gentle email reminder on the Sunday before each program with the latest information, please contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com.