Chautauqua Series Welcomes Back Mark Twain

Mount Vernon – Get ready for an enjoyable evening of the priceless humor and insights of a true master, Mark Twain, portrayed by Ken Barnett. Ken has made several appearances at the series, portraying Red Skelton, Jonathan Winters and Dame Edna Everett but will return on Thursday October 2, 2014 with his first and favorite character, one he has been doing for over 40 years. In the tradition of Hal Holbrook, Ken’s mentor, Barnett will have your laughing, thinking and sure he is the real thing.

Opening the program will be another side of Ken Barnett – director, actor, choir director and cabaret singer. Ken had requested to just sing for a Chautauqua but when the originally scheduled Chautauqua character had to bow out due to health issues, Ken volunteered to do both ends of the performance, sing and then take on the guise of Mark Twain. As they say, the show must go on.

The Mark Twain Chautauqua will take place at ThePlace@TheWoodward at 111 S. Main Street in Mount Vernon, a first floor facility that is accessible to those with special needs. The doors open at 6 PM and the program starts at 7 PM and presented on a donation basis. For more information on this and upcoming programs in the Chautauqua Series, presented by Elixir (Gerry Rensel, Chris and Mike Petee) visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call          740-392-6102. To receive an email reminder the Sunday before each program, request to be added to the Friendly Reminder list at elixir_petee@hotmail.com. 2015 schedule is coming soon.

Chautauqua to Feature Knox County Native American

Mount Vernon – According to the Kenyon College Family Farm Project, “Native Americans first appeared in Knox County around 11,000 B.C….Prior to the arrival of white settlers, the only tools which the Indians of this area had were stone hatchets, pointed sticks, and bone shovels and hoes…. After the settlers arrived the Indians quickly began to adopt their tools. By 1825, many of the Indians had been removed from Knox County and by 1842 they were almost entirely pushed out of the area.”

On Thursday September 25, the Chautauqua Series presents a representative of the Native Americans located in the Knox County area around the early 1800’s. Portraying “Blue Eyes”, a white boy captured by the Natives and then spent considerable time in this area will be portrayed by Ralph Arms, noted Native American re-enactor. Mr. Arms planned to portray Chief Armstrong, a native from this area who interacted several times with Dan Emmett's father, but historic data is scarce so he plans to portray Blue Eyes and include a lot of information about what it was like in the early 1800's in this area of Ohio.

Opening the program is Owl Creek, an all original home grown musical experience, consisting of Sarah Goslee Reed, Alison Cline, Skip Trask, Roy Rush and Mike Petee. The group brings many musical styles and instrumentation that produces a blend of music that is both contemporary and yet timeless. The band is in the process of recording their first offering and buzz is already generating about the results of the initial sessions.

The program starts at 7 PM at ThePlace@TheWoodward [111. S. Main Street in downtown Mount Vernon] with Owl Creek and then …. At 7:45 PM. The doors open at 6 PM and the theatrehas easy access for those with special needs such as walkers, wheel chairs and strollers. This series is brought to you by Elixir and presented on a donation basis. For more information on this and upcoming programs, visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 740-392-6102. If you would like to receive a reminder on the Sunday before each program by email, contact elixir_petee@hotmail.com.

Ohio Pioneer to Speak at Chautauqua

MOUNT VERNON – The Chautauqua Series is happy to announce September as late 1700’s Ohio month, featuring two lesser known persons from Ohio’s past. First up is Lewis Weitzel, a Daniel Boone type pioneer on September 11 then Chief Armstrong, a Native American who lived in the Knox county area on September 25.

Ken Hammontree, Chautauqua veteran will portray Lewis Weitzel with the group Elixir opening the program. The program will be held at ThePlace@TheWoodward (111 S. Main St. in downtown Mount Vernon) at 7 PM, Thursday September 10. Doors to this first floor facility will open at 6 PM and the program is presented on a donation basis.

Lewis Wetzel’s family settled in an area along Big Wheeling Creek, not far from the Ohio River, unfortunately for them, they were now direct targets from the Shawnee, Delaware and Miami Indians. The family became used to raids from these tribes. At the age of thirteen Lewis was captured by a raiding party of Wyandot Indians along with his brother George. During the assault young Lewis was grazed in the chest with a bullet. On the third night of their capture, the Indians were lax in guarding the two boys. As their captors slept, the boys made their escape. The Indians soon set out in pursuit but the Wetzel boys eluded them. They crossed the Ohio River on a raft they had made. They finally dragged themselves back into their village clearing to the amazement of their family. This event marked a new turn in Lewis' life. He spent his every waking moment in perfecting his skills as an Indian fighter, becoming an expert shot and adept with tomahawk and hunting knife. He perfected another skill that was rare indeed on the frontier - he was able to load, prime and shoot his long rifle while running at full speed through the forest.

For more information on future programs visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 392-6102. To receive a gentle email reminder on the Sunday before each program, contact elixir_petee@hotmail.com.