​Chautauqua Series Retires
We want to let you know we are retiring and ending the series. It has been such a pleasure to meet all of you and share all those evenings together. We wish you the best of health and thank you for coming and joining us. We also want you to know we are not ending the series because of any health conditions. Chris is still receiving treatments but is doing fine.
It has been over 15 years of sharing a wide range of historical characters numbering over 300. We have achieved what we set out to do:
1) provide affordable entertainment and education to our community,
2) provide gifted people to share their love of history and present well-rounded presentations of historical people based on extensive research, and
3) provide a place to meet new people and build friendships.
Thank you for joining us,
The Petees

​Chautauqua Series Welcomes Jane Austen
Mount Vernon –On Thursday, November 17, the Chautauqua Series is happy to announce Jane Austen, noted author will speak. The program will be at the Grand Hotel (12 Public Square in downtown Mount Vernon) at 7 PM. The Chautauqua Series is brought to you with the help of a grant provided by the Ariel Foundation and is offered on a donation basis, with all monies collected going to the performer.
 
This program will follow the usual first-person living history, with Raylene Hlavaty portraying Jane Austen. Austen was the author of only “Pride and Prejudice”, “Sense and Sensibility”, “Emma”, and “Mansfield Park” during her lifetime.
 
Ms. Hlavaty has graced the Chautauqua Series many times over its 15-year history and has portrayed such characters as Beatrix Potter, Abigail Adams, Fanny Crosby, and Katharina Luther (wife of Martin Luther).
 
Raylene will give her presentation then take questions from the audience. Chautauqua programs are intended for families, students and all who wish to know more about history in a family friendly, entertaining manner.
 
NOTE: masks are not required but will be provided and hand sanitizer will be available for all those who prefer to use a mask and sanitize their hands.

For more information about Raylene - visit https://www.timelessvoicesohio.com/jane-austen.html
 
For more information, visit www.elixirpresents.com. 

Chautauqua Series Presents Women Spies of World War II 
 
Mount Vernon –On Thursday September 29, Chris Petee will be discussing and profiling women spies of World War II. Without the daring missions of female SOE and OSS agents, and the varied work of the female Resistance workers who had lived every moment of the occupation in danger, the war probably wouldn’t have ended the way it did, or at least as soon as it did.  
 
The women whose stories will be featured are not the only female heroes of the World War II. There were hundreds of thousands of women who fought against the Nazi regime in many different ways. Some of them are remembered only by a short chapter in a book, others by a paragraph on a website. The stories of thousands more may never be known. 
 
This special program will not follow the usual first-person living history. Instead, Chris Petee will present a program discussing some of the heroines and their important roles in WWII. Chris will give her presentation then take questions from the audience. Chautauqua programs are intended for families, students and all who wish to know more about history in a family friendly, entertaining manner. This program will mention violence against women.  
 
The program will be at the Grand Hotel (12 Public Square in downtown Mount Vernon) at 7 PM. The Chautauqua Series is brought to you with the help of a grant provided by the Ariel Foundation and is donation based with all monies collected going to the performers. 
 
NOTE: masks are not required, however they will be provided and hand sanitizer will be available. 
 
Upcoming programs:  
October 27 – Benjamin Frayser as James Garfield discussing the importance of voting. 
November 17 – Raylene Hlavaty portrays Jane Austen. 
  
For more information about these programs, visit www.elixirpresents.com. If you would like to receive a “Gentle Reminder” on the Sunday before each program contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com.  

​Chautauqua Welcomes Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
 
Mount Vernon –On Thursday August 25, the Chautauqua Series presents an evening with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans as portrayed by Jim and Amy K. Stoner. The program will be at the Grand Hotel (12 Public Square in downtown Mount Vernon) at 7 PM. The cost of admission is a donation with all monies collected going to the performers. The Chautauqua Series is brought to you with the help of a grant provided by the Ariel Foundation.
 
For those unfamiliar with the Chautauqua format, these programs present historical figures in first person portrayals, dressed in the clothing of the era. The Stoners will dress in period costumes then take questions from the audience. These programs are intended for families, students and all who wish to know more about history in a family friendly, entertaining manner.
 
Roy Rogers was born Leonard Franklin Slye in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 5, 1911. He appeared in over 100 films and numerous radio and television episodes of “The Roy Rogers Show”. In many of his films and television episodes, he appeared with his wife, Dale Evans; his Golden Palomino, Trigger; and his German Shepherd, Bullet. The couple’s signature song, “Happy Trails,” was written by Dale Evans. The organizers of the Woodstock Festival wanted Roy to close the festival by singing that song. He turned down the invitation.
 
There will be no opening act for this Chautauqua so please come early to see full presentation.
  
NOTE: Masks are optional. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available.
 
Upcoming programs include:
 
September 29 – Chris Petee discusses women spies of World War II
October 27 – Benjamin Frayser as President James Garfield
November 17 – Raylene Hlavaty as Jane Austen                 
 
For more information about these programs, visit www.elixirpresents.com. If you would like to receive a “Gentle Reminder” on the Sunday before each program, contact The Chautauqua Series at elixir_petee@hotmail.com. 
 

Our friend Jeff Putanm will be presenting Woody Guthrie (he has portrayed Guthrie for our Chautauqua Series in the past) ​.

​Chautauqua Features Area Murder Mystery
 
Mount Vernon –On Thursday, June 30, the Chautauqua Series presents Mark Jordan bringing to life yet another local murder mystery, Cletus Reese and Murder Ridge. Mark has presented many Chautauqua’s and is the author of “The Ceely Rose Murders at Malabar Farm” and has presented his investigative research and reporting of the early 1900’s Maplehurst Murder in Mount Vernon. The Chautauqua Series is brought to you with the help of a grant provided by the Ariel Foundation.
 
For those unfamiliar with the Chautauqua format, these programs generally present historical figures in first person portrayals, dressed in the clothing of the era.  This particular Chautauqua will be Mark’s reporting on his research on the murders that occurred in Warsaw, Ohio, Coshocton County. After his presentation Mark will take questions from the audience. These programs are intended for families, students and all who wish to know more about history in a family friendly, entertaining manner. The program is presented on a donation basis – with all the proceeds going to the performer.
 
There will be no opening act for this Chautauqua so please come early to see full presentation.
  
NOTE: Masks are optional. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available.
 
Upcoming programs include:
 
July 28 – Tammy Souhrada as Shirley Temple Black
August 25 – Jim & Amy. K. Stoner as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
September 29 – Chris Petee discusses women spies of World War II
October 27 – Benjamin Frayser as President James Garfield
November 17 – Raylene Hlavaty as Jane Austen                 
 
For more information about these programs, visit www.elixirpresents.com. If you would like to receive a “Gentle Reminder” on the Sunday before each program, contact The Chautauqua Series at elixir_petee@hotmail.com. 

​Chautauqua Welcomes Erma Bombeck
 
Mount Vernon –On Thursday May 26, the Chautauqua Series presents Susan Kahrl as   Erma Bombeck  humorist who achieved great popularity for her newspaper humor column describing suburban home life, syndicated from 1965 to 1996. She also published 15 books, most of which became bestsellers. The program will be at the Grand Hotel (12 Public Square in downtown Mount Vernon) at 7 PM. The cost of admission is a donation with all monies collected going to the performer. The Chautauqua Series is brought to you with the help of a grant provided by the Ariel Foundation.
 
For those unfamiliar with the Chautauqua format, these programs present historical figures in first person portrayals, dressed in the clothing of the era.  Susan will give her presentation then take questions from the audience. These programs are intended for families, students and all who wish to know more about history in a family friendly, entertaining manner.
 
There will be no opening act for this Chautauqua so please come early to see full presentation.
  
NOTE: Masks are optional. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available.
 
Upcoming programs include:
 
June 30 – Mark Jordan with more local murder mysteries.
July 28 – Jim & Amy. K. Stoner as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
August 25 – Tammy Souhrada as Shirley Temple Black
September 29 – Chris Petee discusses women spies of World War II
October 27 – Benjamin Frayser as President James Garfield
November 17 – Raylene Hlavaty as Jane Austen                 
 
For more information about these programs, visit www.elixirpresents.com. If you would like to receive a “Gentle Reminder” on the Sunday before each program, contact The Chautauqua Series at elixir_petee@hotmail.com. 
 

​Mount Vernon –On Thursday April 28, the Chautauqua Series presents Valerie Hamill as   Major Pauline Cushman, Spy of the Cumberland, who served as a spy and scout for Sunbury, Ohio native Major General William Rosecrans in 1863 and was the first known female veteran of the United States Army. The program will be at the Grand Hotel (12 Public Square in downtown Mount Vernon) at 7 PM. The cost of admission is a donation with all monies collected going to the performers. The Chautauqua Series is brought to you with the help of a grant provided by the Ariel Foundation.
 
For those unfamiliar with the Chautauqua format, these programs present historical figures in first person portrayals, dressed in the clothing of the era. Valerie will dress in uniform. She will give her presentation then take questions from the audience. These programs are intended for families, students and all who wish to know more about history in a family friendly, entertaining manner.
 
There will be no opening act for this Chautauqua so please come early to see full presentation.
  
NOTE: Masks are optional. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available.
 
Upcoming programs include:
 
May 26 – Susan Kahrl portraying Erma Bombeck
June 30 – Mark Jordan with more local murder mysteries.
July 28 – Jim & Amy. K. Stoner as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
August 25 – Tammy Souhrada as Shirley Temple Black
September 29 – Chris Petee discusses women spies of World War II
October 27 – Benjamin Frayser as President James Garfield
November 17 – Raylene Hlavaty as Jane Austen                 
 
For more information about these programs, visit www.elixirpresents.com. If you would like to receive a “Gentle Reminder” on the Sunday before each program, contact The Chautauqua Series at elixir_petee@hotmail.com. 

​Mount Vernon –On Thursday March 24, the Chautauqua Series is happy to welcome Julia Geiger as Roseanna McCoy, one of the central people involved in the Hatfield & McCoys feud. The program will be at the Grand Hotel (12 Public Square in downtown Mount Vernon) at 7 PM. The Chautauqua Series is brought to you with the help of a grant provided by the Ariel Foundation. The cost is a donation with all monies collected going to the performers.
 
For those unfamiliar with the Chautauqua format, these programs present historical figures in first person portrayals, dressed in the clothing of the era. Julia will, for all intents and purposes, be Roseanna McCoy. She will give her presentation then take questions from the audience. The programs are intended for families, students and all who wish to know more about history in a family friendly, entertaining manner.
 
Opening the program will be Gerry Rensel as Rufus T. Calhoun, singing songs of the era.
  
NOTE: Masks are optional. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available.
 
Upcoming programs include:
 
April 28 – Valerie Hamill as Pauline Cushman, Civil War Spy
May 26 – Susan Kahrl portraying Erma Bombeck
June 30 – Mark Jordan with more local murder mysteries.
July 28 – Jim & Amy. K. Stoner as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
August 25 – Tammy Souhrada as Shirley Temple Black
September 29 – Chris Petee discusses women spies of World War II
October 27 – Benjamin Frayser as President James Garfield
November 17 – Raylene Hvality as Jane Austen                 
 
For more information about these programs, visit www.elixirpresents.com. If you would like to receive a “Gentle Reminder” on the Sunday before each program contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com.