JOURNAL CULTURE
Leslie Goddard as Bette Davis
Larry Bounds as Walt Disney
George Frein as Orson Welles
Living an American dream Chautauqua season explores five whose dreams played out on the big screen CINDY LANDRUM | STAFF
clandrum@communityjournals.com
This Christmas Bunny Wants To Go Home With You!
Americans like to think if you can dream it, you can do it. Dreams played out big for the subjects of the upcoming Greenville Chautauqua season – as in on the big screen. The dreams of Bette Davis, Walt Disney, Orson Welles, Gordon Parks and Mary Pickford will play out in the 2015 Chautauqua season, first in discussions and the movie series that begin in Janu-
ary and then in 10-day festival in June. Chautauqua has been described as “history that can’t stay in a book.” People in history come alive – portrayed through a part-actor, part-scholar in costume. After the actor performs a monologue, the floor is opened to audience questions. Because of that, Chautauqua is not just an actor working from a script.
Instead, the performers immerse themselves in their characters by reading biographies and historical writings. It’s a long process – veteran Chautauqua actors say it takes them about a year to learn a new character well enough so they won’t be stumped by a question. Bette Davis was known in Hollywood for her success, longevity and temper. CHAUTAUQUA continued on PAGE 26
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DECEMBER 26, 2014 | THE JOURNAL 25