Project Description
History Alive! Colorado West Chautauqua
Explore “The 19th Amendment and All That Jazz” with Colorado West Chautauqua, in person at the Grand Valley Events Center, October 22-23, 2021. Featured portrayals include politician and women’s rights proponent Jeannette Rankin, performer and civil rights advocate Josephine Baker, and evangelist Billy Sunday, with additional performances by local Young Chautauquans, the Grand Valley History Players, and the Grand Junction High School Jazz Band.



Friday, October 22
Doors open at 6 p.m. and performances begin at 6:30 p.m.
Young Chautauquan Emily Larsen as Wladyslaw Szpilman
Grand Valley History Players Kathy Applebee as Annette Kellermann, Michael Hardesty as Harry Houdini, Angeline Roles as Mae West, and emcee Jessica Downing-Ford
Jeanette Rankin portrayed by Jeanmarie Simpson
Saturday, October 23
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and performances begin at 6 p.m.
Grand Junction High School Jazz Band
Young Chautauquan Cambria Henson as Eleanor Roosevelt
Josephine Baker portrayed by Becky Stone
Billy Sunday portrayed by Doug Mishler
Saturday, October 23
11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
free daytime programs feature the scholars who portray Billy Sunday, Josephine Baker, Jeanette Rankin, and the Grand Valley History Players.

Tickets can be purchased at museumofwesternco.com/event/2021-chautauqua-the-19th-amendment-and-all-that-jazz-2021-10-23/ or at the door. $6 per person per night, or $10 for both nights. Children 12 and under are free.
Two Rivers Chautauqua
Today, Chautauqua has been reinvented as a way to bring the humanities, especially history, back to life. Organizations across the country bring in professional scholar-actors (Chautauquans) who portray historical characters then answer questions in and out of character. These modern-day Chautauquas are usually sponsored by state humanities councils.