Experience 'The Power of Words' at the Chautauqua History Alive Festival

Get ready to laugh, cry and flat out have a great time. Meet five of America's greatest wordsmiths and experience "The Power of Words" at the 19th annual Chautauqua History Alive Festival in Greenville, Spartanburg, Travelers Rest, Fountain Inn, Pelzer SC and Asheville, NC. Chautauqua isn't just a performance. It's a chance to step into Living History - to ask questions and go one on one with the people who shaped our country and our world. Bring your stories. Share your experiences. Get inspired. Because it's not just history - it's personal.

A ten-day - two-weekend festival of non-stop live history and fun for the whole family. 30+ free events. Five different shows performed by nationally acclaimed historical interpreters. And it's all FREE.

Listen in as President Lincoln redefines American democracy

Rise up and sing with poet Maya Angelou

Protest and march with Cesar Chavez

Step inside the revolutionary book Silent Spring, with Rachel Carson

And once again as the nightly news unfolds "You Are There" with Walter Cronkite

Nationally acclaimed historical interpreters dressed in costume will bring each character to life and to speak in their own words. The audience will then question the character, delving more deeply into the issues that have been raised. The replies will be historically authentic, based on research using letters, diaries, journals, and published writings. Finally, the interpreter will step out of character and answer audience questions from a critical, modern perspective.

Who: A cast of nationally acclaimed historical interpreters. There are simply no better interpreters of these fascinating historic figures. (Performer Bios below)

Abe Lincoln (George Frein, Ft Worth, TX)
Maya Angelou (Becky Stone, Fairview, NC)
Cesar Chavez (Fred Blanco, Los Angeles, CA )
Rachel Carson (Caroline McIntyre, Greenville, SC)
Walter Cronkite (Larry Bounds, Greer, SC)

Where:

• Greenville, SC: Falls Park, Greenville Technical College, Centre Stage, Phillis Wheatley Center, The Kroc Center, Upcountry History Museum, and Greenville Downtown Airport

• Pelzer, SC: Pelzer Auditorium

• Fountain Inn, SC: Younts Center for Performing Arts

• Travelers Rest, SC: Trailblazer Park Amphitheater

• Spartanburg, SC: Headquarters Library, Barrett Room

• Asheville, NC: A-B Tech Community College, Ferguson Auditorium

Greenville Chautauqua More than history. More than a performance. More than a story. We are Chautauqua, a nonprofit, experiential oral tradition that brings history to life through interactive theater and compelling discussion that stimulates critical thinking. We believe stories should be told and histories deserve to be heard. We're committed to bringing great communities together to celebrate culture, conversation, and critical though. We celebrate the diversity of our culture through a variety of voices from the past because history belongs to all of us. As a non-profit dedicated to bringing history to life, our events are and always will be free, fun, and family-friendly.