Nevada Humanities

The Young Chautauqua Program

Young Chautauqua is a nationally recognized and award-winning youth program in which young scholars portray historical figures. Through monologues and question-and-answer sessions, young scholars—in and out of character—engage the audience in lively discussions with people from the past, and then provide insight into historical study. The Young Chautauqua program is a valuable way to increase young people's understanding of, and engagement with, the humanities.

The Young Chautauqua Handbook and Creating a Young Chautauqua Program are available upon request for anyone wishing to start a program in their own community. Using Great Basin Young Chautauqua as a model, programs now take place in schools and communities throughout Nevada and the nation.

Great Basin Young Chautauqua

Great Basin Young Chautauqua, which started in Reno in 1993, is the youth adjunct to Nevada Humanities Chautauqua. The Young Chautauqua program in Reno continues to provide a six month training program each year that culminates in performances during Nevada Humanities Chautauqua. The program is open to children ages 8 - 18.

Young Chautauqua is an intense program of scholarship, research, rehearsing, and performing. A Young Chautauquan must love to read, act, and learn. Young Chautauquans commit to developing a theatrical character in January and spend more than six months reading biographies, learning stories, and rehearsing their character in front of other Young Chautauquans at bimonthly meetings.

In April and May, their characters are ready and Young Chautauquans go on the road to perform. They each create a costume and polish flexible 5, 10, and 15-minute monologues that they present to community groups, schools, libraries, and service organizations.

Performances at Bartley Ranch Regional Park during Nevada Humanities Chautauqua are the final event for the Great Basin Young Chautauqua program. Six months of research and practice are shared with the public in a celebratory performance.

In addition, Young Chautauquans are available for performances throughout the year.

Young people interested in becoming involved with Young Chautauqua can access all the forms and resources on the menu at the left.