Our Chautauqua Characters

Performance Meets the Past

Meet Our Chautauqua Characters

These portrayals bring to life a powerful and diverse group of historical figures: leaders, visionaries, artists, and changemakers whose voices helped shape the cultural and civic landscape of their time. Each character represents a unique story of resilience, creativity, and courage. Through in-depth research, live performance, and dynamic storytelling, we honor their legacies and invite audiences of all ages to engage with the past in a way that feels personal, relevant, and alive.

Meet Our Chautauqua Characters

Harriet Tubman (1822 - 1913)

Martin Delaney (1812 - 1885)

Thomas Henry Barnes (1831 - 1913)

Coralie Franklin Cook (1861 - 1942)

Bessie Coleman (1892 - 1926)

Pearl Buck (1892 - 1973)

Edith Wharton (1862 - 1937)

Memphis Tennessee Garrison (1890 - 1988)

Eslanda Robeson (1895 - 1965)

Ethel Waters (1896 - 1977)

Rose Cousins (1920 - 2006)

Elizabeth Catlett (1915 - 2012)

Captain Luis Emilio (1844 - 1918)

Live Programs available:

Online Live Programs & Online Recorded Programs

Recorded VFTE Chautauqua performances are available, including question and answer sessions after the performance. Contact us for this exciting remote learning opportunity about black history.

1

The American Civil War

Theme: Rebuilding a Nation – Fulfilling the Promise of Freedom

Commemorating the historic Freedman’s community at Mitchelville, SC — the first self-governing Freedman’s Town in America.

Set on Hilton Head Island in 1862, Mitchelville was part of “The Port Royal Experiment,” a powerful moment in Black history and self-determination.

2

Trailblazers & Torchbearers

Black History Chautauqua Portrayals by Ilene Evans

  • Ethel Waters: Taking a Chance on Love
  • Elizabeth Catlett: My Art Speaks for Both My Peoples
  • Rose Cousins: Black Dreams in Blue Skies
  • Coralie Franklin Cook: Lifting As We Climb
  • Memphis Tennessee Garrison: They Call Me Ms. Memphis
  • Harriet Tubman: Behind Enemy Lines
  • Harriet Tubman: General Moses
  • Eslanda Robeson: I Will Not Sit Still
  • Bessie Coleman: Bronze Aviatrix
3

At the Elders’ Feet

Theme: Conversations Across the Generations

Exploring the legacies of Black elders through intimate, intergenerational storytelling and performance.