Chautauqua Theatre

Historical Theatre Like You’ve Never Seen

What is Chautauqua?

Chautauqua is a special type of theatre that brings different figures from our history to life, literally. Since 1992, The Kentucky Humanities Society has brought to life more than 70 people from Kentucky’s past – both famous and unknown: allowing us all a chance to meet characters such as as Coloniel Sanders, Abraham Lincoln, Aunt Jemimah and Daniel Boone in a way that we could have never imagined.

The current Kentucky Chautauqua cast includes 25 figures from Kentucky’s rich and colorful history. From William Wells Brown’s struggle for freedom and John Marshall Harlan’s role as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, to Alice Lloyd’s struggle to bring education to Appalachia and Jean Ritchie’s musical legacy, Kentucky Chautauqua offers something for every classroom and community group.

Most Recent Chautauqua Event

Rosie the Riveter

May 13

Listen to the fascinating story of Rose Leigh from Science Hill, KY and how she worked as a riveter on B-24 planes during WWII.

Learn about her struggles during the war and how many women were called upon to serve the USA during WWII in many factories that produced war materials.

Aunt Jemima

The Pancake Queen, Nancy Green was born in 1934 and died in 1923. Nancy Green became one of the first prosperous African American women in the U.S. Green was born enslaved in Montgomery County, Kentucky, in 1834. While in Kentucky she worked for the Walker family and moved with them to Chicago just after the Great Fire, in 1872. Eight years later, Nancy Green became "Aunt Jemima."

Daniel Boon

The quintessential Kentuckian was born in 1734 and died in 1820. He blazed the trails that would become the map of Kentucky through courage, love of the newfound region, and his cunning facility with the land and its native peoples.

Alolph Rupp

The Coach was born in 1901 and died in 1977. During the 42 years he coached the University of Kentucky men's basketball team, Adolph Rupp raised the game to near-religious status in the Commonwealth. Rupp's teams won 880 games, four national championships, and one Olympic gold medal.