​

Inspired by the Chautauquas of the late 19th and early twentieth centuries, the NTUSA's Chautauqua!  both narrated and embodied in its performance the historical trajectory of the original Chautauqua movement - from its high-minded ideals on the emancipatory power of knowledge to what some saw as its capitulation to capital, show-biz aesthetics and debased economic exchange. But more than an exercise in historical exegesis, the show explored contemporary tensions between art, commerce and community in the specific venues in which we performed. With substantial portions of the show rewritten for each locale, and the inclusion of local lecturers and performers wherever we toured, Chautauqua! was ultimately a celebration of art and art institutions in their capacity to bring communities together.

​