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Museum on Main has announced its 2021 season for the Ed Kinney Speaker Series, which presents “An Afternoon or Evening with…” a famous person from history each month, and was postponed from last year. It will be held virtually, picking up in March with Lady Bird Johnson where it left off in 2020.
The schedule remains the same with two exceptions: Gene Roddenberry will appear April 14; and Marie Curie will be July 21.
“Erma Bombeck, who was originally scheduled for July of 2020, was a fan favorite, so people may be surprised to see she is no longer on the schedule,” museum education director Sarah Schaefer said. “Her performance requires in-person audience interaction, so we have rebooked her for our 2022 season and replaced her with famed scientist Marie Curie on the 100th anniversary of her visit to the United States.”
The performances will be held Wednesday afternoons and evenings in order to keep the same dates as last year’s events, which were scheduled on Tuesdays. Those who purchased tickets to the 2020 series are asked to email Sarah Schaefer at education@museumonmain.org or call the museum at 462-2766 to ensure they are signed up for the new season.
Others, from near and far, who want to participate in the virtual series can visit the museum’s website to purchase tickets. Cost per screen is $10 for members, $15 for seniors and students, and $20 for general admission. Access to the virtual shows will be provided to ticket holders through email one day prior to the performance date.
The Ed Kinney Speaker Series hosts actors who give Chautauqua-style performances, in which the audience can interact with the historical character in a live question and answer session after the presentation.
“We had a wonderful experience with live Q&A during our virtual Ghost Walks so we are very optimistic about having it in the virtual speaker series,” Schaefer said. “We will also be using a new web-based webinar platform, Big Marker, that is even easier to use than Zoom. Not only will patrons not have to download any special app, the program also allows for more meaningful and engaging Q&A sessions.”
The museum will hold a series of test runs for those who want to become familiar with the platform before attending the shows. The first test run is at 11 a.m. next Saturday (March 20).
The speaker series is also sponsored by Pleasanton and the Civic Arts Commission Grant Program, which helps keep ticket costs low. For more information, visit www.museumonmain.org or call the Museum on Main at 462-2766.
Ed Kinney Speaker Series
The 2021 “An Afternoon or Evening with…” performances will take place at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on the following Wednesdays:
* March 24: Lady Bird Johnson. Claudia Alta Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson, wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson, served as First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969, portrayed by actress Gay Storm.
* April 14: Gene Roddenberry, an American television screenwriter and producer, who most notably created the “Star Trek” television series, portrayed by Chautauqua scholar Doug Mishler.
* May 26: Che Guevara, who is seen by many as a savior and to others as a violent revolutionary and murderer, the Communist leader will be portrayed by Chautauqua scholar Joey Madia.
* June 9: Thomas Edison, one of America’s greatest inventors, who brought us the light bulb, phonograph and motion pictures, depicted by actor Peter Small.
* July 21: Marie Curie, one of the world’s most renowned scientists, best known for pioneering the field of radioactivity, portrayed by Susan Marie Frontczak.
* Aug. 18: Jacques Cousteau, a French naval officer, ocean explorer and co-inventor of the Aqua-Lung, portrayed by Chautauqua scholar Doug Mishler.
* Sept. 15: William Shakespeare, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s greatest dramatist, brought to life by actor J.T. Turner.
* Oct. 13: Audie Murphy, America’s most decorated World War II combat soldier and Hollywood star, portrayed by actor Duffy Hudson.
