Chautauqua Institution

BLUE MOON
2026-06-28 20:30, 2026-06-27 17:45, 2026-06-26 20:30 (America/New_York) | Chautauqua Cinema, Chautauqua Cinema
This is the story of legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) bravely facing the future as his professional and private life both unravel at the opening night party for his former partner Richard Rodgers’ hit show Oklahoma! “As elegantly witty and luxuriantly melancholic as one of Rogers and Hart’s toe-tapping, heart-swelling compositions.” -Wendy Ide, Observer “Despite the wistful tone, it’s a bitingly funny viewing experience.” -David Sims, The Atlantic “One of the best-directed, best-written, best-acted films I have seen in a while.” -Stephen Romei, The Australian “Hawke delivers a performance for the ages in one of Richard Linklater’s best movies.” -Robert Levin, Newsday (R, 100m)

Sacred Song Service
2026-06-28 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater

Palestine Park Tour
2026-06-28 19:00 | Palestine Park, Palestine Park

TRAIN DREAMS
2026-06-28 17:45, 2026-06-27 20:30, 2026-06-26 17:45 | Chautauqua Cinema, Chautauqua Cinema
Clint Bentley’s superb adaptation of Denis Johnson’s beloved novella is the moving portrait of Robert Grainier, (Joel Edgerton) a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly-changing America of the early 1900s. “The story of a country that’s forever marching toward the future, rebuilding and redefining itself, even as the voices of its past cry out to be remembered.” -Robert Levin, Newsday “Beautiful, moving, and thoughtful.” -Rebecca Onion, Slate “If you can see it in a theater you should.” -Christy Lemire, FilmWeek “Gorgeous…to look at, to listen to, and to experience on an emotional level.” -Odie Henderson, Boston Globe (PG-13, 102m)

Blessing of the Animals (weather permitting)
2026-06-28 17:15 | Hall of Philosophy Grove

Newcomers Reception
2026-06-28 17:00 | 3 Taps
Join us for the Newcomers Reception, a welcoming gathering open to all first-time and new visitors to Chautauqua Institution. This lovely event is a chance to meet fellow newcomers, connect with members of the community, and learn more about all that Chautauqua has to offer. Guests will enjoy light refreshments while taking in the beautiful lake views, making it a perfect way to begin your Chautauqua experience. We look forward to welcoming you!

Children's Worship
2026-06-28 16:30 | Hall of Philosophy Grove

New Visitors Orientation
2026-06-28 16:00 | Hultquist 101, Hultquist 101
Join us for lemonade and cookies at the Orientation for new Chautauquans, where we warmly welcome you to our vibrant community. This event is designed to introduce you to the rich history, diverse programs, and unique experiences that Chautauqua offers. Meet fellow newcomers, engage with staff, and learn about the array of cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities available. Whether you’re here for a day, a week, or the entire season, this orientation will help you make the most of your visit and feel right at home.

CHQ Mystic Heart -Church of the Wild -Family Friendly
2026-06-28 16:00 | Outdoor Classroom
Kriss Young Miller and her husband Gary manage the Quaker House. Kriss is a 2022 graduate of Earlham School of Religion with her Master of Arts in Peace and Social Transformation. Kriss is currently a student of Victoria Loorz in the Seminary of the Wild Earth at the Center for Wild Spirituality. She has completed Wild Church Leadership training and is deeply grateful for the opportunity to work to build connections with Chautauquans in the sacred wild.

Stephanie Ginese and Annmarie Kelly-Harbaugh
2026-06-28 15:30 | Hall of Philosophy, Hall of Philosophy
Chautauqua Writers’ Center Faculty Reading — Featuring Stephanie Ginese (Poetry) and Annmarie Kelly-Harbaugh (Prose)
Stephanie Ginese is an author, instructor, and stand-up comedian from South Lorain, Ohio. Her literary work has been featured in Las Palabritas Journal at Harvard University, The Pinch Journal at the University of Memphis, Cleveland Review of Books, and elsewhere. Her debut collection of poetry, Unto Dogs, was released in July of 2022 on Grieveland. She is a 2023 Cleveland Arts Prize winner and a 2024 Creative Impact Fund awardee. Currently, she lives in Cleveland with her two children. She can be found at www.sginese.com or on Sundays at Dunlap’s Corner Bar where she co-hosts the Con Tú Variety Show.
Annmarie Kelly-Harbaugh is the author of Here Be Dragons, a memoir about the wonderful misery of raising children with someone you love. She also hosts Wild Precious Life, a literary podcast about making the most of the time we have. Annmarie teaches writing at Stanford, Cuyahoga Community College, and Ashland University where she works with incarcerated students trying to obtain their degrees. Her essays have appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, in Today Parenting, Black Fork, Gordon Square Review, and The New York Observer, among others and her work has been staged with the Cleveland Humanities Festival and Listen to Your Mother Pittsburgh. She’s received support from the Ohio Arts Council, Martha’s Vineyard Institute, Tin House, and Il Monasterino della Conoscenza, and was recently named both the Hemingway-Pfeiffer and Erma Bombeck Writer-in-Residence. In her non-writing moments, Annmarie loves kickboxing, karaoke, dogs, ping-pong, books that make her laugh, movies that make her cry, and salads other people make her eat. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio, where she is currently writing a book with the ghost of her father.

The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus
2026-06-28 15:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
The Concert Band & Soldiers’ Chorus are the oldest and largest performing components of The U.S. Army Field Band. Founded in 1946 and 1957, respectively, these premier ensembles have performed for hundreds of millions of people in all 50 states and more than 30 countries.
The 60-member Concert Band and 29-member Soldiers’ Chorus perform everywhere from world-renowned concert halls to community auditoriums, presenting programs that span orchestral classics, opera, Sousa marches, jazz, Broadway, and more. In addition to national tours, concerts, chamber recitals, and educational outreach, they represent the Army at major ceremonial events, including the Presidential Inaugural Parade and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. They have also appeared alongside ensembles such as the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and National Symphony Orchestra.
Featured on this performance is the world premiere of Evident Truths, a newly commissioned work by acclaimed composer Nkeiru Okoye commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. Inspired by America’s founding, the piece reflects on the nation’s journey through a contemporary musical lens, exploring the enduring ideals at the heart of the American story.

"Sculpture Garden 2026" Opening Reception
2026-06-28 15:00 | Melvin Johnson Sculpture Garden, Melvin Johnson Sculpture Garden
“Sculpture Garden 2026” opening reception. Exhibition runs June 28-August 26. Featuring outdoor sculptures by Page Henry and Ed Parrish. Curated by Judy Barie.

"Twisted" Exhibition Opening Reception
2026-06-28 15:00 | Strohl Art Center 2nd Floor
“Twisted” opening reception. Exhibition runs June 28-August 24. All works in this craft-based exhibition are literally and figuratively twisted into shapes by carving, turning, squeezing and trimming their materials. The result is an array of beautifully designed sculptures, ranging in sizes that cohesively exist together. See the intricate handwork, using a variety of materials from Atticus Adams, Vivian Chiu, Kyle Cottier, Andrew Hayes, Terumi Saito and Philip Soucy. This exhibition is generously sponsored by Gary & Willow Brost. Curated by Judy Barie, the Susan & John Turben Director of CVA Galleries.

"Forest for the Trees" Exhibition Opening Reception
2026-06-28 15:00 | Fowler-Kellogg Art Center: 1st Floor
“Forest for the Trees” opening reception. Exhibition runs June 28 – August 9. Forest for the Trees is a sylvan-themed exhibition with a focus on the positive impact of forest ecosystems and the need to preserve them. Each artist focuses on different bionetworks on the forest floor or within the trees. Using paint, textiles, sculpture, and light-based processes, they also remind us to consider the bigger picture of what is at stake if we disrupt our woodlands. This exhibition is generously sponsored by Kay Hardesty Logan Foundation. Curated by Erika Diamond.
Artists: Addyson Aftanas, Colby Caldwell, Joan Elliott, Anna Johnson, Colleen Toledano, Melissa Webb, Tali Weinberg

"Lexie Loader: Warm Light, Cool Shadows" Exhibition Opening Reception
2026-06-28 15:00 | Strohl Art Center 2nd Floor
“Lexie Loader: Warm Light, Cool Shadows” opening reception. Exhibition runs June 28 – July 23. With a soft gaze, Lexie Loader paints interior and exterior spaces, exploring the relationships we have with memories, places, and objects. Her paintings bring the mundane and ordinary to life with a glow of familiar light and melancholic undertones. These works investigate the narratives provided by quiet and forgotten scenes. This exhibition is generously sponsored by the Friends of CVA. Curated by Erika Diamond.

"Here and Now: Contemporary Feminists" Exhibition Opening Reception
2026-06-28 15:00 | Strohl Art Center: Main Galleries
The Chautauqua Visual Arts Galleries are pleased to present Here and Now: Contemporary Feminists, on view June 28 through July 22, 2026, in the Main Galleries of Strohl Art Center.
Presented in conjunction with Chautauqua Institution’s Week One theme, Icons and Instigators: Women Who Change the World, the exhibition brings together six contemporary artists: Tiffany Calvert, Lisa Hoke, Sarah Jacobs, Judy Pfaff, Patty Warashina, and Adero Willard.
Working across a range of media, these artists represent diverse perspectives within contemporary art. While each artist brings a distinct voice and personal vision to her work, the exhibition acknowledges the generations of women who challenged conventions, expanded opportunities, and helped create new possibilities for artists working today.
The exhibition coincides with a July 1 CVA Lecture Series talk by Guerilla Girls founding member Frida Kahlo. Held from 6:30–7:30 p.m. in Smith Wilkes Hall, the lecture complements the exhibition by exploring the impact of women on contemporary culture and society.
Here and Now: Contemporary Feminists is generously sponsored by Betsy and Jim Vance.
The exhibition is curated by Judy Barie, Susan and John Turben Director of CVA Galleries.
For more information, please contact the Chautauqua Visual Arts Galleries art@chq.org/exhibitions/ at Chautauqua Institution.

"Sculpture Garden 2026" Exhibition: June 28–August 26
2026-06-28 13:00 | Melvin Johnson Sculpture Garden, Melvin Johnson Sculpture Garden
“Sculpture Garden 2026” exhibition runs June 28-August 26. Featuring outdoor sculptures by Page Henry and Ed Parrish. Curated by Judy Barie.

"Twisted" Exhibition: June 28–August 24
2026-06-28 13:00 | Strohl Art Center 2nd Floor
“Twisted” exhibition runs June 28-August 24. All works in this craft-based exhibition are literally and figuratively twisted into shapes by carving, turning, squeezing and trimming their materials. The result is an array of beautifully designed sculptures, ranging in sizes that cohesively exist together. See the intricate handwork, using a variety of materials from Atticus Adams, Vivian Chiu, Kyle Cottier, Andrew Hayes, Terumi Saito and Philip Soucy. This exhibition is generously sponsored by Gary & Willow Brost. Curated by Judy Barie, the Susan & John Turben Director of CVA Galleries.

"Forest for the Trees" Exhibition: June 28–August 9
2026-06-28 13:00 | Fowler-Kellogg Art Center: 1st Floor
“Forest for the Trees” exhibition runs June 28 – August 9. “Forest for the Trees” is a sylvan-themed exhibition with a focus on the positive impact of forest ecosystems and the need to preserve them. Each artist focuses on different bionetworks on the forest floor or within the trees. Using paint, textiles, sculpture, and light-based processes, they also remind us to consider the bigger picture of what is at stake if we disrupt our woodlands. This exhibition is generously sponsored by Kay Hardesty Logan Foundation. Curated by Erika Diamond.
Artists: Addyson Aftanas, Colby Caldwell, Joan Elliott, Anna Johnson, Colleen Toledano, Melissa Webb, Tali Weinberg

"Lexie Loader" Exhibition: June 28–July 23
2026-06-28 13:00 | Strohl Art Center 2nd Floor
“Lexie Loader: Warm Light, Cool Shadows” exhibition runs June 28-July 23. With a soft gaze, Lexie Loader paints interior and exterior spaces, exploring the relationships we have with memories, places, and objects. Her paintings bring the mundane and ordinary to life with a glow of familiar light and melancholic undertones. These works investigate the narratives provided by quiet and forgotten scenes. This exhibition is generously sponsored by the Friends of CVA. Curated by Erika Diamond.

"Here and Now: Contemporary Feminists" Exhibition: June 28–July 22
2026-06-28 13:00 | Strohl Art Center: Main Galleries
“Here and Now: Contemporary Feminists” exhibition runs June 28 – July 22. This exhibition is linked to Chautauqua’s week one’s lecture theme Icons and Instigators: Women who Changed the World. Six prominent artists are featured in this exhibition in the Main Gallery of Strohl Art Center: Tiffany Calvert, Lisa Hoke, Sarah Jacobs, Judy Pfaff, Patty Warashina, and Adero Willard. Each of these accomplished artists bring a unique, personal dynamic to their current work, while also standing on the shoulders of other women who pushed them forward. Curated by Judy Barie, the Susan & John Turben Director of CVA Galleries.

Twelve Step Meeting
2026-06-28 12:15 | Hurlbut Marion Lawrance

The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde
2026-06-28 11:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde serves as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. In this role, she serves as spiritual leader for the congregations and Episcopal schools in the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties that comprise the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. The first woman elected to this position, she also serves as the chair and president of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, which oversees the ministries of the Washington National Cathedral and Cathedral schools.
Budde is committed to the spiritual vitality and public witness of the congregations in her care. She is proud to serve a diocese committed to justice and mercy. She cherishes her friendship with interfaith leaders in the Washington Metro Area and their joint endeavors in service to the common good.
Budde was consecrated as the ninth bishop of Washington in 2011. Prior to her election, she served for 18 years as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. Her sermons have been published in several books and journals. Budde is the author of three books including the New York Times bestseller How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, which has been adapted as a Young Adult book, We Can Be Brave: How We Learn to Be Brave in Life’s Decisive Moments as well as a picture book for young children, I Can Learn to Be Brave, forthcoming in July 2026.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at the University of Rochester, graduating magna cum laude. She earned both a Master in Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Virginia Theological Seminary.

Opening Three Taps
2026-06-28 10:45 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater

Unitarian Universalist Service
2026-06-28 09:30 | Hall of Philosophy, Hall of Philosophy

Catholic Mass
2026-06-28 09:30 | Hurlbut Church sanctuary, Hurlbut Church sanctuary

Unity Service
2026-06-28 09:30 | Hall of Missions, Hall of Missions

Quaker Worship Service
2026-06-28 09:30 | Quaker House

Episcopal Holy Eucharist
2026-06-28 09:00, 2026-06-28 07:45 | Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Chapel of the Good Shepherd

United Church of Christ Worship Service
2026-06-28 09:00 | Randell Chapel, UCC Headquarters

Song, Prayer, Communion & Meditation.
2026-06-28 08:30 | Hurlbut Church sanctuary, Hurlbut Church sanctuary

Wynonna Judd and Melissa Etheridge: Raised On Radio
2026-06-27 18:30 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Grammy Award winning icons, Melissa Etheridge and Wynonna Judd, have just announced dates for their co-headlining Raised On Radio Tour. These two musical trailblazers are teaming up for an unforgettable tour, bringing fans their chart-topping hits and signature sounds that made them two of the most celebrated artists of all time.
“I’ve spent my entire adult life onstage, but before any of that, I was just a girl sitting close to a radio speaker, hanging on every word. That’s where it all started for me,” says Judd. She continues, “Raised On Radio isn’t just a tour name—it’s my roots and wings. It’s late nights with the dial turned low, chasing distant stations through the static. It’s songs that felt like they understood me before I understood myself. The radio was my teacher, my comfort, my escape. The songs playing through that radio shaped me as a dreamer and an artist. This tour is about going back to that feeling and sharing it with you.” Etheridge adds, “I was literally raised on the radio, growing up in Leavenworth I listened to WHB. They played every kind of music from rock and soul to R&B and country music. It helped shape me to become the versatile writer and musician that I am today.”
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominee, Etheridge stormed the rock scene with her confessional lyrics and signature vocal rasp on “Bring Me Some Water,” “Come to My Window,” “Bein’ Alive” and “The Other Side of Blue” with Chris Stapleton from her new album Rise (2026).
Judd, a five-time Grammy winner and Country Music Hall of Fame Member, first rose to fame as one-half of the legendary Country music duo, The Judds. She cemented her stardom through countless chart-topping solo hits in the ‘90s and 2000s, including “No One Else on Earth,” “I Saw The Light,” and “She Is His Only Need.”
Fans can sign up for early access to tickets for the Raised On Radio Tour, including exclusive VIP packages, by visiting Wynonna.com and MelissaEtheridge.com. Artist presales start Tuesday, March 10th at 10:00am local time, with public on-sale to follow on Friday, March 13th at 10:00am local.

Catholic Mass
2026-06-27 17:00 | Hall of Philosophy, Hall of Philosophy

Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet Spring Gala
2026-06-20 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet, under the direction of Monika Alch, presents their 2026 Spring Gala performance.
This performance will celebrate the retirement of Artistic Director Monika Alch this June. After 30 years under her leadership, CRYB became a premier classical training program in the region, with students going on to professional careers, top summer intensives, and teaching positions across the country. CRYB is thrilled that she will continue as Faculty Emeritus, sharing her expertise through coaching and master classes.
Repertoire will include modern dance and classical ballet featuring all ages of students, including highlighted works from across Monica Alch’s career.

An Evening with Wilco
2026-06-14 19:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
For 30 years, Wilco has been a pioneering force in independent music. The Chicago rock band has released 13 studio albums and won multiple Grammy Awards. They have founded their own record label, dBpm Records, and the renowned Solid Sound Festival.
The sextet — comprised of Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glenn Kotche, Pat Sansone, Nels Cline and Mikael Jorgensen — continues to be regarded as a live powerhouse. As described by NPR, “To see Wilco on stage is to hear the best of the best.”
The band’s newest album, Cousin, was released in 2023, followed by 2024’s Hot Sun Cool Shroud EP.

Wilco Concert Buffet Dinner
2026-06-14 16:30 | Heirloom (at Athenaeum)
Enjoy a relaxed yet refined dining experience featuring comforting classics, seasonal ingredients, and creative nods to Wilco’s iconic catalog. Guests will enjoy a prime rib carving station, maple-mustard glazed salmon, herb-roasted chicken, stuffed portobello caps, along with a variety of hearty sides and fresh salads — each dish prepared to be both familiar and unexpected, much like the music itself. From rich, soulful flavors to bright, vibrant accompaniments, the menu offers something for every palate.

CLSC Unbound: Jimin Han
2026-05-11 16:30 | Zoom, Zoom
Chautauqua Literary & Scientific Circle (CLSC) Unbound – Dreamt I Found You: A Novel by Jimin Han
From the critically acclaimed author of The Apology comes a contemporary retelling of Korea’s Romeo & Juliet, as the cousin of the star-crossed lovers helps them avoid a tragic fate.
When Dahee Shin was nine years old, she made a promise to protect her favorite cousin, Channing, who has always been like a sister to her. Now, at thirty, Dahee has found herself in a Korean American community in a New England beach town, once more running to the rescue of her debt-ridden relative. Ever the idealist, Channing—who has spent her life haunted by the tragic story of Chunhyang and Mongryong, Korea’s parallel Romeo & Juliet—has fallen in love with Minjae Oh, all the while fending off the advances of powerful, manipulative Kent Cho, a local politician. As Channing and Minjae’s romance blossoms, and as Kent’s suspicion and obsession grow, Dahee begins to realize that it may be up to her to make sure her cousin and beloved escape Chunhyang and Mongryong’s doomed end.
For fans of Hello Beautiful, Dreamt I Found You is a wondrous, tender retelling of Korea’s most classic love story, steeped in the travails of a rigid class system, the power of premonition, and shot through with Korean folklore and magic.
Jimin Han was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Providence, Rhode Island; Dayton, Ohio; and Jamestown, New York. She is the author of A Small Revolution and The Apology. She has written for NPR’s Weekend America, Poets and Writers Magazine, Catapult Magazine, Platypus Press, and Citric Acid Literary Journal, among others. She teaches at Sarah Lawrence College and Pace University, as well as at community writing centers. She lives outside New York City.
Jimin Han will join Stephine Hunt (Interim Michael I. Rudell Director of Literary Arts) in conversation on Monday, May 11, 2026, as part of our CLSC Unbound programming to discuss the significance of classic retellings, sharing South Korean stories, and her most recent novel – and 2026 CLSC selection – Dreamt I Found You (forthcoming April 28, 2026 from Little, Brown and Company).
Register for the free Zoom Webinar here.

Mother's Day Brunch
2026-05-10 10:00 | Athenaeum Hotel, Athenaeum Hotel
This event is sold out.
$62.00 per person, plus tax, plus gratuity
(1) Free Mimosa for mom
$22.00 per person (Ages 5-11)
Free (Under 4 years old)

Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
2026-02-28 13:00, 2026-02-22 13:00, 2026-02-21 13:00, 2026-02-15 13:00, 2026-02-14 13:00, 2026-02-08 13:00, 2026-02-07 13:00, 2026-02-01 13:00 and 9 more dates | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza
The Stateline Horseman’s Association will provide sleigh and wagon rides around the grounds every weekend starting Saturday, Jan. 4 and continuing every Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting) until Feb. 28. The rides will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Chautauqua Bookstore, with prices as follows: $5 for individuals aged 13 and older, $3 for youth aged 2 to 12, and free for those under 2 years old.
If weather conditions seem adverse, call the Bookstore ahead of your visit at 716-357-2151.

Jaquira Díaz
2025-11-20 16:30 | Zoom, Zoom
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle Unbound Selection – This is the Only Kingdom: A Novel by Jaquira Díaz
This Fall, Chautauqua Literary Arts invites you to join us for the second CLSC Unbound program via Zoom Webinar to discuss Jaquira Díaz’s debut novel, This is the Only Kingdom, to take place November 20, 2025.
Register for the free Zoom Webinar here.
From the Whiting Award-winning author Jaquira Díaz, an epic novel of a mother and daughter wrestling with the aftermath of a murder, set against the backdrop of a tightknit, working-class barrio in Puerto Rico.
When Maricarmen meets Rey el Cantante, beloved small-time Robin Hood and local musician on the rise, she begins to envision a life beyond the tight-knit community of el Caserío, Puerto Rico – beyond cleaning houses, beyond waiting tables, beyond the constant tug of war between the street hustlers and los camarones. But breaking free proves more difficult than she imagined, and she soon finds herself struggling to make a home for herself, for Rey, his young brother Tito, and eventually, their daughter Nena. Until one fateful day changes everything.
Fifteen years later, Maricarmen and Nena find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation as the community that once rallied to support Rey turns against them. Now Nena, a teenager haunted by loss and betrayal and exploring her sexual identity, must learn to fight for herself and her family in a world not always welcoming. For lovers of the Neapolitan novels, This is the Only Kingdom is an immersive and moving portrait of a family – and a community – torn apart by generational grief, and a powerful love letter to mothers, daughters, and the barrios that make them.
Born in Puerto Rico, Jaquira Díaz was raised between Humacao, Fajardo, and Miami Beach. She is the author of Ordinary Girls: A Memoir, winner of a Whiting Award, a Florida Book Awards Gold Medal, a Lambda Literary Awards finalist, an American Booksellers Association Indies Introduce Selection, a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Selection, an Indie Next Pick, a Library Reads pick, and finalist for the B&N Discover Prize.
The recipient of the Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction, the Alonzo Davis Fellowship from VCCA, two Pushcart Prizes, an Elizabeth George Foundation grant, and fellowships from MacDowell, the Kenyon Review, Bread Loaf, Sewanee, the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing, and the Black Mountain Institute at UNLV, Díaz has written for The Atlantic, The Guardian, Time Magazine, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, and The Fader, and her stories, poems, and essays have been anthologized in The Best American Essays, The Breakbeat Poets Vol. 4: LatiNext, Best American Experimental Writing, and The Pushcart Prize anthology. In 2022, she held the Mina Hohenberg Darden Chair in Creative Writing at Old Dominion University’s MFA program and a Pabst Endowed Chair for Master Writers at the Atlantic Center for the Arts. She lives in New York and teaches at Columbia University.

CHQ Travels: London Theater: Page to Stage
2025-11-10 00:00 - 2025-11-15 00:00
Join Chautauqua Theater Company’s producing artistic director Jade King Carroll on an immersive journey into the heart of London’s theater scene. Unravel the mysteries of storied theaters and delve into the play development and writing processes. You will have the opportunity to go backstage literally and figuratively as you meet with
theater professionals who all have a hand in making sure that the show goes on. As you learn about some of the building blocks that go into producing theater, each day will be punctuated by captivating performances on some of London’s most iconic stages.

Oktoberfest
2025-10-25 17:00 | Athenaeum Hotel, Athenaeum Hotel
Experience a night of German splendor at the Athenaeum Hotel! Savor an indulgent German feast while being serenaded by The Bergholz German Band, direct from Niagara Falls (NY). Clad in vibrant, traditional garb, this band brings the essence of German Folk tradition to life with their infectious oom-pah rhythms and joyful melodies. Their full wind ensemble delivers a rich, harmonious sound that embodies the cheerful spirit of Gemütlichkeit, a tradition they’ve delighted audiences with for 50 incredible years.
Come just for the evening, or book our Oktoberfest Overnight Hotel Package.
Package price starts at $257 for two people, $56 per person for dinner only.
Package includes:
Lodging at the historic Athenaeum Hotel located on Chautauqua Lake
German feast on Saturday
Breakfast on Sunday
Make your night extra special with an overnight stay at the Athenaeum Hotel. Book your room today online or by calling 716-357-4444.
*Does not include tax or gratuity. Subject to availability. Rates are based on double occupancy. Single occupancy rates are available upon request.

Preview Performance of the feath3r theory
2025-09-25 16:00 | Carnahan-Jackson: McBride/Verdy, Carnahan-Jackson: McBride/Verdy
Experience one of New York City’s most daring dance-theatre ensembles as they share a work-in-progress showing of their latest creation.
Join the New York City–based dance-theatre-media collective the feath3r theory (TF3T) for an exclusive preview of their bold new work A Body of Dangerous Ideas. Conceived by Artistic Director Raja Feather Kelly, the piece investigates how bodies absorb and resist the ideas projected onto them, exploring violence—how it appears in the body, how it is carried, and how it transforms us. With Kelly’s signature engagement with pop culture, the work interrogates how media desensitizes us to danger while shaping our sympathies for it, expanding from the personal body to the global stage.
Following the presentation, join the artists for an informal meet-and-greet on the porch of Carnahan-Jackson Dance Studios.
About A Body of Dangerous Ideas
At its core, A Body of Dangerous Ideas investigates how bodies are shaped by the ideas projected onto them — and how they resist, embody, or rupture under that weight. The work asks: What makes an idea dangerous? And how does a body respond to that danger? I’m examining violence — what it looks like in the body, how we carry it, and how it transforms us. With my ongoing engagement with pop culture, I’m exploring how media both desensitizes and shapes our sympathies for violence and danger — particularly when experienced from a distance. As we zoom out from the individual, the work also asks how danger operates across borders, identities, and social constructs. What does the future look like in a world where thought, expression, and intimacy are all perceived as threats?
About the feath3r theory (TF3T)
the feath3r theory (TF3T) is a New York City based dance-theatre-media company that produces the work of Artistic Director and Choreographer Raja Feather Kelly. As a collaboration of dancers, actors, filmmakers, musicians, photographers, and designers, our mission is to broaden the space for unheard voices and repressed histories, to bring into the theatre those sometimes left out, and to use theatre to provoke much-needed public conversations. the feath3r theory does this by challenging its audience and its creators to collectively interrogate – and celebrate – its shared relationship to human empathy and personal ethics as expressed in and distorted by popular media. By unabashedly appropriating the structures, themes, and aesthetics of reality television, celebrity culture, social media and the internet, the work of TF3T synthesizes dance, visual media, fashion, and narrative theatre into virtuosic, expansive, radical and surreal large scale pop-culture phenomena or an overwhelming, over-saturated ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ in which artists and audience alike experience their shared humanity. We are committed to addressing pressing social issues through Dance, Theatre, and Media.

The Colors of India
2025-09-25 00:00
Join Chautauqua Travels and Chautauqua Institution’s Chief IDEA Officer Amit Taneja on a colorful 9-day journey
through northern India and experience a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and scents unlike anywhere else in the
world. Begin in the bustling metropolis of Delhi, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly into everyday modern
life, with visits to classic landmarks such as the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, India Gate, and Parliament House. Travel
to Agra and witness the timeless alure of the Taj Mahal, then continue to Jaipur, known for its historic and palatial
cotton-candy-colored buildings that dot the skyline. Dig deeper into the complexities of India and see the Golden
Triangle in a new light as you meet with skilled artists and performers, have candid conversations with local
businesswomen, and participate in a unique community service experience at one of the largest food pantries in
the world. Your travels in India culminate as Jaipur comes alive with a celebration of Dussehra, an annual Hindu
festival that marks the triumph of good over evil with dazzling parades, sparkling fireworks, and symbolic burning
of effigies.

Bonnie Raitt with special guest Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band
2025-09-05 19:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Chautauqua Institution is thrilled to welcome the iconic Bonnie Raitt to our Amphitheater! A singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose unique style blends blues, R&B, rock, and pop, after 20 years as a cult favorite, Raitt broke through to the top in the early 90s with her GRAMMY-award-winning albums, Nick of Time and Luck of the Draw, which featured hits, “Something To Talk About” and “I Can’t Make You Love Me” among others. The thirteen-time GRAMMY winner (and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Awardee) was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and Rolling Stone named the slide guitar ace one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” and one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time.” Raitt received another incredible accolade being recognized for her lifetime of artistic achievement as part of the Kennedy Center’s 47th Class of Honorees in Washington, DC in December 2024.
Raitt is as known for her lifelong commitment to social activism as she is for her music, and has long been involved with the environmental movement, performing concerts around oil, nuclear power, mining, water, and forest protection since the mid-‘70s. She was a founding member of MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy), which produced the historic concerts, album and film NO NUKES (1979,) as well as a founding member of The Rhythm and Blues Foundation, which works for royalty reform and recognition of generations of pioneer R&B artists. She continues to work on safe energy issues in addition to environmental protection, social justice, Native American and human rights, as well as artist’s rights and music education.
