The Miller Bell Tower
...Visitors are welcome during performance times. Birthday, anniversary and tune requests are often on the agenda, but with only 14 bells, there is a limit of range. General History Bells have always played an important role at Chautauqua in signaling activities of the day. In the summer of 1874, the Meneely & Kimberly Company of Troy, New York, provided a bell for use to signal the activities of the very first Chautauqua Assembly. The Assembly...
Sailing
...goes out at 4 p.m. Weekend rentals by appointment only. Please call the sailing center, or stop in, to schedule a time to rent the desired boat. Chautauqua Yacht Club The CYC, an independent CHQ organization, offers racing opportunities for C-Scows, Flying Scots, and Lightnings every Saturday and Sunday from the first weekend of the Season through Labor Day, for all sailors interesting in racing. Please check the website, chautauquayachtclub.weebly.com to learn about CYC events....
Sacred Music
...choral singing experience with excellent vocal quality and sight-reading ability. Weekday rehearsals and religious services are 8:15–10 a.m. An additional rehearsal is scheduled for Motet Choir. Motet singers are expected to fully participate in the Chautauqua Sunday Community Choir (see Chautauqua Choir, above), which requires attendance at two of three rehearsals on Thursday, Friday or Saturday evenings from 6–7:45 p.m., and singing for both the Sunday morning and evening services. Qualified singers are compensated in...
Renowned Artists Denyce Graves-Montgomery and Jonathan Beyer to Lead Chautauqua Opera Conservatory
...partnership with Graves-Montgomery in the planning phases and in overseeing the Conservatory’s day-to-day operations. Graves-Montgomery will bring her unparalleled prowess and vision to the Opera Conservatory as the artistic advisor, working collaboratively with Beyer. During the conservatory’s six weeks in residence, she will provide her expertise during scheduled visits, offering invaluable mentorship to our 25 students, our faculty and our staff. “Denyce Graves-Montgomery’s stature in the industry is legendary, and we are honored that she...
Young Playwrights Project
...members visit each classroom in-person, to read and act out the students’ plays. Phase 3 – Field Trip: Seeing the Plays Will take place in mid-June, 2026. Students are invited to visit Chautauqua Institution for an entire day that includes: Viewing a select number of plays from all those submitted after Phase 1 The opportunity to attend the CRYB Spring Gala Preview performance, if schools desire Eating lunch outdoors (weather permitting) on the beautiful grounds...
Chautauqua Theater Company Announces 2026 Mainstage Season
...at Chautauqua. A ribbon-cutting celebration will take place on Sunday, June 28, the opening day of the 2026 Summer Assembly, in the new black box theater. After years of working across borrowed spaces, CTC’s artists and staff will have a true home base — rehearsal studios, performance spaces, and offices united in one purpose-built facility. Fostering collaboration and community, the Roe Green Theater Center will launch a transformative new era for theater-making at Chautauqua. Its...
Piloting a New Kind of Patron Experience: Bonnie Raitt With Special Guest Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band
Chautauqua Institution announces a special post-season concert experience on Friday, September 5, featuring legendary artist Bonnie Raitt with special guest Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-A-Whirl Band. This event marks a new chapter in Chautauqua’s entertainment programming and will serve as the launch of a pilot initiative aimed at enhancing the concert experience for all. As part of this pilot, concessions including food, beer, wine, and other beverages will be available at the Amphitheater. Beverages (served in covered cups) will be permitted inside the...
Experience Community
Experience Community The civic-minded Chautauqua community offers a wide array of opportunities to connect from day one. From affinity groups for the arts to organizations that convene programs and discussion on important societal and environmental issues, there are paths for anyone looking to deepen their involvement. African American Heritage House The African-American Heritage House (AAHH) an organization, informed by the African American Experience, committed to strengthening Chautauqua by encouraging and welcoming diversity, fostering honest conversations,...
New Play Workshops
...Broadway and beyond. Her work has been featured by Lincoln Center, Cirque du Soleil, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Joe’s Pub, Ars Nova, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Dancing with the Stars, and other regional and international venues. Awards include the Reva Shiner Comedy Award, the Modern Works Award, Paulette Goddard Award, multiple ASCAP Plus Awards, and the Capital Repertory New Works Award. Three-time finalist for the Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre, and a finalist...
Chautauqua Theater Company Announces 2024 New Play Workshops
Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC), the resident theater company of Chautauqua Institution, today announced its New Play Workshops for the 2024 season. CTC’s audience will have the chance to experience plays at every stage of development, showcasing the work of the country’s most exciting playwrights. From a first new play reading to a staged workshop, a revival of a New Play Workshop, and a commissioned world premiere, the audience will be a part of the process...