Repost from Champlain News
By: Olivia Werenski ‘17/ Champlain College News
The Champlain Chautauqua Event Series may have an usual name, but it is grounded in an education movement in the United States, popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The Champlain College Core Division series takes its inspiration from traveling shows, lectures, workshops, or educational institutes popularized by Chautauqua assemblies that flourished in rural America until the mid-1920s. The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, preachers and specialists of the day. Former US President Theodore Roosevelt was quoted as saying that Chautauqua is “the most American thing in America.”Champlain’s Chautauqua this semester, funded by a gift to the College,has the theme of “Food, Glorious Food!”
The series began Jan. 22 with showing the film “Chocolat,” an American/British romance about a young mother and daughter who arrive in a French village to open a chocolate shop.
Next up, Champlain Chautauqua joins with the Champlain Theatre for an edible opening night treat to set the mood for “Sweeney Todd” on Feb 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Alumni Auditorium. Admission is free with a Champlain student ID and $10 for faculty and staff as well as $20 for general admission. Tickets may be purchased at the door.
On March 12, fishing vessel captain Linda Greenlaw will speak about her experiences at sea at 7:30 p.m. in Alumni Auditorium. Greenlaw has done TED talks about her adventures as well as written cookbooks about living 
on the Maine shore. Organizers say this event will be full of stories and laughs about her return to swordfishing after 10 years.
On March 18, the movie “Big Night” will be shown in the Alumni Auditorium at 7 p.m. This movie is a hilarious romp about a failing Italian restaurant set in the late ‘50’s, and two brothers gambling on one night to save the business. This movie had it’s debut in 1996 and still remains a classic ever since.
On April 1, Miller Information Commons will be hosting an Edible Book Festival, a day-long exhibit with a serving celebration at 3 p.m. This event will be an opportunity to combine the two greatest pastimes: reading and eating.
On April 7, the series offers a debate on Localvorism with Joel Salatin and Vasile Stanescu in the Alumni Auditorium at 7:30 pm. This event is free to the public. Localvorism, also known as the “local food movement” is defined as “ a collaborative effort to build more locally based, self-reliant food economies.”
For more information about the series, contact Kerry Noonan at (802) 865-5494 or email knoonan@champlain.edu or Dean of the Core Division Betsy Beaulieu at ebeaulieu@champlain.edu.
For more information on the series: https://www.champlain.edu/student-life/campus-life/activities-and-clubs/on-stage-community/champlain-theatre