Lectures
Erudition and entertainment intermingle in a heady mix of what you want and what you need to know. Chautauqua gatherings, according to Teddy Roosevelt, are the "most American thing in America". No quackery here! Our Chautauqua presentations are held at the Key City Public Theatre, located at 419 Washington St, with the exception of Saturday's special presentation in the Tea Lounge (431 Water St.)
Saturday
Converting Foam
Time: 10:00am
Location: KCPT
Presenter: Talitha Roshau
Description:
Conjuring Show
Time: 11:00amLocation: KCPT
Presenter: Professor DR Schreiber
Description
Feel the sense of wonder and amazement as Professor DR Schreiber emulates the far gone era of early conjurers. In the late 18th and early 19th century, many believed that the future would hold wonderful and miraculous inventions and discoveries, many of which have yet to be. From mind control devices to time travel, anything and everything seemed possible as the world entered into the industrial revolution. Innovators such as Benjamin Franklin harnessed the power of lightning. Theories of thought transference had been proposed by Dr. Franz Mesmer. Machines in the form of automatons could perform complex and difficult computations and tasks. And bigger steam powered machines could force the land around us to adhere to our will. The innovations and discoveries of the late 18th century sparked the imagination of the public and planted the seeds for future generations of dreamers. Professor DR Schreiber’s performance once again sparks the imagination of the public with his examination of what history could have been. Just as the conjurers of the past, he explores the possibilities of what could be.
Professor Elemental: Tales of Wrong Reading and Q&A
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Location: KCPT
Presenter: Professor Elemental
Description:
Piracy Through the Ages
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: KCPT
Presenter: BOOM!
Description:
From the Renaissance to the age of Steam, from caravels to zephyrs... pirates saw the world change around them, and with it, an evolution of their ships, their instruments, an' their guidelines. Yet one thing ne'er changed for them... their love of freedom! BOOM Pirates, the crew of the Airship, Emerald Rose, offer an interactive history of pirates through the ages
MMPI - Madness, Mystery and Polar Inquiry
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: KCPT
Presenter: Dr. Celeste Tian
Description:
What mad science was behind the polar expeditions of the early 20th century? Fossils, plate-tectonics and discredited theories of evolution were among the motivating ideas that drove European men to the ends of the Earth. Some returned to their homelands with phenomenal documentation, precious specimens and most of their fingers and toes; others met their end in icy tombs. All for the glory of Empire! (and bragging rights, and infamy and maybe possibly science)
Seeing Everything, or, Miss Brambleflips and the Amazing Aeroship Teatime
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: Tea Lounge (431 Water St.)
Presenter: Tepan Fyodorovich “Hezârfenzade” Ifritoğlu Yoldaş-Paşa and Dr. Celeste Tian
Description:
That leaf in your cuppa, however did it get there? Perhaps you’d prefer not to know.
Sunday
Lady (Mad?) Scientists!
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: KCPT
Presenter: Elizabeth Young
Description:
You may have heard of the contributions of Ada Lovelace, but did you know Beatrix Potter was also a scientist? She was! Come learn about these and other less well known women scientists of the Victorian era.
Laborer Steampunk: Props and Salvage
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
Location: KCPT
Presenter: Josh Haazard
Description:
Steampunk draws all kinds, some go in for the elaborate costuming, others go into it for the tech-savvy devices. The average person can be intimidated by the price or the skill that might be required. I'm here to show you the way into the unsung world of Laborer Steampunk. In a Steampunk world, there would be 20 people working the steam engines for every fancy dressed gentleman, and probably 100 machinists for every mad scientist. That's not to say they'd have any less fun tools to play with. Steampunk is all about the character, and a good prop can enhance that. Giant Wrench? Drillhammers? Hornguns? all are best in the hands of a Laborer
BRASS: An Adventure Serial
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Location: KCPT
Presenter: John Longenbaugh and Guests
Description:
BRASS: An Adventure Serial makes its cheerful return to the Brass Screw Confederacy, where we've been privileged to be a guest for the past four years. With Season 3 of the podcast coming up, join us for a sneak peek at what happened to the First Family of the Realm after the catastrophic end of Season 2. Then join us for a special presentation on "BRASS: A Moral Empire?" where we explore if it's possible to tell stories of a past that's a pleasant place to be without ignoring historical truths of colonialism and Imperialism. With special guests (including cast members), this is an hour of derring-do, alternate history, romance, comedy and at least one jolly good scrape or two.