5 days ago
Breaking Barriers: Ashland Chautauqua brings history to life this summer
Ashland Chautauqua is set to return for its 26th season this summer. The event will take place July 15-19, featuring the theme of Breaking Barriers. Evening performances will occur at the Guy C. Myers Memorial Band Shell in Ashland's Brookside Park.
The Breaking Barriers theme will highlight various characters who achieved what seemed very unlikely or impossible, according to an announcement. The opening night July 15 will showcase Lucille Ball, known for her comedic talent and business acumen. Ball played a significant role in shaping television programming in America during the mid-20th century. Scholar Leslie Goddard will portray Ball, having appeared as Lizzy Borden in 2022.
Frances Perkins, who witnessed the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911, became the first woman in a U.S. presidential cabinet when appointed Secretary of Labor by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Ashland's Deleasa Randall-Griffiths will portray Perkins. Randall-Griffiths has a long history with Ashland Chautauqua, having played Carrie Chapman Catt in 2015.
Wernher von Braun, an aerospace engineer, contributed to both Germany's Third Reich wartime efforts and America's space program. His complex legacy will be represented by Larry Bounds, who entertained audiences as Harry Houdini in 2023.
Annie Sullivan, who overcame her own challenges to teach Helen Keller, will be portrayed by newcomer Anne Pasquale. Sullivan's work with Keller led to significant breakthroughs, making Keller a prominent advocate for disabilities. American Sign Language interpretation will be provided, funded by the Ashland County Community Foundation.
Steve Jobs, a key figure in technology, co-founded Apple Inc. and revolutionized personal computing and mobile technology. Jeremy Meier, who portrayed John Dillinger in previous years, will take on the role of Jobs.
Daytime workshops will be held at various locations in Ashland and Loudonville Public Library. The schedule for adult and youth workshops will be published in June. The workshops will be led by Chautauqua scholars, focusing on topics related to their characters or the historical context of their lives.
The popular 'Coffee with the Scholars' discussions will return on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9 a.m. This informal gathering will take place at the Board of Realtors building at 107 E. Main St. in downtown Ashland.
Events related to Ashland Chautauqua are free and open to the public. Evening performances and workshops will take place at accessible venues, with accommodations for mobility and sensory issues.
Ashland Chautauqua provides an opportunity for the community to celebrate history in an educational format. However, recent federal cuts to humanities organizations have impacted resources for this year's programming, according to the announcement.
Currently, the event is supported by the Ohio Arts Council, the City of Ashland's Parks & Recreation Department, Explore Ashland, local businesses and residents. Ashland Main Street serves as the fiscal agent, while local volunteers plan and implement the programming.
This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland Chautauqua 2025 explores history's barrier breakers
