Chautauqua puts spotlight on showmen: Scholar will bring Barnum, Warner to life Sept. 10 at theater

Prepare to be entertained — and educated — as Boulder City Chautauqua returns Sept. 10 with an entertaining and educational presentation about entertainers.

Great showmen is the theme for the historical presentations, which will bring to life movie mogul Jack Warner and the man who created the three-ring circus, P.T. Barnum.

Doug Mishler, who performed as Henry Ford last year, returns as both Warner and Barnum.

“I think Chautauqua is a wonderful way, an accessible way, to look at our history,” Mishler said.

He said he strives to become a cultural historian, offering elements of basic American values, cultures and beliefs and how they fit today’s lifestyles through his presentations.

“It brings history to life but with tremendous lessons for today. The hard part is to convince people that this is not a lecture,” he said calling his performances painless education.

“They get to ask questions, explore their beliefs and your beliefs and come to a better understanding of who we are as a people.”

Mishler said this is especially true for his performances as Warner and Barnum.

Warner and his three older brothers established Warner Bros. studio and were instrumental in creating American cinema, especially during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Despite his successes, Mishler called him a brute and a ruthless man, forcing his brothers out of the business.

“Jack Warner will come with warts and all,” he said adding that if the bad side of a person is glossed over, you don’t get to see the complexity of the American people.

Barnum, who was beloved by practically all of America, was the first character Mishler portrayed in the early ’90s.

“He really had a handle on the American culture and what American people are all about,” Mishler said of Barnum, comparing him to Walt Disney in that respect. “He knew that if he went too far, people wouldn’t pay money to see his shows.”

As with all of the characters Mishler portrays, the history professor at the University of Nevada, Reno does his own research to learn what he can about their lives and personalities. He gets so involved with his performances that he grew a mustache for his portrayal of Warner and will shave it off when he appears as Barnum.

The historical aspect of the performances is what helped entice Jay Richey, a retired history/geography teacher, to join the group’s board of directors last year.

“I’m really excited about Jack Warner, in particular because of his relationship to the theater. One of the first movies to be shown in the Boulder City theater was a Warner … film,” he said.

In addition to providing the annual show, the nonprofit Boulder City Chautauqua uses proceeds from the event to support local schools by donating money to purchase teaching materials, according to board member Sara Weber.

Mishler will appear as Warner at 1:30 p.m. and as Barnum at 6:30 p.m. Both shows will be presented at the Boulder Theatre, 1225 Arizona St.

Pianist Charlie Shaffer will provide music before each performance, and John L. Smith, an award-winning columnist and author, will serve as moderator.

Tickets are $15 per show and advance purchase is recommended, as only 325 per show will be sold. They can be purchased (check or exact cash) at the Boulder Dam Hotel, 1305 Arizona St.; Boulder City Chamber of Commerce, 465 Arizona St.; and Ace Shopper Stopper, 541 Nevada Way.

Tickets also can be purchased by calling 702-293-0833.

Boulder City Chautauqua also offers special packages for supporters and friends of the organization that includes an invitation to a reception Sept. 9.

Visit www.bcchautauqua.org for more information.

Hali Bernstein Saylor is editor of the Boulder City Review. She can be reached at hsaylor@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9523. Follow @HalisComment on Twitter.