Recent Press Releases
World-class storyteller returns to Mark Twain Museum
Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 May 2013 20:47 Wednesday, 01 May 2013 20:29
Hannibal, Mo. –
Award-winning storyteller Gladys Coggswell returns May 8 to the Mark Twain
Boyhood Home & Museum to resume her performances of Twain’s “A True Story,
Repeated Word for Word As I Heard It.”
Coggswell will give
performances at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. most Wednesdays through
Saturdays until October at the museum gallery.
Coggswell’s performances
are free with museum admission thanks to annual grant money from the Missouri
Arts Council. This year, the Missouri Humanities Council will help fund her
performances for the first time.
The
museum’s storyteller-in-residence performs as "Aunt Rachel,"
a former slave whose real name was Mary Ann Cord, a household servant in Elmira,
N.Y.
One evening, Mary Ann recalled her
life as a slave and the sorrow of being torn apart from her husband and
children on the auction block to Twain. Twain wrote her story and published it
in the Atlantic Monthly in 1874.
As a media favorite, Coggswell’s
dynamic performances, workshops and speeches have been televised and highly
acclaimed. She is known nationally for her expertise in the areas of inner
healing, humor, violence/substance-abuse prevention stories and for story-based
seminars.
“Gladys is a treasure,” said museum
executive director Henry Sweets. “Her performances are deeply engaging and
audiences love her. We are proud to have her back for another season and
grateful for the financial support we receive from the Missouri Humanities
Council and the Missouri Arts Council for this important project.”
DVDs of “A True Story” are available
for sale in museum gift shops and online. Visit www.marktwainmuseum.org for more information about upcoming events.
Twain reenactor set for museum performances
Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 May 2013 17:25 Wednesday, 01 May 2013 17:13
Hannibal, Mo. – Mark Twain reenactor Jim Waddell will join the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum for another season of performing Twain’s Civil War recollections.
Waddell will bring “Mark
Twain’s Retreat” to life again beginning May 9 with performances at 4 p.m.
Thursdays through Sundays until the end of October in the museum gallery.
These free performances
are partially funded by the Missouri Department of Tourism to commemorate the
150th anniversary of the Civil War. Waddell’s performance is also
funded by a grant from the Missouri Humanities Council.
“In large part, our
national identity was forged in the furnace of the Civil War and Missouri’s
role was vital and unique,” Waddell said. “A young steamboat pilot named Sam
Clemens faced the onset with equal portions of reluctance and trepidation.
Though his efforts had little or no effect on the outcome, the perspective with
which he faced the conflict is timeless and fascinating.”
Performances are subject
to change. Please visit www.marktwainmuseum.org for
more upcoming events and performances.
Mark Twain Museum taps Sweets as director
Monday, 04 March 2013 17:21
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Curator Henry Sweets will take over the duties of executive director of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum.
Sweets will immediately take up the post, following the departure of former director Cindy Lovell to the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Conn.
Sweets has served at the museum for 35 years. He holds a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Illinois, a Master’s in education and a Master of Arts in American History and Museum Studies. Sweets served on the Hannibal Public Schools Board of Education from 1992 to 2010.Learn about the love story of Sam and Livy Clemens
Friday, 01 March 2013 18:37
The
Mark Twain Museum will host a free program called “Sam and Livy: A Love Story”
on April 27 as part of Just Girls Weekend.
The program will be led by museum executive director Henry Sweets and begins at 2 p.m. in the museum gallery.
Sweets will share insights into the relationship between Sam and Livy Clemens. Learn how Sam met and courted Livy, their start as a new couple in Buffalo, N.Y., the move to Hartford, Conn., and building their large house, and the excitement, struggles, successes and disappointments through their marriage.
Livy Clemens was a determined lady who endured much to keep the family running. From watching the children as Sam was on lecture and business trips to helping edit her husband’s writing, she was devoted to her family.
Sam Clemens had fond childhood memories of purloining the baker’s daughter’s gingerbread at school, so guests will be served gingerbread with a lemon drizzle as a sweet treat.
Just Girls Weekend is sponsored by the Historic Hannibal Marketing Council. Please RSVP for this free event by calling 573-221-9010, ext. 401.Mark Twain Museum hosts writers’ workshops April 6 and April 20
Tuesday, 26 February 2013 17:00
The Mark Twain Museum will host writers’ workshops on April 6 and April 20 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the museum gallery.
The April 6 workshop will focus on the personal essay. This course will explore how to craft personal experiences into compelling personal essays. Writers will discuss story ideas, practice with writing exercises, write, revise and give feedback to other writers.
The April 20 workshop will focus on playwriting. The workshop will help writers experiment with writing for the theater just like Twain did. Writers will brainstorm ideas and work together and independently on first drafts, revisions and will learn about the genre throughout the day.
Both courses will be led by Quincy University Engilsh professor Dustin Zima along with museum curator Henry Sweets.
One workshop is $75 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch at LulaBelle’s. An optional 2 credit hours of graduate credit are available through Quincy University for $180 per workshop. Participants should bring laptop or any writing tools needed.
Space is limited. Call 573-221-9010, ext. 401, to sign up.More Articles...
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