National Willa Cather Center News

When Willa Cather received the advice to write about the part of the world she knew best, she turned for inspiration to the Nebraska prairie that affected her youth. Each year, the Willa Cather Foundation is pleased to host a Prairie Writers' Workshop for beginning, aspiring, or experienced writers. The four-day event is held in Red Cloud, Nebraska, where Willa Cather spent her formative years.

Poetry Out Loud with Matt Mason

Saturday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m. Free

Poetry Out Loud performer Matt Mason will appear at the Red Cloud Opera House on Saturday, September 24th at 7:00 p.m. The free event is sponsored by the Nebraska Arts Council.

Remembering Our Fallen . In the gallery September 19-25

A very emotional exhibit, Remembering Our Fallen is on loan from the Strategic Air & Space Museum near Ashland will be on display at the Red Cloud Opera House September 19-25. The exhibit includes photos of the 111 Nebraskans and western Iowans killed during The War on Terror.

“We can never forget those who sacrificed everything for our freedom. We must remember these American Heroes and speak their names when we see their family members,” said Bill Williams, exhibit co-creator.

Leslie Campbell Levy appointed Executive Director of the Willa Cather Foundation

Leslie Campbell Levy, Lincoln, Nebraska, was appointed Executive Director of the Willa Cather Foundation effective August 1. “I am exceedingly hopeful that someone as bright, sophisticated and organized as Leslie will serve us well in so many ways, building on our successes arm-in-arm with the strong staff we have in place in Red Cloud,” said Jay Yost, President Emeritus.

The Pied Piper Auditions

Auditions will be held for the Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) production of THE PIED PIPER will be Monday, August 1st at the Red Cloud Opera House. All those auditioning should arrive at 10:00 a.m. and plan to stay for two hours. Some of the cast members will be asked to stay for a rehearsal immediately following the auditions.

In anticipation of the grand opening of the Cather Second Home, the Willa Cather Foundation is holding a virtual housewarming party in order to furnish the home with linens, china, cookware, and other basic housewares. Please join us in celebrating this grand occasion by purchasing an item from one of the Foundation's gift registries. All contributors will have the opportunity to catch a sneak peek of the Cather Second Home restoration at a special reception on December 10, 2011.

Auditions for “Burning Barn”

Announcing AUDITIONS for BURNING BARN by A.P. Andrews

Part II of The Nebraska Cycle

Monday and Tuesday, June 13-14

7-9 pm

Rehearsals begin on the 15th, and will take place Monday-Friday at the Opera House from 7-9:30 pm, depending on the availablity of the cast. Actors will not be called to every rehearsal!

Come in prepared to read from the script, which will be provided at the audition. No advance preparation necessary.

Please be able to provide your weekly schedule, including any times you will be gone for longer.

When Willa Cather received the advice to write about the part of the world she knew best, she turned for inspiration to the Nebraska prairie that affected her youth. This summer, the Willa Cather Foundation will provide two special opportunities for visitors to explore the land that Cather so vividly described in works such as My Ántonia and O Pioneers!.

“Music on the Cather Prairie”

featuring Mike Adams and Pilgrim Classic Country

May 28 at 2:00 p.m. --$10

The 57th annual Willa Cather Spring Conference and the one-day scholarly symposium preceding it will be focused on Cather the poet, on poetry, and on today's poets from the Great Plains region. Cather's close readers have long noted her sharp presentation of herself as prairie poet with "Prairie Spring" at the beginning of her "real" first novel, O Pioneers!, yet her actual first book, April Twilights (1903), and its contexts, have received much less critical attention.

HASTINGS COMMUNITY THEATRE BRINGS A.P. ANDREWS' NEBRASKA PLAY TO THE STAGE Contact: Christine Cottam, Director 402-984-4099 jdcm_cottam@yahoo.com HASTINGS--Hastings Community Theatre will be one of three theatres bringing a local playwright's vision on Nebraska life to the stage this summer. Auditions for the first play Abby in the Summer will be held on May 1 at 4 p.m. with callbacks at 7 p.m. at Hastings Chamber of Commerce, 301 S. Burlington Ave. The cast calls for three females ages 18-60 and three males ages 30-70. Rehearsals are Monday-Friday evenings beginning May 2.