The 2020 Ed Kinney Speaker Series presents
An Afternoon or Evening With...
The Museum is experiencing technical difficulties and will not be able to update this webpage with the 2020 schedule until Dec. 16 at 10am. However, tickets are on sale, so please go to the museum's store page to see the lineup and purchase tickets. Thank you!
About the SeriesThe Ed Kinney Series is a monthly program of historical character portrayals and speakers. Spend an evening with historic characters such as Mark Twain or Babe Ruth and hear from speakers who are experts in their fields.
Many of the speakers in the series are Chautauquans, a type of historical character performance originating in Chautauqua, New York. The Chautauquan is in character from the moment they step onto the stage, through a Q & A portion, and finally will step out of character to answer questions that the historic character they portray could not address. DVDs of select lectures are available for purchase at the Museum on Main Gift Shop. Special thanks to Michael Bruner of Brogan Video for recording services. |
Who Was Ed Kinney?
Museum on Main’s annual series is named in honor of former Pleasanton Mayor Mr. Ed Kinney.
Mr. Kinney was a resident of Pleasanton for many years and was a wonderful advocate for the city. His involvement and service to the city inspired both the Ed Kinney Series and the Ed Kinney Community Patriot Award. He also served as a Vice-President for the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society (Museum on Main). Mr. Kinney is warmly remembered as the emcee of the parades in the downtown where he would broadcast from the balcony of the Pleasanton Hotel. |
Location and Tickets
|
|
The Amador Theater
1155 Santa Rita Road Pleasanton, CA 94566 |
Member Benefits!
Members of Museum on Main receive discounted ticket rates and passes for free tickets! Find out more about Membership Benefits.
Members of Museum on Main receive discounted ticket rates and passes for free tickets! Find out more about Membership Benefits.
Curious about the 2020 Season?
TICKETS FOR NEXT THE 2020 SEASON WILL GO ON SALE
Dec. 2nd- for Museum Members
Dec. 16th- for General Public
TICKETS FOR NEXT THE 2020 SEASON WILL GO ON SALE
Dec. 2nd- for Museum Members
Dec. 16th- for General Public
Ticketing
Please note: All ticketing for the "An Evening With..." Series is through Museum on Main.
The Firehouse Arts Center Box Office does not handle our ticketing.
$20 General Admission
$15 Seniors (65+) / Students (with valid ID)
$10 Members
*MEMBERS WITH LECTURE PASSES: Please note, Member lecture passes MUST be applied to your ticket order. You may call us at (925) 462-2766 or come to the Museum on Main in person to order your tickets and apply your passes. Your lecture passes do not guarantee tickets.
Buy Tickets!
Many of the shows in the An Afternoon or Evening with... series sell out. Tickets may be available at the event subject to availability. Cash, check, Visa and MasterCard accepted.
Please note: All ticketing for the "An Evening With..." Series is through Museum on Main.
The Firehouse Arts Center Box Office does not handle our ticketing.
$20 General Admission
$15 Seniors (65+) / Students (with valid ID)
$10 Members
*MEMBERS WITH LECTURE PASSES: Please note, Member lecture passes MUST be applied to your ticket order. You may call us at (925) 462-2766 or come to the Museum on Main in person to order your tickets and apply your passes. Your lecture passes do not guarantee tickets.
Buy Tickets!
Many of the shows in the An Afternoon or Evening with... series sell out. Tickets may be available at the event subject to availability. Cash, check, Visa and MasterCard accepted.
|
Online
Click Here to Purchase tickets Online Tickets purchased online will be available for pick up at Will Call in the lobby of the venue on the evening of the event. |
By Phone
Charge tickets by phone at (925) 462-2766. Tickets purchased by phone will be available for pick up at Will Call in the lobby of the venue on the evening of the event. Visa and Mastercard accepted. |
In Person
Buy your tickets At Museum on Main during regular operating hours. Cash, check, Visa or Mastercard accepted. |
|
Ed Kinney Speaker Series Sponsors
Community Sponsors: City of Pleasanton, Civic Arts Commission Grant Program, Cellar Door, Best Western Plus Pleasanton Inn |
|
|
|
Purchase Tickets:
|
An Afternoon or Evening with... Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
January 14, 2pm or 7pm Firehouse Arts Center Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (“father of Turks”), was a Turkish field marshal, revolutionary statesman, author, and founder of the Republic of Turkey, serving as its first President from 1923 until his death in 1938. Ataturk will be portrayed by Chautauqua Scholar Jim Armstead. |
|
SOLD OUT
An Afternoon or Evening with... Rosa Parks February 4, 2pm or 7pm Firehouse Arts Center AFTERNOON AND EVENING PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT!!! Rosa Parks was a civil rights leader whose refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Park’s courage and quiet dignity were widely admired, and galvanized others to undertake similar nonviolent resistance to legal discrimination and sparked nationwide efforts to end racial segregation. The activist and mother of the Civil Rights movement will be portrayed by actress Betty Slater. |
|
An Afternoon or Evening with... Lady Bird Johnson
March 24, 2pm or 7pm Firehouse Arts Center EVENING PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT!!! Claudia Alta Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson, wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson, served as First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969. She was both an American socialite and a shrewd investor and manager. She expanded the role of First Lady by interacting with Congress directly and advocating strongly for beautifying the nation’s cities and highways. The First Lady will be portrayed by actress Gay Storm. |
|
An Afternoon or Evening with... John C. Frémont
April 14, 2pm or 7pm Firehouse Arts Center EVENING PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT!!! John C. Frémont was an American military officer and an early explorer and mapmaker of the American West. He was one of the principal figures in opening up the west to settlement and was instrumental in the U.S. conquest and development of California. Frémont will be portrayed by Chautauqua scholar Frank Mullen. |
|
An Afternoon or Evening with... Che Guevara
May 26, 2pm or 7pm Firehouse Arts Center EVENING PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT!!! Che Guevara’s name invites controversy. To many he is seen as a savior but to many others he is seen as a violent revolutionary and murderer. Che’s story is complex and driven by an unwavering commitment to economic and educational equality and a relentless pursuit for meaning. The Communist leader will be portrayed by Chautauqua scholar Joey Madia. |
|
SOLD OUT
An Afternoon or Evening with... Thomas Edison June 9, 2pm or 7pm Firehouse Arts Center AFTERNOON AND EVENING PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT!!! Thomas Edison is one of America’s greatest inventors. Known as the Wizard of Menlo Park, he was most famous as the inventor who brought us the light bulb, phonograph, and motion pictures. Actor Peter Small will be depicting the famed American inventor. |
|
SOLD OUT
An Afternoon or Evening with... Erma Bombeck July 21, 2pm or 7pm Firehouse Arts Center AFTERNOON AND EVENING PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT!!! Erma Bombeck captured with poignancy and humor the ups and downs of a new American phenomenon: the suburban housewife. She brought to American awareness the struggles of women whose lives otherwise felt invisible and taken for granted. The beloved author and columnist will be portrayed by Chautauqua scholar Susan Marie Frontczak. |
|
SOLD OUT
An Afternoon or Evening with... Jacques Cousteau August 18, 2pm or 7pm Firehouse Arts Center AFTERNOON AND EVENING PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT!!! Jacques Cousteau was a French naval officer, ocean explorer, and coinventor of the Aqua-Lung. He is known for his extensive undersea investigations and his iconic red hat. He brought marine biology to the masses through his many TV specials, and his name remains connected to oceanography and ocean conservation. Chautauqua scholar Doug Mishler will portray the famed marine biologist. |
|
An Afternoon or Evening with... William Shakespeare
September 15, 2pm or 7pm Firehouse Arts Center EVENING PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT!!! William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, and is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon." Despite having his work known and celebrated around the world, Shakespeare’s personal life remains largely a mystery. Actor J.T. Turner will bring the beloved and mysterious William Shakespeare to life. |
|
SOLD OUT
An Afternoon or Evening with... Audie Murphy October 13, 2pm or 7pm Firehouse Arts Center AFTERNOON AND EVENING PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT!!! Audie Murphy, America’s most decorated WWII combat soldier and Hollywood star, is coming back to Pleasanton by popular demand! Award winning actor Duffy Hudson will portray the war hero in his moving one-man show about Murphy’s life, entitled “To Hell and Back.” |
For more information on the Ed Kinney Series or speakers taking part in the series, contact
the Director of Education at (925) 462-2766 or education@museumonmain.org.
the Director of Education at (925) 462-2766 or education@museumonmain.org.