The 2026 Ed Kinney Speaker Series presents
An Afternoon or Evening With...
Tickets on Sale to Members January 7th
Tickets on Sale to General Public January 27th
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. |
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Locations:
In- Person: Firehouse Arts Center Virtual Viewing: BigMarker Webinar Platform 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. In- Person Performances at the Firehouse Arts Center: (per- person) General Admission Seniors (65+) / Students (with valid ID) Members No refunds For the 2026 season we will only accommodate a request to switch an in-person ticket to a virtual viewing ticket at no cost up to seven days before the live performance date. We will make exceptions for emergencies at our discretion. If you need to switch your in-person ticket to a virtual ticket during the 2 weeks before the virtual performance date, you can do so by purchasing a virtual ticket for the general admission price. A virtual Viewing on BigMarker: (per- household) Large groups such as senior centers or schools who would like to purchase for large group viewing- please contact the museum for pricing $30 General Admission $25 Seniors (65+) / Students (with valid ID) $20 Members No refunds Due to copyright, if you miss the virtual viewing for whatever reason there will be no alternative viewing times provided to you. The cost of your unused ticket can be applied to an upcoming virtual viewing program if requested or it will be considered a donation to the museum. Refunds based on unexpected technical difficulties will be considered on a case by case basis, but must be reported to the Director of Education via email ([email protected]) or phone (925)462-2766 during the 24 hour viewing window. Member Benefits!
Members of Museum on Main receive discounted ticket rates and vouchers for free tickets! Find out more about Membership Benefits. *MEMBERS WITH SERIES VOUCHERS: Please note, Member Speaker Series Vouchers 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 vouchers. Your vouchers 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. |
Read about our virtual offering, called A VIRTUAL VIEWING. Watch a recording of the An Evening with... performances from the comfort of your home with our Virtual Viewing program. One week after the live performance, Virtual Viewing ticket holders will be emailed a link to watch the recording using an “On Demand” webinar format. Participants can watch the recording on the day of the virtual viewing at any time that is convenient for them. The link will work for 24 hours and will only permit a single viewing within that time frame. |
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Online
Tickets purchased online will be emailed to purchaser. Please present the ticket on your smartphone at the event or give your name to ticket checkers. |
By Phone
Charge tickets by phone at (925) 462-2766. Tickets purchased by phone will be emailed to purchaser. Please present the ticket on your smartphone at the event or give your name to ticket checkers.Visa and Mastercard accepted. |
In Person
Buy your tickets At Museum on Main during regular operating hours. Cash, check, Visa or Mastercard accepted. Tickets purchased in person will be emailed to purchaser. Please present the ticket on your smartphone at the event or give your name to ticket checkers.Visa and Mastercard accepted. |
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2026 Ed Kinney Speaker SeriesAn Afternoon or Evening with... Sojourner Truth
Thursday, February 26th, 2pm and 7pm Location- Firehouse Arts Center A Virtual Viewing Thursday, March 5th, On Demand Webinar Location- BigMarker Webinar Platform Madelyn Porter brings to life the formidable spirit of Sojourner Truth, one of the 19th century's most powerful advocates for human rights. In this compelling portrayal, witness the journey of the woman born into slavery as Isabella Baumfree, who escaped bondage. She transformed herself into an itinerant preacher and outspoken champion of abolition and women's rights. |
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An Afternoon or Evening with... Revolutionary War Spy
Thursday, March 26th, 2pm and 7pm Location- Firehouse Arts Center A Virtual Viewing Thursday, April 2nd, On Demand Webinar Location- BigMarker Webinar Platform James Armistead brings to life the story of his ancestor who, with the permission of his enslaver, volunteered to serve under the Marquis de Lafayette in 1781. Posing as a runaway, James successfully infiltrated British camps, gaining the trust of top commanders Lord Cornwallis and the notorious traitor Benedict Arnold. |
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An Afternoon or Evening with... Grace O'Malley
Thursday, April 30th, 2pm and 7pm Location- Firehouse Arts Center A Virtual Viewing Thursday, May 7th, On Demand Webinar Location- BigMarker Webinar Platform Irish legend abounds with stories of Grace O'Malley (portrayed by Karen Vuranch), a pirate queen who sailed the high seas in the 16th century. Even more compelling, the colorful stories of her life can be documented in fact. Not only did she fight against the conquest of Ireland by its powerful neighbor, England; she commanded an army of men and remained a leading political figure in a time when few women held any personal power. |
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An Afternoon or Evening with... Lizzie Borden
Thursday, May 7th, 2pm and 7pm Location- Firehouse Arts Center A Virtual Viewing Thursday, May 14th, On Demand Webinar Location- BigMarker Webinar Platform Perhaps one of the most notorious murders of the 19th Century was that of Andrew and Abby Borden. Andrew’s daughter Lizzie, portrayed by Kim Harris, was arrested and stood trial for the murder, but was eventually acquitted. However, public opinion maintained that she was guilty, and therefore no other suspect was ever sought out. |
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An Afternoon or Evening with... J.F.K
Thursday, June 4th, 2pm and 7pm Location- Firehouse Arts Center A Virtual Viewing Thursday, June 11th, On Demand Webinar Location- BigMarker Webinar Platform With the shadow of nuclear war overhead, the dream of reaching the moon on the horizon, and deep unrest stirring in the fight for civil rights, John F. Kennedy stood at a crossroads in the summer of 1963. Inspired by Robert Frost’s call to lead with both poetry and power, Jeremy Meier portrays JFK in the final and defining year of his presidency. |
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An Afternoon or Evening with... Tina Turner
Thursday, August 6th, 2pm and 7pm Location- Firehouse Arts Center A Virtual Viewing Thursday, August 13th, On Demand Webinar Location- BigMarker Webinar Platform Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, rose from modest beginnings and endured years of hardship, heartbreak, and challenge before becoming the electrifying “Queen of Rock & Roll.” Her transformation from the Ike & Tina Turner Revue to global superstardom as a solo artist reflects resilience, reinvention, and the triumph of spirit; an inspiring story of survival and strength that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. |
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An Afternoon or Evening with... Elizabeth Packard
Thursday, September 17th, 2pm and 7pm Location- Firehouse Arts Center A Virtual Viewing Thursday, September 24th, On Demand Webinar Location- BigMarker Webinar Platform Elizabeth Packard was committed to the Illinois State Hospital, the state mental asylum in 1860, and kept under lock and key for three years, all the while protesting her sanity. Packard's legacy is rooted in her unwavering commitment to justice making her a key figure in the early women's rights movement and mental health reform. |
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An Afternoon or Evening with... Audrey Hepburn
Thursday, October 1st, 2pm and 7pm Location- Firehouse Arts Center A Virtual Viewing Thursday, October 8th, On Demand Webinar Location- BigMarker Webinar Platform It is 1989, and Audrey Hepburn has just returned to her home in Switzerland for an interview about her work as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. As Audrey (portrayed by Leslie Goddard) entertains her guests over cocktails, she shares stories about her WWII childhood, her remarkable success in Hollywood, and her lifelong efforts to find real love and overcome her own deep-seated fears. |
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An Afternoon or Evening with... P.T. Barnum
Thursday, November 19th, 2pm and 7pm Location- Firehouse Arts Center A Virtual Viewing Thursday, December 3rd, On Demand Webinar Location- BigMarker Webinar Platform Doug Mishler's portrayal of "P.T. Barnum: Something of a Humbug," explores the life of the famous showman, from his business tactics to his political career as a Connecticut state legislator and mayor of Bridgeport. Mishler's performances are known for their "big, manic energy" and direct interaction with the audience, bringing history to life. |
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 [email protected].
the Director of Education at (925) 462-2766 or [email protected].