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Kick-off Event for ‘One Book, One Community: Stillwater Salutes Will Rogers’ March 1
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Dr. Doug Watson as Will Rogers for the "One Book, One Community: Stillwater Salutes Will Rogers." |
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Feb. 8, 2012) – On Thursday, March 1 at 6:30 p.m., Stillwater Public Library, Oklahoma State University Library, Sheerar Museum of Stillwater History, and Will Rogers Memorial Museums will host a kick-off event for “One Book, One Community: Stillwater Salutes Will Rogers”at the Stillwater Public Library.
The kick-off will feature Dr. Doug Watson, portraying Will Rogers in “Will Rogers was Not Just a Cowboy.” Watson is emeritus professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University and has performed historical characterizations across the United States since 1991. Versions of his Will Rogers characterization have been presented more than 700 times since 1997 and in hundreds of schools around and beyond Oklahoma for the Will Rogers Memorial Museums. Watson was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2010.
An introduction to the selected book for the community-wide reading event, “Will Rogers, His Wife’s Story” by Betty Rogers, will be provided by Karen Neurohr, OSU librarian for assessment, new student, and community outreach. A limited number of free copies of the book will be available for attendees who sign up for a scheduled book discussion. Books have been made available through the generosity of the Stillwater Public Library Trust and Friends of the OSU Library. Refreshments, courtesy of the Friends of the Stillwater Public Library, will be served. A sign language interpreter will be present at this and many of the other scheduled programs.
Other programs saluting Will Rogers will be held throughout March and April including:
- Sunday, March 4 at 2 p.m. Exhibit opening Will Rogers Special Exhibit at the Sheerar Museum of Stillwater History. Featuring Steve Gragert, Director of the Will Rogers Memorial Museums. The exhibit will run through June 30.
- Tuesday, March 13 at 1 p.m. Film presentation “Will Rogers 1920s: A Cowboy’s Guide to the Times” with commentary by film producer Peter Rollins and Steve Gragert. This event is during the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Town Hall meeting at the Stillwater Public Library.
- Tuesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. Cherokee Storyteller Robert Lewis will present a program at the Stillwater Public Library highlighting Will Rogers’ Cherokee heritage.
- Tuesday, April 3 at 2 p.m. Oklahoma City University President Robert Henry will provide commentary on the award-winning film presentation “Will Rogers and American Politics”in the Oklahoma State University Library Browsing Room.
- Thursday, April 12 at 3:30 p.m. “Will Rogers, American Blogger” program presented by social media expert Bill Handy in the OSU Library Browsing Room.
- Friday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. “Will Rogers’ Romance with Betty and America” musical performance at the Stillwater Community Center. Featuring award-winning Broadway film and television star Lynette Bennett with musical direction by Lonnie Liggitt.
“One Book, One Community: Stillwater Salutes Will Rogers” is a collaborative effort open to all ages designed to foster a sense of community through the arts and a shared reading experience, and to broaden and deepen an appreciation for Will Rogers.
This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding partners include the Frontier Masonic Lodge, Stillwater Public Library Trust, Friends of Stillwater Public Library, and Friends of OSU Library. Community Partners include City of Stillwater Community Center, KOSU, Stillwater Public Schools, OSU Native American Student Association, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Stillwater Public Library web site at library.stillwater.org, email askalibrarian@stillwater.org or call (405) 372-3633.
The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. (the corner of Duck and 12th Ave.).
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Contact: Sherry Fletcher, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Phone: 405.742.8362
E-mail: sfletcher@stillwater.org
Web: stillwater.org