Chautauqua performers Dana Blane, Larry Lippmann and Mike Trute will portray local historical figures Donner Party survivor “Patty Reed”, Stagecoach driver “Hank Monk” and U.S. Marshall “Warren Wasson” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, July 6, at 6:30 p.m.
Patty Reed was 8 years old when her family joined the movement west to settle in California. As survivors of the ill-fated 1846 Donner Party, the tremendous hardships they endured left the family destitute. The little doll Patty hid in her clothing survives until this day.
Hank Monk was a legendary stagecoach driver who spent most of his career driving between Carson City, Lake Tahoe, and Placerville from the 1850s through the 1880s. Many of his escapades have been shared in print, most notably in the writings of Mark Twain.
Warren Wasson came west as a forty-niner and in less than a decade he became one of the early pioneers of Carson Valley. He was an Indian Agent, U.S. Marshall, U.S. Tax Assessor and a military advisor to three of Nevada’s Governors. In the end, with his disappearance, he became an enigma.
The Chautauqua Series is sponsored by Soaring NV, Bently Enterprises, Carson Valley Accounting, Horse Tales Publications, Carson Valley Times, Carson Valley Inn and the Frances C. and William P. Smallwood Foundation. This series is also made possible with the assistance of Nevada Humanities, an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Tickets are $5 for adults, free for 16 and younger. Tickets are available in Gardnerville at Battle Born Wine, in Minden at 88 Cups & More, and can also be purchased at dangberg.eventbrite.com. Unless sold out, tickets will also be available at the gate.
Patty Reed is portrayed by Dana Blane who has lived in Carson Valley since 1991 and has taught in Douglas County for 25 years. In addition she has mentored the drama program at GES. Blane has been fascinated with the Donner Party since 3rd grade after reading the book Patty Reed’s Doll, and she has been portraying Patty Reed for over 27 years.
Hank Monk is portrayed by Larry Lippmann who has been a Douglas County resident for 44 years and has gained much of his public speaking experience as a Douglas High School teacher. Lippmann feels a keen affinity to Hank Monk having been a driver of buses, limos, and taxis in the same areas that Hank Monk drove his stagecoach.
Warren Wasson is portrayed by Mike Trute who is a long time resident of Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley. Trute is a quick study and took on the portrayal of Warren Wasson by suggestion. His versatility and wild imagination breathes life into a little-known, but interesting character.
All three Chautauquans are also very active in community theater in both Carson Valley and Carson City.
The park is located at 1450 Highway 88, 1/4 mile north of the Carson Valley Veterinary Hospital. This is an outdoor event, and visitors should bring their own seating. Dogs are not permitted at this event.
For more information, visit dangberghomeranch.org.
Other Chautauqua Series performances coming up at the park include Virgil Earp: The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral July 20; Stephen T. Mather: First Director of the National Park Service August 10 and John Muir in Person August 24. The park’s full 2016 event schedule is available at the park’s website.