The Big Read: Door County 2010

Willa Cather’s "My Ántonia"

Schedule of Events - The Big Read Door County 2010

Download a copy of the Schedule of Events or click here to view photos from this year's events

Please note - All events are free and do not require a ticket or reservations unless otherwise noted.

  • January Clearing classes:  "The Big Read" On Stage, led by Alan Kopischke & "The Big Read" Gallery Talk led by Kärin Kopischke, contact the Clearing at 920-854-4088

  • 01/11 6:30 pm - Door Community Auditorium, Fish Creek

    Highlights include Miss Door County Katie Sawyer speaking on literacy, Dr. Estella Lauter discussing several compelling themes and unique aspects of the book, an opportunity to learn an authentic American Folk Dance presented by Door County Folk Alliance and Big Read Producer Alan Kopischke previewing events.
  • 01/12 6:30pm - Book discussion.  Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Library, 2323 Mill Road, Sister Bay.
  • 01/13 3:00pm - Crossroads Pioneer Crafts for Kids.  Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

  • 01/14 3:00pm - Door County Library / Film about the Life of Willa Cather Door County Library, 107 South 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay & Tue, Jan 19, 3:00 – 4:30pm, Sister Bay-Liberty Grove Library, 2323 Mill Road, Sister Bay The film biography "Willa Cather: The Road is All," part of the acclaimed PBS American Masters series, will be presented at the Door County Library.

  • 01/16- 3/2 - Barbara's Farm, Miller Art Museum, Sturgeon Bay Color photographs of childhood memories by Daniel Anderson. These photos of rural farm life are evocative of the scenes described in Willa Cather's "My Ántonia."

  • 01/17 1:00pm - Sugar on the Floor Family Dance, Sturgeon Bay YMCA, Sturgeon Bay.  Relive the summer nights Ántonia, Jim and Lena spent at the dancing pavilion. Bring the whole family to the Y for American folk dancing in the gym! Presented by the Door County Folk Alliance and Family Centers of Door County.

  • 01/18 7:00pm - "My Ántonia" by Stephen J. Miller, Birch Creek's Juniper Hall, 3821 Cty Hwy E, Egg Harbor.  Peninsula Players company members present a creatively staged reading of Stephen J. Miller's stage adaptation of "My Ántonia," directed by Joe Foust, with set and props by Sarah Ross, and performed by Sean and Linda Fortunato.

  • 01/20 12:00pm - Book discussion.  The Outpost, 4690 Rainbow Ridge Court, Egg Harbor.
  • 01/20 3:00pm - Pioneer Films for Families.  Door County Library, 107 South 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay.
  • 01/21 2:00pm - Book discussion.  Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.
  • 01/22 11:00am - Book discussion.  Fiddler's Green, 1699 Jackson Harbor Road, Washington Island.

  • 01/22 7:00pm – Landscape as Home Place in Willa Cather's "My Ántonia."  Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay.  University of Nebraska English Professor and Willa Cather scholar Susan Maher offers The Big Read’s keynote address.  Maher will discuss the powerful connection people have to the lands that surround them, particularly as reflected in "My Ántonia."  Professor Maher currently serves as vice president on the executive board of the Willa Cather Foundation.  Sponsored by the Door County Land Trust.

  • 01/23 4:00 pm & 7:00pm - Film Screening: My Ántonia. Third Avenue Playhouse, Sturgeon Bay.  Screening of the 1995 USA Network film starring Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Robards, Eva Marie Saint, and the effervescent Elina Löwensohn as Ántonia.

  • 01/25 6:00pm - Teen book discussion.  Sonny's Pizzeria, 43 S. Madison Ave., Sturgeon Bay.
  • 01/26 1:00pm - Book discussion.  Noble House Museum, 4167 Hwy 42, Fish Creek.
  • 1/26 2:00pm - Book discussion.  Novel Ideas, 8085 State Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor.
  • 01/27 3:00pm - Booktalker for Kids and Grown-ups, Door County Library, 107 South 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay.

  • 01/28 2:00pm - Plants of the Plains; Posies of the Prairies.  Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay.  PowerPoint presentation will discuss the ecological significance of prairie plants including images of some of the characteristic flowers of Nebraska.

  • 01/28 2:00pm - Book discussion.  Scandia Village, 10560 Applewood Rd., Sister Bay.

  • 01/28 6:30pm - Door County Library / Peninsula Genealogical Society - Trace Your Pioneer Ancestors.  Door County Library, 107 South 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay.  The characters of Antonia and her family are based on real people. The Sadilek family traveled from Bohemia to settle on the plains of Nebraska in 1880. The Peninsula Genealogical Society will hold a workshop in the Door County Library on tracing your pioneer ancestors. Members will illustrate the paths their own families traveled, and there will be a chance to learn about the many resources available in the library for both beginning and experienced genealogy researchers.

  • 01/30 7:00pm - Sugar on the Floor Barn Dance. Ephraim Village Hall, Ephraim.  Relive the summer nights Ántonia, Jim and Lena spent at the dancing pavilion. Join the Folk Alliance for traditional American folk dancing.

  • 02/01 7:00pm - Book discussion.  East Maplewood Homemakers/Maplewood Community Club, Forestville Town Hall, 7705 County Road H, Forestville.
  • 02/02 6:30pm - Book Discussion led by Gary Jones.  Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Library, 2323 Mill Road, Sister Bay.
  • 02/03 11:00am - Book discussion.  Ephraim Historical Foundation, 3060 Anderson Lane, Ephraim.
  • 02/03 3:00 Crossroads Pioneer Games for Kids.  Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

  • 02/04 7:00pm - From the Door Peninsula to the Nebraskan Plains: Passages that Honor our Sense of Place. Door County Land Trust Northern Door Office, 10547 Koessl Lane, Sister Bay.  Readings by Local Door County Authors interspersed with Passages from the Works of Willa Cather.

  • 02/05 11:30am - 4:30pm - "Ántonia's True Heart" Blood Drive Northern Door YMCA, Fish Creek.  Show your "true heart" (as in Jim's description of Ántonia) and donate blood at Northern Door YMCA.

  • 02/05 1:00pm - Learning In Retirement Book Discussion.  Door County Library, 107 South 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay.

  • 02/08 7:00pm - Public Reading of Scott Schwartz' "My Ántonia." Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County, Ephraim.  A public reading of Scott Schwartz' stage adaptation of "My Ántonia" performed by Clearing class members under the direction of Alan Kopischke.

  • 02/10 7:00pm - Peninsula Music Festival Concert. Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church, Ellison Bay.  Music of Bohemian composers performed by members of the Peninsula Music Festival.  In addition to Ántonia's father being a Bohemian violinist, music plays a prominent role in almost all of the books written by Willa Cather. Through music and narration, learn of the influence of music on Willa Cather's writings and her life as well as discover the wonderful music of the Bohemian composers of her time: Dvořák, Suk, Martinu and Kalliwoda.

More information and resources are available at the NEA Big Read website. Click this link for teacher's guide, historical context essay, comments from the NEA Chairman Dana Gioia and more!

Please contact our box office at 920-868-3287 for more information about Peninsula Players.

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Last Updated: March 15, 2010