Masters’ Back Porch Chautauqua May 2024

Dr. Ethan Stephenson, an English professor at Richland Community College in Decatur and the visionary behind the Masters Back Porch Chautauqua summer series, will inaugurate the event with his captivating presentation titled “Homegoing” from Edgar Lee Masters’s renowned work, Spoon River Anthology. Stephenson will delve into Masters’s celebrated work, drawing parallels with Homer’s Odyssey, as he intricately weaves the tales of his hometown through the lives of the characters laid to rest in the local cemetery.

J.D. Wilson, Springfield singer-songwriter and storyteller will perform original music and poetry about his life and travels. A transplant to Springfield from the Tar-heel state, Wilson is an introspective writer bringing a keen eye and wry sense of humor to the subjects he writes. His attention to detail and care for wordcraft is the hallmark of a master songwriter. Kicking off the series, Wilson embodies the spirit of the series as a multifaceted poet/songwriter who writes about the people and events of his community. Sneak Preview of JD’s music.

Please Note: all of the Masters on the Back Porch Chautauqua performances will take place on the 2nd floor of 1st & 3rd Boutique and Wine Bar, which does not have an elevator.