Malcolm Nance is an international counter-terrorism, intelligence, and foreign policy expert who will share his vast knowledge about the very real threats to American and Western democracy from both inside and out. Nance spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy specializing in Naval Cryptology, has testified before Congress, authored several books, lectures widely, and regularly […]
Dr. Michael Bitzer is always our cherished “go-to” analyst on all things political and is ready to share his expertise about what our political landscape looks like as we approach one of our more contentious national elections. Dr. Bitzer has been a Catawba College professor for more than two decades, currently chairs its Politics Department, […]
Mark Twain has been called “The Lincoln of our Literature” for the transformative figure he carved as a storyteller. Retired Indiana University English professor emeritus Dr. David Nordloh will share the breadth and depths of this elemental American personality highlighting Twain’s powerful language skills in revealing the human condition, especially in his classic book “Adventures […]
Eric Melton is a caricature artist – no, NOT a cartoonist. What’s the difference? Learn how this local award-winning phenom from Concord developed his signature style starting in kindergarten. And you could walk away with one of his masterpieces! We’ll draw the names of several attendees and Eric will sketch you on the spot!
You surely know about the Underground Railroad’s land routes, but did you know that thousands of slaves escaped on ships from our NC coastal communities known as the Maritime Underground Railroad? Co-authors Tim Allen and Steve Miller have amazing stories to tell about how slaves did it, their unique communication systems, who helped them, and […]
Michel Picaud, one of the most preeminent experts on the restoration of the Notre Dame cathedral, will regale us on the painstaking efforts to bring this world-renowned gem back to life from a devastating fire five years ago to its joyous reopening in December. Picaud heads the leading international fundraising organization for Notre Dame and […]
We end our season on a high note - literally! Steve Friedman is an internationally recognized Broadway Musical historian, classically trained tenor, and one-time actor himself who will entertain us with a peek inside the Golden Age of Musical Theater of the ‘50s & ‘60s. We’ll hear behind-the-scenes back stories and plenty of our favorite […]
He's the guy you love to hate. But you'll love him in person! Concord resident Dan Truhitte played the young Nazi turncoat in The Sound of Music and will regale us with his journey to the silver screen along with fun behind-the-scenes stories – a fitting presentation on this 60th anniversary of the release of […]