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Be a part of a great Columbus tradition! CHPT invites all young ladies in grades 9-12 (including incoming freshmen) who attend Columbus High School or live within the Columbus ISD boundaries and are enrolled in a recognized educational program to attend the Magnolia Belle Orientation at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the Stafford Opera House. Participants will learn the history of the program, the requirements to be a Magnolia Belle, as well as important pieces of Columbus'…

Join CHPT in the Buddy Rau Room of the Stafford Opera House on Tuesday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m. for the 2023 History Forum. Women of Colorado County, presented by Ester Chandler, will take a closer look at legendary women throughout Colorado County’s history. After the presentation, the winner of the 2023 Laura Ann Rau Historic Preservation Award will be announced. Social hour begins at 6:00 p.m. Appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. The History Forum is free and…

Be a part of a great Columbus tradition! CHPT invites all young ladies in grades 9-12 (including incoming freshmen) who attend Columbus High School or live within the Columbus ISD boundaries and are enrolled in a recognized educational program to attend the Magnolia Belle Orientation at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 3, 2023, at the Stafford Opera House. Participants will learn the history of the program, the requirements to be a Magnolia Belle, as well as important pieces of Columbus'…

Taking Broadway to the Silver Screen From casting to reimagining, editing to dubbing, the road to making a successful screen adaptation of a Broadway musical isn’t easy. In this lecture, Debra Dickinson will give guests a behind-the-scenes look at some of the biggest blockbuster transfers from stage to screen. The Sound of Music: How did a somewhat saccharin star vehicle for Mary Martin turn into one of the biggest movie hits ever, breaking box office records in 29 countries? West…

The Importance of Women on Broadway From Ethel Merman to Patti LuPone, strong female performers have always held the spotlight on Broadway. But behind the scenes, it’s been a different story. In this lecture, we will explore some of the women who have broken the barriers in a predominantly male-based hierarchy of directors and choreographers, and we will examine ground-breaking musicals that present empowered female characters. Video clips will include scenes from Gypsy, Wicked, The Lion King, and The Secret Garden. Agnes De Mille –…

A Legacy to Stand the Test of Time The most famous mentorship in Broadway history is that of Oscar Hammerstein II taking a young Stephen Sondheim under his wing and encouraging his growth as a budding composer and lyricist. They are links in a chain of mentorships dating from the days of operetta to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. Otto Harbach and Jerome Kern mentored Oscar Hammerstein, leading to Hammerstein’s groundbreaking collaboration with Kern on Showboat. Rodgers and Hammerstein went on to change the…

We’re excited to announce the addition of two new collections to the Santa Claus Museum in Columbus - the only Santa Museum in the South! The new collections include 33 hand-carved, hand-painted Russian Santas, donated by Judy Hawthorne, and 17 Cowboy Santas, donated by Donna Thames. Each is sure to bring a little “holly jolly” joy to your life. The Open House & Reception is open to the public and admission is free.

Get a jump start on the holiday season at Santa’s Summer Vacation! Enter the Hawaiian shirt contest for a chance to win! The Kids winner will receive a $25 gift card to OST Creamery and the Adults winner will receive a $50 gift card to Hound Song Brewing Co. Purchase tickets to cast your vote for your favorite Hawaiian shirt. Proceeds benefit the Santa Claus Museum. While there, grab a bite and a brew (Santa loves the Rueben and the…

In partnership with the Nesbitt Memorial Library, CHPT will host the annual History Forum on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. The forum will be held in the Buddy Rau Room of the Stafford Opera House starting at 6:00 p.m. This year's topic is Photography of Columbus: Past and Present and will feature the newly released Seasons of Colorado County photo book published by CHPT and the soon to be released Live Oaks and Dead Folks: Tales and Images from the Nesbitt…