Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation

Events

Strindberg Players Offer Dance of Death

Translation by Anne-Charlotte Harvey
Overton Hall
Sunday, March 28, 2 p.m.

August Strindberg, Sweden's foremost dramatist, used a pending silver anniversary to show his mastery at portraying intriguing characters. Dance of Death is a biting, deadly but also funny verbal duel between an artillery captain and his wife – modeled on Strindberg's sister and brother-in-law – facing their quarter-century anniversary in self-imposed isolation in a fortress off the west coast of Sweden. Evenly matched, they spend their evenings in mutual blame and game playing until an unexpected visitor disrupts the status quo and ups the stakes for them both. More surprises await the audience.

This concert reading of a new translation by Anne-Charlotte Harvey, professor emerita of theatre at San Diego state University, is produced by TASSLA (The August Strindberg Society of Los Angeles). Noted for her long interest in and extensive research regarding Swedish American culture, Harvey has received numerous awards and honors, including from the King of Sweden and the former American Scandinavian Foundation of Thousand Oaks. TASSLA, a nonprofit organization of theatre and film industry professionals, is dedicated to presenting the works and teachings of Strindberg.

Admission is free. Sponsored by SACHF and CLU's Theatre Arts Department. A post-performance reception will be held at the Scandinavian Center, 26 Faculty St. For information, contact Anita Londgren at (805) 241-1051.

Amelia Earhart – My Cousin

Ernst F. Tonsing, Ph.D.
Roth Nelson Room
Sunday, May 23, 2 p.m.

When Amelia Earhart disappeared in 1937 during her attempt to be the first person to fly around the globe, she was the most famous woman in the world. She had accomplished many firsts, including being the first after Lindbergh to fly solo across the Atlantic and from Hawaii to California, and being a test pilot for experimental aircraft, including the autogyro, the forerunner of the helicopter.

Earhart's courageous and dramatic aviation records were only one part of her life, however. She was also an author, social worker, college professor, businesswoman, clothing designer, popular lecturer and a promoter of women's rights. She repaired aircraft engines, danced with the Prince of Wales, and stole off with Eleanor Roosevelt for a midnight flight over Washington, D.C.

Ernst F. Tonsing, a second cousin of the aviatrix, will recall her life and family stories about her in an illustrated talk. A professor of religion and Greek at California Lutheran University for 29 years before his retirement in 2003, Tonsing is the author of more than 60 published articles and several books, including the 2009 history of CLU, College of Our Dreams. In February, the Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation named him Outstanding Scandinavian American of 2010.

Admission is free. Co-sponsored by SACHF and the CLU History Department. A post-performance reception will be held at the Scandinavian Center, 26 Faculty St. For information, contact Anita Londgren at (805) 241-1051.

Brown Bag Lunches and Programs

Scandinavian Center
26 Faculty Street
Thousand Oaks
Wednesdays at Noon

Weekly brown bag lunches and programs will be held Wednesdays at noon at the Scandinavian Center, 26 Faculty St. For information, contact Anita Londgren at (805) 241-1051.