Animal Engine Theatre Company’s “Henrietta Solway” is an original play for all ages that was inspired by the works of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather and commissioned by the National Willa Cather Center. “Henrietta Solway” brings to life an exciting and heartfelt tale of ambition, sacrifice, and reconciliation in small towns, big cities, and vast landscapes.

The event will include a panel discussion by Dr. Charles Peek, Dr. Steve Shively and the writers and performers of “Henrietta Solway”.

There will be two performances – one at 9:45 a.m., and one at 1 p.m. The performances are free and open to the public.

For 30 years Dr. Charles Peek has led the service at Grace Church, Red Cloud, that accompanies the Cather Spring Conference. He was President of the Board Of Governors from 2005-2010 and served on the board for five years after and has presented papers at three International Cather Seminars, as well as taught four Roads Scholar classes on “My Antonia”.

Steve Shively enjoyed a 44-year career as a high school teacher and university professor, most recently at Utah State University, from which he retired in 2019. His work focused on American literature and preparing future teachers. A long-time member of the Board of Governors of the Willa Cather Foundation, Steve’s contributions include co-editing Teaching the Works of Willa Cather and serving as an issue editor of the Willa Cather Review. His research interests include Cather and religion, pedagogy, and Cather in Nebraska. He has written papers on several Nebraska authors in addition to Cather including Mari Sandoz, Alvin Johnson, Weldon Kees, John Janovy, and John Neihardt.