100 Performers Interpret Century At Nic Forum

One hundred people - representing each of the 100 years of the past century - will perform in North Idaho College’s 30th annual Popcorn Forum.

“A journey through 20th century America” will take place March 19 through 24 on the NIC campus.

The performers will assume the identities of famous people. Among the people to be portrayed are: Jackie Robinson, the first African American major league baseball player; Robert Oppenheimer, builder of the atomic bomb and Margaret Sanger, pioneer of the birth control movement.

All events, except the human rights banquet March 23, are free and open to the public.

Veteran performer Clay Jenkinson will return to the forum this year to portray Oppenheimer at 9 a.m. March 21 at Boswell Hall. Jenkinson is a Rhodes scholar and professor of ancient studies at the University of Nevada at Reno. He is recognized as a premier scholar on the life of Thomas Jefferson. Jenkinson has performed before President Clinton, his cabinet and members of Congress.

Each day of the forum will begin with a “walk through the century,” in which 20 people representing different years of the century will parade across the stage in Boswell Hall.

At 1 p.m. on March 23, Jimmie Lucas will take the stage as Martin Luther King, Jr. Lucas, a student of the civil rights leader’s teachings, has traveled nationwide delivering various renditions of King’s most famous speeches. His performance before the Diplomatic Corps prompted Clinton to call him “the most authentic and exhilarating King that I have ever seen.”

Lucas will take the stage again that evening at the annual human rights banquet, to be held at 7 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Inn. Proceeds from the event fund human rights education workshops, teacher grants and minority scholarships. The cost is $25 per person.

For a full schedule of Popcorn Forum events, call 769-3316.