Curriculum Vita for

BETTE LOU HIGGINS
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PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT • EDUCATOR • RESEARCHER\WRITER

Results-oriented individual with a background of success in combining education, technology, presentation and program development. Proven expertise in computer application education. Demonstrated achievements in innovative and dynamic teaching methods and experience in trade and educational publishing.


EDUCATION:
  • Cleveland State University; M.Ed. -- Curriculum and Instruction – Technology Strand
  • Baldwin-Wallace College; B.A. -- Theatre Arts Major (now Baldwin Wallace University
  • Additional Course Work:
    •Theatre Arts: Education through Creative Drama
    •Computer Science: WordPerfect, Microsoft Office, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Implementing and Supporting Windows XP Professional
    •Miscellaneous: Independent Consulting; Inbound Marketing Certification (Inbound Marketing University, HubSpot)
    CAREER SUMMARY:

    EDEN VALLEY ENTERPRISES
    Artistic Director/Production Manager/Researcher/Writer 1981-present
    Production Manager 1977-1981
    " A founding member of Eden Valley Enterprises as an educational/cultural organization that started with one project for the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation and currently averages 12 programs per year. Serving as President of the Board of Trustees and as Artistic Director with direct control of budget, research and program development.
    " Developed Living History programs at a time when this type of programming was virtually unknown. Programs range from full scale productions to one-person character programs. In 2015, producer for the Emmy-nominated documentary, TRAIL MAGIC: THE GRANDMA GATEWOOD STORY.
    " Eden Valley has developed more than 40 original productions for organizations across the state. Most of these shows are based on Ohio and Great Lakes History (commissions received from organizations including The Steamship W.G. Mather, Western Reserve Historical Society, The Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and The Lorain County Historical Society.
    For more complete information, see EDEN VALLEY HIGHLIGHTS section below.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF
Administrative Assistant 2011 - 2019

LORAIN COUNTY PIONEER THEATRE
Executive Coordinator

MUSEUMCROFT
Museum Consultant

OPERA CLEVELAND (Formerly Cleveland Opera)
Systems Manager/Administrative Assistant
Systems Manager
Box Office/Systems Manager
Box Office Manager


GREAT LAKES HISTORICAL SOCIETY (PART TIME)
Education Director


BACKGROUND SUMMARY:

Professional life has been spent combining theatrical skills and knowledge of history to transmit the excitement of Ohio history. This unusual combination has been most evident through work as a founder and Artistic Director of Eden Valley Enterprises and as Educational Program Coordinator for The Great Lakes Historical Society where the "Ohio Gospel" has been spread through an assortment of living history programs. These programs are designed to make the history of Ohio and the Great Lakes meaningful and alive for adults and children of all ages.

· PRODUCER/PROJECT MANAGER/RESEARCH COORDINATOR:
The Grandma Gatewood Project documented the life of Ohioan Emma Gatewood who became the first woman to solo thru-hike the 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail in 1955 at the age of 67 after raising 11 children and surviving domestic abuse. The project included a storytelling program, a one-act play and a documentary, TRAIL MAGIC: THE GRANMDA GATEWOOD STORY that was nominated for an Emmy award.

· RESEARCH COORDINATOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER:
In JOHNNYCAKE VILLAGE an entire community was re created in the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. Dressed as pioneers along the route of the "projected" Ohio Erie Canal, professional actors debated with each other and with the audience (who functioned as visitors to the community rather than audience) the great issues of the day: Should a canal be built? What would its impact be? What should be done about slavery?
· DIRECTOR/RESEARCHER: The MEET THE PEOPLE series was designed to permit the techniques of Johnnycake Village to be used in virtually any setting. Topics have ranged from Governor Ethan A. Brown stumping the state urging construction of the Ohio Canal to "the medicine men", the con artists who preyed upon the pioneers, to Antony Van Leeuwenhoek. These programs and historical re creations, creatively combining professional actors with audience participation, have been performed throughout Ohio from The Western Reserve Historical Society to Roscoe Village.

· THEATRE CREDITS: productions with Clague Playhouse, Dover Playhouse, You Are Cabaret Dinner Theatre, Baldwin Wallace College, Berea Summer Theatre, and the director of the NASA/Lewis Children's Christmas Program.

EDEN VALLEY HIGHLIGHTS:

Since its founding in 1977, Eden Valley has produced over 40 original programs from intimate storytelling programs, one-act plays, Living History events and musical narration programs.

*Project Director and Producer for the Grandma Gatewood project which documented the life or Ohioan Grandma Emma Gatewood, first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 1955 at the age of 67 after raising eleven children and surviving domestic abuse. The project included the creation of a storytelling program and companion book and a documentary, TRAIL MAGIC: THE GRANDMA GATEWOOD STORY which earned an Emmy-nomination.

*Directed and researched a new one-act play, THE DONAHEYS: ARTISTS AND POLITICIANS, for the Tuscarawas County Historical Society and Public Library as part of their Bicentennial Celebration in 2007 which premiered to more than 200 people at the Kent State University Tuscarawas Campus.
·
* Wrote and directed CLEVELAND SWINGS! for the Western Reserve Historical Society (now called SALUTE TO SWING). This program featured narration and music from W.W.II spotlighting events in Cleveland during that time. A joint project of Eden Valley Enterprises and Cleveland Opera On Tour, it was described as one of the "most beloved programs" produced at the Historical Society by Ms. Paula Reed, Director of Education.

*Program supervisor for LEGENDS OF THE LAKE, eight seasons, at the Steamship William G. Mather. This program features stories and folklore of Great Lakes presented as a progressive storytelling event during an evening tour of the boat.

*Directed "A Pioneer Holiday" for The Lorain County Metro Parks which re created an 1862 Christmas of the Bacon family and their friends in the Brownhelm Station area in Lorain County. Metro Park volunteers were trained in first person interpretation to present this unique program at the Benjamin Bacon Museum.

*Directed and wrote a reader's theatre production, ASHES TO ASHES for the Western Reserve Historical Society. Based on the real life murder of Cleveland Doctor Harry Chapin the program premiered in October, 1993 and was encored in March of 1994.

*Program supervisor and director for YOU CAN'T PLAY BALL IN A SKIRT! This Ohio Bicentennial program about Alta Weiss from Ragersville, Ohio was produced as a joint project of The Tuscarawas Historical Society, The Tuscarawas County Public Library, Ritter Public Library (Vermilion), Norwalk Public Library, and the Holmes County Public Library.

* Directed MEET THE PEOPLE: The Canal Builders for Roscoe Village which was presented in the Village from June through August, 1992 and featured songs and canal tall tales as well as some creative "fund-raising" tactics of two out of work canalers. Roscoe Village also sponsored a production of CANAL SONGS AND STORIES, a program written for the Clinton, Ohio Canal Festival by Ms. Higgins and Lissy Gulick featuring stories and songs from Ohio's canal era.

*Co wrote and directed a new production for Cleveland's North Coast Harbor, THE LADY OF THE LAKE. Geared for school children who were brought down to Cleveland's Inner Harbor during July and August, this program was the "hands down favorite" of the summer activities for the groups that visited the Inner Harbor, according to North Coast Representative, Ms. Diane Hanson. It has since been done at such locations as Put In Bay, the Cleveland Metroparks and the Steamship William G. Mather. A companion booklet was produced by EVE and a Curriculum Guide based on this program was written as a joint project of Eden Valley and the Great Lakes Historical Society.

*Co wrote and directed OHIO GHOST STORIES and STORIES FROM A CHRIST-MAS PAST for the Western Reserve Historical Society which featured stories from Ohio's past. Presented as a storytelling programs at the museum, companion books were created for these programs.

*Wrote and narrated CLEVELAND SINGS! (Originally called "From Cleveland, With Love") for the Western Reserve Historical Society. This program featured stories and music of Cleveland area writers and composers and was produced for the museum by Eden Valley Enterprises and Cleveland Opera On Tour. Ms. Holly Holcombe, Associate Curator of Education at the Historical Society, said that the show "...surpassed expectations with respect to quality of performance and writing."
*Eden Valley and the Great Lakes Historical Society worked together to produce two programs, a resource guide and a curriculum guide on the Underground Railroad in Ohio and across the Great Lakes. A one-act play, RISE AT SUNRISE, REST BY MIDNIGHT, which follows the escape of a fictional runaway through Ohio to freedom in Canada and NEXT STOP, FREEDOM!, a storytelling program and first-person character program of historical accounts of Ohio's Underground Railroad have become two very popular EVE offerings. A resource guide which includes the script for NEXT STOP, FREEDOM! along with special resource notes and a complete bibliography from both programs has since been put together and is offered for sale. A curriculum guide for RISE AT SUNRISE, REST BY MIDNIGHT has also been put together for use in classroom studies.

*Wrote & directed WHOSE IDEA WAS THAT? for the University of Akron's Dance Department's touring group. This unusual program about the lives of Ohio inventor's weaves fact and dance to create a high-spirited historical program that has toured to middle school students in the Akron area - twenty five performances with an attendance of approximately 4900.


SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
  • Higgins, Bette Lou. Lost Restaurants Of Downtown Cleveland. Arcadia Press. September, 2021.
  • Higgins, Bette Lou and Shelley Pearsall. "Great Lakes Ladies". Inland Seas. Great Lakes Historical Society. Volume 56. Number 4. Spring, 2000. (Article based on storytelling program script.)
  • Higgins, Bette Lou. "American Slavery: A Composite Autobiography" Website Review. Inland Seas. Great Lakes Historical Society. Volume 57. Number 1. Spring, 2001.
  • Grabowski, John J. and David D. Van Tassel, Ed. The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Indiana University Press. Bloomington and Indianapolis. 1987. Articles by Bette Lou Higgins: Aquarama, Cleveland Air Show, Cleveland Opera, Cleveland Opera Company, Cleveland Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Columbia Theatre (E 9th St.), Cuyahoga County Fair, Embassy Theatre, Festival of Freedom, Garden Center, Gordon Bennett Balloon Race, Dan R. Hanna, Jr., H.R. Jacobs/Cleveland Theatre, Edward S. Jordan, Jordan Motor Car Co., Alfred Kelley, Irad Kelley, Lakewood Little Theatre, Lyceum/Park Theatre, Dayton Miller, National Air Races, O'Mic, Ohio Theatre, Pilgerruh, State Theatre, Van Sweringen Brothers, Walk-In-The-Water.
  • Grabowski, John J. and David D. Van Tassel, Ed. The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History Second Edition. Indiana University Press. Bloomington and Indianapolis. 1996. Essay: "Restaurants" by Bette Lou Higgins available at: http://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=r3
  • "The Underground Railroad In Erie County, Ohio". Informational tour booklet for the Sandusky/Erie County Visitors & Convention Bureau. 1999. Produced by the Visitors Bureau and Eden Valley Enterprises with research and text development by Susan Brewer, Rosemary Kubera Goodburn and Bette Lou Higgins.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
  • Baldwin Wallace ILR Program (Ohio, Great Lakes and American History - "Little Known Stories From The Past")
  • Cuyahoga Community College Encore Program ("World War II Through Story, Character and Drama"; "Great Lakes History", "From Sea To Shining Sea - America's Story" and "Ohio's Own History")
  • Mature Services (Computer Instruction; Job Club Supervision)
  • Bryant & Stratton College (Oral Communications)
  • Center For Lifelong Learning, Lorain County Community College (storytelling class, "I Thought I Saw A Ghost" and "College Days" orientation program, "College as Entertain-ment: Stories From The Past")
  • Lorain County Joint Vocational School (Instructor: Introduction to Computers, Basic Computer Skills, Windows XP, Excel, Internet/E-mail. Job Link Employment Specialist)
  • The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (master's class in "The Uses of Computers In The Non-profits")
  • The Steamship William G. Mather Museum Docent Classes, Cleveland, Ohio (General introduction to computers and the Internet, presentation skills and guest relations)
  • Western Reserve Historical Society Docent Classes, Cleveland, Ohio (presentation techniques and character interpretation)
  • Kent State University/Cuyahoga Special Education Service Center, Maple Hts., Ohio (Presentation Techniques for Teachers)
  • Creative Dramatics and Theatre at: Garfield Hts. Youth Theatre, Garfield Hts., Ohio; Vermilion Board Of Education, Vermilion, Ohio; Beck Center (Lakewood Little Theatre), Lakewood, Ohio; Clague Playhouse, Westlake, Ohio; Maple Leaf Elementary School, Garfield Hts., Ohio; and Black River High School in Sullivan, Ohio

COMPUTER SKILLS AND TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS:
  • WordPerfect Suite, Microsoft Office, MS Publisher, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Endnote, Maximizer, Peachtree, FundMaster, ArtSoft, DOS.
  • Computer consultation for Foglietti & Associates, Steamship W.G. Mather, Cleveland Ballet, Hoppy's Scooters and Medical Supplies
  • Docent Manual for the Steamship W.G. Mather (CD ROM/Website version). Harbor Heritage Society. 2003.
  • Your Computer Can't Sing Without You (Or Do Anything Else, For That Matter). Computer Manual. Cleveland Opera. 1990.
  • Don't Shoot The Computer! He's Going As Fast As He Can! and Around The World With The World Wide Web. Computer Manuals. Mature Services. 2008 - 2011.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: 

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