Marla Matkin, a.k.a. “the Contessa,” will delve into the details of life in the “American West” during a presentation on the UNMC campus on Wednesday, July 18.
The presentation, which will be at noon in the Wittson Hall Amphitheater, is presented as part of a partnership between UNMC and the Durham Western Heritage Museum.
Possessing a twinkle in her eye and a tantalizing sense of humor, the Contessa deftly transports listeners to the frontier of cowtowns, painted ladies and the riveting characters that strode the streets and rode the range.
Movies, television and novels have long kept the West and its saga alive, but it takes the insight of a charmer such as the Contessa to immerse you in the history and lore of such an unforgettable moment in time.
Her invitation is an appeal to suspend 21st century reality and travel back to the boomtowns where men lived by the gun and women lived by their wits. It’s the Victorian Era on the wild side. As the Contessa, Matkin employs ample supplies of humor, sensitivity and skill to navigate the nuances of the subjects of this presentation.
Matkin comes by her love of history honestly, having been born in Dodge City, Kan., and raised nearby.
She could never seem to get enough of the legend and lore surrounding the region and its people. This deep connection to the area can be traced back to her great-grandparents, who homesteaded in southwest Kansas in 1876.
Add to this her love of drama, and she makes a compelling case for the ladies she portrays. A graduate of Fort Hays State University with a degree in education, she is inspired to instruct as well as entertain audiences throughout the Midwest, West and most recently at the Smithsonian.
Please e-mail Jill Carson at jlcarson@unmc.edu if you are planning to attend.
An evening lecture featuring Matkin also is scheduled at the Durham museum on Tuesday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Swanson Gallery. Please reserve your space by contacting Ashley at 444-5071 or alothrop@dwhm.org.
The UNMC presentation is a part of the Time Travelers partnership between the museum and the medical center, which allows employees and students to receive free admission to the museum year round with valid identification.