Some much-loved American celebrities are coming to local stages in the next few weeks.

Lucille Ball, Babe Ruth and Albert Einstein may have departed the American scene years ago, but they’re being brought back to life by historical interpreters as a part of .

Actors will also portray the humor columnist Erma Bombeck and dancer, singer and actress Josephine Baker.

More than two dozen admission-free performances and discussions are scheduled as a part of the Chautauqua theme “American Celebrity,” June 6-17, in Greenville County, Spartanburg and Brevard, N.C.

Most hour-long Chautauqua performances follow a time-honored routine: An actor portrays a historical figure, then takes questions from the audience – first as the character, then as the interpreter himself or herself.

The interpreters often have devoted months or years of studying the character to offer authentic performances, down to accents, demeanor and outlook on life.

Kevin Treu, a longtime actor and director on Greenville stages, is taking on the character of Babe Ruth for the first time at Chautauqua.

“Babe Ruth seemed like a natural,” Treu said. “He’s the greatest baseball player of all time and his place in American history is very significant.”

Treu, a longtime baseball fan, admires Ruth (1895-1948) not only for his famed batting average but also for humanitarianism. True hopes to emphasize those qualities in his portray of Ruth.

“He was incredibly charitable,” Treu said. “After the season was over, he’d go on barnstorming tours all around the country to small towns where they didn’t have a chance to see major league baseball.

“He essentially grew up in an orphanage and he was particularly sympathetic to children who were sick or lonely, and he spent his whole like trying to put a smile on their faces,” he added.

Ruth also memorably played games against Black players, opposing segregationist policies of the time, Treu said.

Larry Bounds, who has performed with Chautauqua for more than 20 years, is reprising the role of Albert Einstein.

“Einstein makes us see the world in a different and unique way,” Bounds said. “He makes us see ourselves as part of this amazingly complex universe. What made him so remarkable is that he found a way to take complicated ideas and simplify them.”

One thing many people may not know about Einstein is that he had a wonderful sense of humor, with a love for “quirky jokes,” Bounds said.

Bounds retired from teaching English at Wade Hampton High School in 2019 and now spends his time performing in Chautauqua-like venues throughout the U.S.

Greenville Chautauqua performances, enjoyed by thousands annually for the past 26 years, take place in a variety of venues in Greenville, with many under a big tent at Greenville Technical College.

Following are the free Chautauqua performances in Greenville. Other performances take place in Spartanburg and Brevard. (For a full list of performances, visit greenvillechautauqua.org or call 864-244-1499.)

Albert Einstein (Greenville Tech, bring lawn seating)

Lucille Ball (Hartness Performing Arts Center on the Christ Church School Campus)

Babe Ruth (Greenville Tech, bring lawn seating)

Erma Bombeck (Hartness Performing Arts Center on the Christ Church School Campus)

Josephine Baker (Greenville Tech, bring lawn seating)

Discussion: Josephine Baker, Senior Action, 3715 E. North St.

Erma Bombeck (Greenville Tech, bring lawn seating)

Discussion: Lucille Ball (Senior Action, 3715 E. North St.)

Albert Einstein (Centre Stage, 501 River St.)

Lucille Ball (Greenville Tech, bring lawn seating)

Discussion: Babe Ruth (Senior Action, 3715 E. North St.)

Babe Ruth (Mauldin Cultural Center, bring lawn seating)

Discussion: Albert Einstein (Senior Action, 3715 E. North St.)

Albert Einstein (Mauldin Cultural Center, bring lawn seating)

Discussion: Erma Bombeck (Senior Action, 3715 E. North St.)

Josephine Baker (Hartness Performing Arts Center on the Christ Church School Campus)

Babe Ruth (Hartness Performing Arts Center on the Christ Church School Campus)