For those who stay up for its near-midnight airtime, Saturday Night Live is a staple of no-holds-barred weekend humor. It’s won hundreds of Emmys, sparking the careers of comedy giants the likes of John Belushi, Will Ferrell and Tina Fey, and adding levity to the state of the world.
The show’s creator and executive producer for more than four decades Lorne Michaels is among the prominent personalities to be explored during the University of Mary Washington’s 2026 William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series. And like Michaels’ SNL, the program, which kicks off in January, holds a metaphorical mirror up to its audience.
“The stories and the lives that we learn about remind us our lives are shaped by the times in which we live,” UMW President Troy Paino told a packed room at the series reveal event, announcing the subjects of the new season. “They also offer a time for self-reflection.”
Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live author Susan Morrison is one of 16 writers set to present in this year’s Great Lives program, billed as a “biographical approach to history and culture.” The lineup also features insight into the lives of beloved young adult writer Judy Blume, basketball great Jerry West, women’s rights champion Elizabeth Packard and a dozen more. Now in their 23rd year, the lectures – which are open and free to the public – will take place twice a week, from Jan. 20 to March 19, in UMW’s Dodd Auditorium.
Three installments of the 2026 roster – Paul Revere, John Hancock and Jemima Boone – will recognize the America 250 celebration of the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The schedule also will highlight a cartoonist, a composer and a congresswoman; an explorer and an entertainer; lawmakers, musicians, a pair of publishers and a televangelist.
“I think one of the reasons for the enduring popularity of Great Lives is that people relate to stories of other people,” said Executive Director of UMW Museums Scott Harris ’83, who last year took the reins as series director from creator Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus Bill Crawley. “By highlighting individuals from across time and from so many perspectives, we help our audiences engage with the wider world, but on a distinctly personal level.”
And this year, the series returns to its roots as an academic offering. Professor of Middle Eastern History Nabil Al-Tikriti will teach the related course, Biography as History, this spring.
At the reveal reception, Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte called Great Lives a bridge from the University to the Fredericksburg-area community and expressed gratitude to founding donor John Chappell and his wife, Mary Lou. She also thanked the generous local organizations, corporations and individuals who sponsor the lectures and support the series.
Dates, topics, speakers and sponsors for 2026:
- Jan. 20: Paul Revere: Revolutionary Rider. Kostya Kennedy. The Chancellor’s Village Lecture
- Jan. 22: Aimee Semple McPherson: Pioneering Televangelist. Claire Hoffman. The University Museums Lecture
- Jan. 27: John Williams: Movie Music Master. Tim Greiving. The John and Linda Coker Lecture
- Jan. 29: Barbara Jordan: The South’s First Black Congresswoman. Mary Ellen Curtin. The Jack and Marilynn Farrington Lecture
- Feb. 3: Lorne Michaels: Live, from New York … Susan Morrison. The UMW Dining Lecture
- Feb. 5: Judy Blume: Giving Voice to Young People. Rachelle Bergstein. The Fred and Barbara Rankin Lecture
- Feb. 10: Robert Crumb: Counterculture Cartoonist. Dan Nadel. The Walter Jervis Shefield Lecture
- Feb. 12: Jerry West: Basketball’s “Mr. Logo.” Jonathan Coleman. The Stephen Gaske and Patricia Powers Gaske ’75 Lecture
- Feb. 17: The Brothers Grimm: Fathers of Folklore. Ann Schmiesing. The Janet Hedrick ’73 and Jack Bales Lecture
- Feb. 19: Ellington, Armstrong and Basie: Jazz Giants. Larry Tye. The Davenport and Company Lecture
- Feb. 24: Elizabeth Packard: Champion of Women’s Rights. Kate Moore. The Yuh Prosthodontics Lecture
- Feb. 26: Jemima Boone: Captive Colonial Child. Matthew Pearl. The Irene and Curry Roberts Lecture
- March 10: Desi Arnaz: He Loved Lucy. Todd S. Purdum. The Jubilation by Silver Companies Lecture
- March 12: Gertrude Bell: The Female Lawrence of Arabia. Janet Wallach. The Coldwell Banker Elite Lecture
- March 17: John Hancock: Revolutionary Ringmaster. Willard Sterne Randall. The Roxanne M. Kaufman ’08 Lecture
- March 19: Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday: Pistol-Packing Pair. Mark Lee Gardner. The Synergy Periodontics and Implants Lecture
Great Lives lectures are held Tuesdays and Thursdays, from Jan. 20 to March 19, 2026. All are open to the public free of charge, begin at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium, and are followed by an audience Q&A session. Most Great Lives lectures are video recorded and available shortly after the performance date on the Great Lives website, which also includes many lectures from past years.
For information on Great Lives sponsorships, please contact Jeremy Vaughn ’08 in the Office of University Advancement at jvaughn@umw.edu or 540-654-2063.
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