{"id":107726,"date":"2025-11-12T11:43:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T16:43:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/?p=107726"},"modified":"2025-12-11T14:49:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T19:49:15","slug":"live-from-umw-2026-great-lives-lectures-honor-snl-creator-america-250-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2025\/11\/12\/live-from-umw-2026-great-lives-lectures-honor-snl-creator-america-250-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Live, From UMW: 2026 Great Lives Lectures Honor SNL Creator, America 250 and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

For those who stay up for its near-midnight airtime, Saturday Night Live<\/em> is a staple of no-holds-barred weekend humor. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

The show\u2019s 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\u2019s 2026 William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series<\/a>. And like Michaels\u2019 SNL, the program, which kicks off in January, holds a metaphorical mirror up to its audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe stories and the lives that we learn about remind us our lives are shaped by the times in which we live,\u201d UMW President Troy Paino told a packed room at the series reveal event, announcing the subjects of the new season. \u201cThey also offer a time for self-reflection.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jan. <\/a>
Jan. 20: Paul Revere: Revolutionary Rider. Kostya Kennedy. The Chancellor\u2019s Village Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Jan. <\/a>
Jan. 22: Aimee Semple McPherson: Pioneering Televangelist. Claire Hoffman. The University Museums Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Jan. <\/a>
Jan. 27: John Williams: Movie Music Master. Tim Greiving. The John and Linda Coker Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Jan. <\/a>
Jan. 29: Barbara Jordan: The South\u2019s First Black Congresswoman. Mary Ellen Curtin. The Jack and Marilynn Farrington Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Feb. <\/a>
Feb. 3: Lorne Michaels: Live, from New York … Susan Morrison. The UMW Dining Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Feb. <\/a>
Feb. 5: Judy Blume: Giving Voice to Young People. Rachelle Bergstein. The Fred and Barbara Rankin Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Feb. <\/a>
Feb. 10: Robert Crumb: Counterculture Cartoonist. Dan Nadel. The Walter Jervis Shefield Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Feb. <\/a>
Feb. 12: Jerry West: Basketball\u2019s \u201cMr. Logo.\u201d Jonathan Coleman. The Stephen Gaske and Patricia Powers Gaske \u201975 Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live<\/em> author Susan Morrison is one of 16 writers set to present in this year\u2019s Great Lives program, billed as a \u201cbiographical approach to history and culture.\u201d The lineup also features insight into the lives of beloved young adult writer Judy Blume, basketball great Jerry West, women\u2019s rights champion Elizabeth Packard and a dozen more. Now in their 23rd year, the lectures \u2013 which are open and free to the public \u2013 will take place twice a week, from Jan. 20 to March 19, in UMW\u2019s Dodd Auditorium. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Three installments of the 2026 roster \u2013 Paul Revere, John Hancock and Jemima Boone \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

\"Feb. <\/a>
Feb. 17: The Brothers Grimm: Fathers of Folklore. Ann Schmiesing. The Janet Hedrick \u201973 and Jack Bales Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Feb. <\/a>
Feb. 19: Ellington, Armstrong and Basie: Jazz Giants. Larry Tye. The Davenport and Company Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Feb. <\/a>
Feb. 24: Elizabeth Packard: Champion of Women\u2019s Rights. Kate Moore. The Yuh Prosthodontics Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Feb. <\/a>
Feb. 26: Jemima Boone: Captive Colonial Child. Matthew Pearl. The Irene and Curry Roberts Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"March <\/a>
March 10: Desi Arnaz: He Loved Lucy. Todd S. Purdum. The Jubilation by Silver Companies Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"March <\/a>
March 12: Gertrude Bell: The Female Lawrence of Arabia. Janet Wallach. The Coldwell Banker Elite Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"March <\/a>
March 17: King Hancock: The Moderate Influence of a Radical Founding Father <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"March <\/a>
March 19: Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday: Pistol-Packing Pair. Mark Lee Gardner. The Synergy Periodontics and Implants Lecture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

\u201cI think one of the reasons for the enduring popularity of Great Lives is that people relate to stories of other people,\u201d said Executive Director of UMW Museums Scott Harris \u201983, who last year took the reins as series director from creator Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus Bill Crawley. \u201c<\/strong>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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Director <\/a>
Director of UMW Museums Scott Harris ’83 took the reins of the William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series last year. Photo by K Pearlman Photography. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Sponsors <\/a>
Sponsors and fans of the William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series filled the Jepson Alumni Executive Center’s ballroom for an event last week to unveil the subjects and presenters of the 2026 series. Photo by K Pearlman Photography. <\/div> <\/div>
\"Distinguished <\/a>
Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus Bill Crawley created the Great Lives lecture series, now in its 23rd year. Photo by K Pearlman Photography. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UMW <\/a>
UMW President Troy Paino, who addressed the crowd, shares a laugh with wife Kelly at last week’s unveiling event for the 2026 William B. Crawley Lecture Series. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UMW <\/a>
UMW Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Katie Turcotte addresses the crowd at last night’s unveiling event for the 2026 William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture series. Photo by K Pearlman Photography. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UMW <\/a>
UMW Director of Community Events Ali Hieber, who coordinates the 16-part William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series, stands with Jonathan Windsor ’24, who serves as media consultant for the series. Photo by K Pearlman Photography. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Dates, topics, speakers and sponsors for 2026:<\/strong><\/h2>\n