'Poets in the Parlor' Aug. 18 at Vachel Lindsay Home to feature John Muchmore

[August 10, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- John Muchmore, who was inspired by Vachel Lindsay at a young age and has always incorporated Lindsay's poetry into his own teaching, will make his second appearance as part of the "Poets in the Parlor" series on Aug. 18 at 2 p.m. at the Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site.

Muchmore has been a longtime reader and performer of Lindsay's poetry. When he was a child, his mother introduced him to Lindsay's "The Little Turtle," and John was hooked. His fascination for Lindsay's powerful and exciting use of poetry tools was reinforced by a series of teachers who were great Lindsay fans, and that fascination continues.

Muchmore was a member of the founding faculty and a longtime professor of speech and theater at William Rainey Harper College in Palatine. During his career as an English, speech and theater teacher, he was always able to find a way to fit a Lindsay poem into his classes. Now retired, Muchmore continues to take great pleasure in sharing Lindsay's work with others. He was featured in the "Poet in the Parlor" series in August 2008. This past year Muchmore performed Lindsay's poetry at the Gail Borden Library's celebration of National Poetry Month.

Limited seating is available for the program. Refreshments and tours of the Lindsay Home will follow.

The free program is sponsored by the Vachel Lindsay Association and the Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site.

The Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St. in Springfield, is the birthplace and longtime residence of poet, author and artist Nicholas Vachel Lindsay, 1879-1931. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for free public tours.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]