By Mark Richmond
Senior Writer

For many children, history comes in the form of boring classes. But "Gold Rush" brings the history of the old American West to life with Broadway-style entertainment.

"Gold Rush" is the third part of the family adventure series playing at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in Lafayette. The show is being presented by Purdue Convocations and will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Long Center.

Laura Clavio, assistant director for Purdue Convocations, said "Gold Rush" is a musical geared toward families and children in grades three through six. Brenda Williams, administrative assistant for Purdue Convos, said the show is marketed toward grade schools. Both public and private schools, including Cole Elementary and a home schooling group, will be attending a private showing of "Gold Rush" on Friday.

Clavio said the show is about two 19th century families traveling west to the gold-rich hills of California.

"It’s a story about the opening of the western frontier," said Clavio. "It teaches a little about what it was like to be an American at that time."

Clavio said the musical was originally created to educate families about the hardships experienced by people in the Wild West. The show also commemorates the 150th anniversary of the opening of the West.

The story begins with each family beginning their trek from different parts of the country. One group is a father-daughter team from New Hampshire seeking a life away from the dreary factory jobs back home. The other family consists of a Colonel, his son and a 15-year-old slave named Daniel setting off from Arkansas. The Colonel seeks riches, while Daniel dreams of earning his freedom.

The two families finally meet when they arrive in California months later, each staking a claim in the gold-rich territory. But fortune takes an ironic turn for both families.

The father-daughter group fails to find gold; later the father is nearly killed by a snake. But his clever daughter saves the family when she finds fortune where they least expect it.

The Colonel strikes it rich when he discovers gold, but his greed soon causes problems. Meanwhile Daniel is struggling to earn his freedom in the unforgiving territory.

Although the story is fictional and the gold isn’t real, the story promises to enrich the knowledge of kids and families with an entertaining look at the nation’s history.

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