The “Orson Welles Centennial Festival,” will celebrate Welles’ 100th birthday.

“I suppose it’s Woodstock, Illinois, if it’s anywhere. I went to school there for four years. If I try to think of a home, it’s that.” – Orson Welles (1960)

Although he was born May 5, 1915, in Kenosha, Wis., Orson Welles credits the Todd Seminary for Boys School, Woodstock, and Roger Hill, the headmaster, for influencing him and his career more than anything else. By the time he left Woodstock in 1934, he was ready to embark on an incredible radio/theatre/film career.

May 6 opens the more than two-week “Orson Welles Centennial Festival,” celebrating the man’s 100^th birthday. The Festival opens with box-office failure, “Citizen Kane,” at the Woodstock Theatre. Although the film garnered nine Oscar nominations, it was booed at the award ceremony. Years later, it was re-released to the accolades critics claim it deserved.

The celebration continues with an opening Gala Party at the Old Courthouse on the Square in Welles’ adopted hometown. Throughout the Festival, attendees can view his movies, as well as listen to radio shows, and guest lecturers.

In an exclusive engagement May 9, actress Oja Kodar will talk with film critic and author Jonathan Rosenbaum at the Rosebud Theatre (aka Woodstock VFW.) Kodar was Welle’s collaborator and partner. On the same day, fans can listen to experts like Author James Naremore, who will discuss “The Stranger” inspired by the Woodstock that Welles knew.

On May 15, alumni from Todd host a panel discussion on the School and its educational philosophy at the Woodstock Opera House Community Room. Two authors discuss Welles’s early life and the role Woodstock played: Todd Tarbox discusses his book Orson Welles and Roger Hill – A Friendship in Three Acts, Patrick McGilligan discusses his book, Young Orson: The Years of Luck and Genius on the Path to Citizen Kane.”

The Festival continues until May 23 with additional movie screenings, radio broadcasts, and discussions about Welles’s life, as well as a showing of some of his paintings, etchings, sketchings, and doodles. A special presentation about his unfinished work, The Other Side of the Wind concludes the festival at the Rosebud Theatre (Woodstock VFW.)

The “After Party” takes place May 15 with a live music party at the Rosebud Theatre, open to the public. Besides music by “Nicholas Tremulis,” at the Theatre, attendees can Meet and Greet with academy Award winning filmmaker Chuck Workman at the Woodstock Opera House Community Room.

Directed, co-written and produced by the 25-year-old Welles, “Citizen Kane” is now often considered by critics, filmmakers and fans to be the greatest film ever made. Festivalgoers can view the digitally mastered film on the Big Screen at the Woodstock Theatre.

Welles graduated from Todd in 1931 and later collaborated with his mentor and friend, Hill to write a series of books, “Everybody’s Shakespeare,” which shortened the plays and were illustrated with numerous line drawings by Welles. He refused royalties, which instead went to the Todd school, along with generous contributions to the scholarship fund from Welles and his friend Charles Lederer.

Welles returned occasionally to Woodstock for Todd student productions. He designed and co-directed a student production of “Twelfth Night” that received first prize in the Chicago Drama Festival competition at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. He organized the Todd Theatre Festival; a six-week summer festival at the Woodstock Opera House Welles’s short film, “The Hearts of Age” was shot on the Todd campus during the festival.

Welles planned to use the Todd campus as the setting for his 1946 film, “The Stranger.” The idea was ruled out by budget restrictions, but a few artifacts are seen in the film. A sign in the Harper School gymnasium reads “Harper vs. Todd” and refers to Clover Hall/A note on a blackboard, in Welles’s handwriting, refers to Wallingford Hall. Another notice is signed “Coach Roskie” — Anthony C. Roskie, Todd’s longtime athletic director.

For additional details and a schedule go to http://welleswoodstock.com