In my earlier letter, I invited your support for Camp Shakespeare ’16 and also for chair-back name plates for the new (and very comfortable) cushioned chairs in the Theater Barn. Two things. When actually they are one. By purchasing a plaque—at $300 each--you have your choice of supporting Camp Shakespeare, Shakespeare at Winedale, or Shakespeare Outreach. The plaques cost only about $ 20.00 or so. The balance goes to the program of your choice. By my figuring—240 chairs—we have the potential of raising $72,000. What part of that comes to Camp Shakespeare is up to donors. But whatever does, will go into the endowment in my name initiated by Jayne and Rick Suhler, for Camp Shakespeare.
In one week after announcing this, I already have pledges for 33 chairs for Camp Shakespeare! That’s $9.900 already! And James students and the friends have pledged 15 or so more chairs for Shakespeare at Winedale. So things are moving along! Thanks for considering this. When the list grows to 100, I will send everyone the list of donors and honorees. That is, if the donors approve.
Have a very happy Spring Break.
Doc
Jim (Doc) Ayres
Professor Emeritus, The University of Texas
Founding Director, Shakespeare at Winedale
Director, Camp Shakespeare
These early Spring days remind me that “Sumer” will soon be “icumin in” and Camp Shakespeare will be celebrating its 15th year. So I thought I’d write to tell you about it. We will be taking on Love’s Labor’s Lost in Session 1 (June 11-June 24) and The Winter’s Tale in Session 2 (July 2-July 15), with public performances during the last three days of each session, Thursdays at the Crystal Theater in Gonzales (at 3:00 p.m., Fridays at Henkel Hall in Round Top (in the round at 7:00 p.m.), and Saturdays at Winedale in the Barn (at 1:00 p.m.).
I hope that you will make plans now to attend at least one performance.
And as usual, we are beginning our annual drive for funding this year’s program. Our primary needs are for scholarships, travel expense, and interns. Year-by-year we have been increasing the James B. (Doc) Ayres Excellence Fund that Jayne and Rick Suhler initiated and the annual interest is growing (albeit slowly) to help us each year. So any gift is welcome.
We are planning a “gala” dinner performance on Friday, July 14, at Henkel Hall, with The Winter’s Tale, which will be aimed at developing funds for that Excellence Fund. We did one of these in 2014 with great success. The cost will be $50.00 per person. Those desiring to be sponsors of the special event may purchase a table for 8 for $500.00. We also need to raise $10,000 to underwrite the event. So there is much to do. But when we did this in 2014, we had the tables sold by May and the event fully underwritten, so we are confident we can do it again.
Yet another way of supporting Camp Shakespeare is purchasing a chair plaque for one or two chairs in the Theater Barn. You may place your name on it or the name(s) of those you wish to honor. Write me about that. Each plaque costs $300.00, and you may designate your gift to Camp Shakespeare, Shakespeare at Winedale, or Shakespeare Outreach.
You can find complete information about Camp Shakespeare 2017 on the Shakespeare-winedale.org <http://shakespeare-winedale.org/> site. Just click “Programs” and then “Camp Shakespeare.”
Gifts may be sent to me at P.O. Box 202, Round Top, Tx., 78954. Please make the check “to” The University of Texas and mark it “for” Camp Shakespeare.” Please pass all of this information to friends!
Thank you very much!
Cheers,
Doc
Jim (Doc) Ayres
Professor Emeritus, The University of Texas
Founding Director, Shakespeare at Winedale and Camp Shakespeare
Director of Mission, Camp Shakespeare