From: weeklong-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org [mailto:weeklong-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Clay Stromberger
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2011 4:55 PM
To: weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org
Subject: Re: [Weeklong-l] (no subject)

You're right, Michael, I did miscount.  Left myself out for one.  I blame the top-shelf martini with the funny name and the blueberries on a little skewer.  





Just returned from the gathering for Lizz in the Barn, which was beautiful, moving, just right.  Lots of tears, laughter, wonderful and inspiring stories of Lizz's spirit and love for life and Winedale and learning and all her friends, and at the end a rousing "Lover and His Lass" sung as a round (folks standing in a circle that encompassed both the front part of the stage and the center of the Barn).  Doc had the idea to do the round and animatedly directed it from the center of the circle.  



As I walked to my car Kate Woodruff's beautiful little kids were out in the meadow, on the green grass in the bright sunshine, with their dad, flying a red kite.  



Wind through the trees, you know it's spring...







cs





On Mar 12, 2011, at 11:27 AM, Barker, Michael wrote:


Thank you, Clayton. This is a great account. I may have exaggerated doc's

0Susanne so appreciated all of your enthusiasm for the film.

Fun was had by all.

I counted 10 on this list.
Maggie, you, Terry, Madge, Susan, Stan, Kathy, Matt, me, Doc.

And then, of course, many significant others Joann, Steve, Lisa, Donna, Polly, Kat,
Prentice, my daughter Kate.

We missed the rest of you.
Next time.
All the best, m


From: Clay Stromberger [mailto:cstromberger@mail.utexas.edu]
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2011 06:36 AM
To: weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org <weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org>
Subject: Re: [Weeklong-l] (no subject)

Madge said it well.  Thank you Michael for bringing so many of us together.  I counted eight from this list in all, including Doc, who by a wonderful coincidence was celebrating his wedding anniversary last night with JoAnn.   
 
I have to tell the story a bit, to celebrate our host.  We had a lovely time, and Michael was so generous and thoughtful about every detail.   After being shooed in to the renovated State Theater by Michael, waltzing giddily past all the folks waiting in line (!), we watched "In a Better World," and yes, it was a gripping, beautiful film, go see it when it hits town and tell others about it, we were all transported.   Amazing performances.  Then we walked through downtown Austin, which was all abuzz with sparkling lights and heady SXSW energy, and made our way to the posh new W Hotel near the river.  Our destination was a back room of its snazzy restaurant.  I felt like we'd suddenly landed at an after-Oscars party.  Waitresses whizzed in for fancy cocktail orders.  Rumors swirled of Kevin Bacon's appearance at the bar.  And at the end of one of the two tables in our room sat Susanne Bier, the Academy-Award-winning director of the film, beaming.  Michael graciously introduced each of us to her during the evening and we were honored to be known his "Shakespeare friends."
 
(Oh, and to continue promoting the film, it was fascinating to hear her speak about it after the screening -- she was on "Fresh Air" recently and you can find that interview on the npr website.)
 
Then Michael got our attention to say something.  He began to tell Ms. Bier the story of Doc and the rest of us emailing him during the Oscars, and how he had this virtual Winedale cheering section during the ceremony.  He joked about how Doc had first sent him an email early in the evening... "And he clearly had no idea where I was!" -- so Michael texted him a photo of the back of Rupert Murdoch's head....
 
Anyway:  as a special treat, in response to all our real-time email support, Michael told everyone that he'd asked Susanne to bring something special along to dinner.  She suddenly pulled out out from somewhere a zippered homemade-looking pillow-cover kind of thing, and began to open it, and, sure enough.... there it was, all gleaming and magical... the Oscar.  
 
Wow.
 
We took turns holding it, somewhat stunned, admiring its heft, daydreaming and roleplaying (Doc launched into a comic gem of a mimed speech) for a fleeting moment... except for Terry, who wouldn't hold it but posed for a photo making rabbit ears over Oscar's head.  
 
And yes we held it for each of you who couldn't be there with us.  
 
So, it was a big Oscar-winning night for Shakespeare at Winedale, and expect to receive some funny photos of various reunion folks holding an Oscar over the weekend.
 
It was great also to meet Michael's oldest daughter (a talented film director) and son-in-law (a charming young Norwegian who just stepped away from a career as a diplomat, had a really wonderful conversation with him) -- I expect you lucky New Yorkers will get the chance to hang out with them down the road -- and their friends.  Terrific company.  I hope all these folks can gather again someday, with more of you there as well.


I ended the evening amazed at how each person in that room had a story to tell, and a gift to share with the others around them, whether it was Lisa talking about her son Max, or Donna about her work and the film project about Terry, or Maggie's husband Steve about his love of music....   So, forgive me for waxing thankful, but I just want to say in closing (wrapping up my acceptance speech?) that I'm so grateful to know each of you, especially as I grow older and see what a challenge it is to keep true friendships alive and blooming.  Michael talked during his UT film school visit about how his goal is to help create films that are "evergreens."  That's a great word for what the folks on this list are in my life.  So thank you for that, thank you Doc for bringing us all together, and thank you again Michael for a memorable evening.
 



See all of you at a Camp Shakespeare performance this summer, I hope, if not before.





cheers,





cs





P.S.  Here is a link to the youtube clip of Ms. Bier winning the Oscar and then thanking our own dear Michael from the podium... and yes we held that same darn statue!   I'm still starstruck....
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez8L_DDLPSs

























On Mar 12, 2011, at 12:04 AM, Madge Darlington wrote:



What an incredible evening!  Thank you Michael for hosting tonight.  The film is indescribably good and everyone should see it.  I feel blessed to be in the company of all of you on this list and feel lucky that I got to see so many of you in person tonight.

Love,
Madge

On Fri, Mar 11, 2011 at 5:12 PM, Maggie Megaw <maggie@bizaffairs.com> wrote:
We are on the ground-- see you shortly!

Maggie Megaw
Business Affairs Inc
2415 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405


On Mar 11, 2011, at 1:11 PM, "Barker, Michael" <Michael_Barker@spe.sony.com> wrote:

> If you are coming tonight to In A Better World at the State Theater on Congress.
> Please arrive by 530pm as the movie will start at 6pm and it may be a little crazy in front of the theater.
> There will be two people out in front of the theater who have your names and the tickets.
> Chris Arnold and Jennifer Bedwell are their names.
> I will see you there.
> m
>
> _______________________________________________
> Weeklong-l mailing list
> Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l


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--
Madge Darlington
Co-Producing Artistic Director
Rude Mechanicals
Co-Director
Grrl Action
(512) 627-6038
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Clayton Stromberger   
Outreach Coordinator, UT Shakespeare at Winedale
College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin
www.shakespeare-winedale.org <http://www.shakespeare-winedale.org/>
cell:  512-363-6864
UT Sh. at W. office:  512-471-4726



 
 




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Clayton Stromberger   
Outreach Coordinator, UT Shakespeare at Winedale
College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin
www.shakespeare-winedale.org <http://www.shakespeare-winedale.org>
cell:  512-363-6864
UT Sh. at W. office:  512-471-4726



 
 




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