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
Hi all,
I had a conversation with Doc last Saturday I'd like to share. He told me
that the Briarfield Inn would be going on the market soon. It's the B&B
just outside of Round Top where Camp Shakespeare has operated for the past
several years.
Doc also said that in a recent interview with Kristi Frazier (the woman
making the "Take Pains, Be Perfect" documentary), Kristi asked him, "What's
next?" In response, Doc laid out a vision of Camp Shakespeare owning a
property and operating independently of UT.
I let Doc know that I'd be happy to start a conversation with others about
how that could happen. I was thinking of contacting folks sometime after
the Camp performances this summer. But, Briarfield just went on the market,
so it has sped up the timing for this conversation. Briarfield is not the
only place this could happen, of course, but Doc and Robin and the campers
like the property.
It's listed as a commercial property at $595K. The taxes are $6000 a year
on it. It could be operable immediately as a B&B. Here is the listing:
https://txls.com/texas-real-estate/219-farm-to-market-
road-954-round-top-tx-78954/111063
I'd like to hear by private message from anyone who would be interested in
helping to pursue this next vision. *Whether you have money to invest or
not*, I would like to gauge your level of interest at being involved and
any ideas you have about how to make something happen, not only for Camp
Shakespeare, but possibly an expanded notion of what Camp Shakespeare
is...perhaps something like the Camp Shakespeare Retreat and Conference
Center or what Doc used to call his office in Round Top, the Round Top
Shakespeare World Headquarters.
And Doc, please feel welcome to expound on your vision or correct anything
I've put here.
I've copied Robin as the Director of Camp Shakespeare and Jo Ann Ayres as
she is a real estate agent in the area and can advise us on property values
and any additional properties that might work.
I hope to have a committee of people gathered by the end of the week. If
you think of patrons or friends of Camp Shakespeare who might be interested
in being involved, please forward this to them as well.
Yours,
Madge
The first session of Camp Shakespeareans will be performing The Comedy of Errors at the Scottish Rite Theater on 18th street in Austin (thanks to Susan Todd) on Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Hope that those of you in or near Austin can come. Please let me know if you plan to go and I will reserve seats for you!
Cheers,
Doc
Jim (Doc) Ayres
Professor Emeritus, The University of Texas
Founding Director, Shakespeare at Winedale and Camp Shakespeare
Director of Mission, Camp Shakespeare