I hope this letter finds you enjoying Shakespeare’s birthday, perhaps singing a song or brushing up a line or two. I very much enjoyed my birthday, the 90th, on March 25th at Winedale with a host of good friends. Many thanks again to my daughter Emily and JoAnn and everyone in the family and many of you! It was a perfect day, one that I’ll remember a long time.
Robin and I began planning Camp Shakespeare early in the Fall, putting aside our disappointment in having to cancel the second 2022 session Macbeth performances because of Covid, and spirited by the Dallas Film Festival showing of “Take Pains Be Perfect.” We have decided to take on The Winter’s Tale this summer along with Romeo and Juliet, which we’ve never explored at Camp! We have selected some very fine kids and can’t wait for June. We’re also excited that Robin is officially the Director of Camp Shakespeare, indeed on the Department of English staff at UT! In addition to Camp things, she is helping Emily collect and organize Shakespeare at Winedale and Camp Shakespeare archives (storage in my old Calhoun 20 office). If you have something to pass on to Robin, please write to her at robingracesoto(a)utexas.edu <mailto:robingracesoto@utexas.edu>. Also, Gus Dexheimer and Malena Pennycook, our two senior counselors for the past 8+ years, have been promoted to Associate Directors!
Herewith the schedule of 2023 performances:
The Winter’s Tale: Friday, June 23, 3:00 pm, Crystal Theater, Gonzales, Tx. Saturday, June 24, 3:00 pm, La Grange ISD Performing Arts Center, Sunday, June 25, 2:00 pm, Winedale.
Romeo and Juliet: Friday July 14, 3:00 pm, Crystal Theater, Gonzales, Tx. Saturday, July 15, 3:00 pm, La Grange ISD Performing Art Center. Sunday, July 16, 2:00 pm. Winedale.
To ensure the summer is a success, we are doing our best to secure necessary funding. This year we have a record number of students who will need scholarship support, seven in all. And we also are facing what everyone is—the rising costs of food. We hope to raise $25,000 to meet those needs. And we of course appreciate your assistance with that.
Your gift to Camp can be sent in three different ways:
Checks can be made out TO The University of Texas at Austin FOR Camp Shakespeare. They can be mailed to either of the addresses below:
(1) Camp Shakespeare at Winedale
PO BOX 202
Round Top, TX
79854
(2) The University of Texas at Austin
Camp Shakespeare at Winedale
204 W 21st Street Stop B5000
Austin, TX 78712
(3) Robin provides this option: Camp Shakespeare is also now accepting donations on-line in honor of Doc's 90th year! This donation will go directly into our Camp Shakespeare account.
http://links.utexas.edu/cghyuoy <http://links.utexas.edu/cghyuoy>
The donation auto populates with $90 for Doc's 90th birthday but you can feel free to change to any amount that you wish. Once you set the amount you can click the "Your Information" button and you will notice that Camp Shakespeare and honorary information about Doc also auto populates on the donation page.
We will also be hosting our annual HornRaiser during the summer. The amount we raise this spring will help determine our goal for that effort. The HornRaiser continues to be a wonderful opportunity for us to spread the word about the work we do with Camp Shakespeare and we greatly appreciate your support as ambassadors each summer!
We hope you have a splendid Spring and that you plan to come to the performances!
Cheers,
Doc and Robin