I sent you the wrong letter a minute ago. Here is the one I meant to send.
We have some very good news for you! First of all…..
you will be pleased to know that, after a two-summer pause, Camp Shakespeare will return to the countryside in June 2022 to resume our exploration of play through performance. After several weeks of interviewing, we have selected two groups of very fine campers to take on As You Like It (Session 1: June 12-26) and Macbeth (Session 2: July 3-17). Times and venues for public performances are on the Camp Shakespeare site. Please make plans now to visit and celebrate with us.
But there is even more uplifting news: Robin Grace is NOW a University of Texas staff member, officially carrying the responsibility of developing and directing Camp Shakespeare. Her appointment as Director brings Camp Shakespeare officially and firmly into the Shakespeare at Winedale fold. Robin Grace is finally being rewarded for the brilliant work she has been doing for over a decade. She has her own office in Calhoun Hall, has settled in, and hard at work! Feel free to drop her a line to say hello and hear more about our progress robingracesoto(a)utexas.edu <mailto:robingracesoto@utexas.edu>.
The documentary film, "Take Pains, Be Perfect,” produced by Dr. Celeste Sheppard and directed by Kristi Frazier, enjoyed its premier at the Santa Fe Film Festival on February 5. The film was well-attended and well-received and I enjoyed the interview and Q & A afterward. JoAnn and my daughter Emily attended and were overwhelmed by the big screen presentation.
A few days later, we learned that the Dallas Film Festival has selected the film for showing in April! And last week, we were notified that PBS stations around the US are currently showing the film and that it will be on Austin PBS on April 8 at 9:00 pm.
This summer we will be using several facilities for our daily work: the Theater Barn at Winedale (of course), Windy Knoll (a beautiful new event center near Round Top), and The Historic Casino Hall stage (in La Grange). We are adding a new public performance venue this year: The La Grange ISD Performing Arts Center. So you can visit us at the Crystal Theater in Gonzales, the PAC in La Grange, and at Winedale!
So many good things are happening!
To ensure that our return to in-person programing is possible, we are doing our best to secure the necessary funding. Every budget item we have this year has increased significantly since our last “normal” year of Camp in 2019. We have increased the Camp fee and are cutting a small number of items out of the budget to help with operations. Donations from our Winedale community continue to make magical things possible for our students and the future of the program. We hope you will consider making a donation to Camp Shakespeare this spring!
We look forward to seeing you at the Barn this summer and celebrating!
With Gratitude,
DONATION INFORMATION—
Checks can be made out to The University of Texas at Austin with Camp Shakespeare at Winedale in the memo line.
Please note our new mailing address—
Camp Shakespeare at Winedale
Attn: Robin Grace Soto, Director
The University of Texas at Austin
204 W 21st Street Stop B5000
Austin, TX 78712
Jim (Doc) Ayres
Professor Emeritus, The University of Texas
Founding Director, Shakespeare at Winedale and Camp Shakespeare
Director of Mission, Camp Shakespeare