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@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