The warmer weather here, the time change, and bluebonnets remind me that summer is not far away. And so Robin and I are busy reading applications for the two summer sessions of Camp Shakespeare, getting the staff ready, taking care of the administrative necessities. We have been looking forward to this summer since the final performance last year! We were once again fortunate to have enthusiastic, imaginative, and dedicated players for Love’s Labor’s Lost and The Winter’s Tale, a brilliant staff, wonderful audiences, and very generous donors supporting the program. Our gala dinner performance of WT at Henkel Hall in Round Top (in the round) was sold out, and through the underwriting and auction, we were able to increase by $20,000 the endowment founded by Jayne and Rick Suhler.
This summer we are headed for Ephesus and the moonlit forest outside Athens. The kids will be performing CE in Gonzales on June 21, in Austin on June 22, at the Scottish Rite Theater (where Susan Todd is Artistic Director), and in the Theater Barn at Winedale on June 23. The second group will perform MND at Gonzales on July 12; at Henkel Hall, Round Top on July 13; and at Winedale on July 14. Please save the dates! And plan to come and bring friends.
Other good news: we are doing a film! One of the most faithful of audience members is sponsoring the filming of a documentary on Camp Shakespeare (in the context of Sh at W). Preliminary filming began in December. The crew will be on site for all of session 2. You can check out the first “trailer” at https://vimeo.com/246037025 https://vimeo.com/246037025 Password: winedale. They are in the process of creating another.
Robin Grace is doing an excellent job in/with every phase of Camp. She is a brilliant teacher, director, administrator, and staff leader. Wonder Woman for real. I hope you have the opportunity to meet her this summer!
To make this 18th year of Camp Shakespeare a success, we need scholarships for students with financial need, for travel (read gasoline and snacks), and for the daily picnic lunches. Our goal is $ 10,000. We are delighted that the endowment is growing and will one day fund the program in perpetuity. But we must continue to develop funding for annual operating expenses; hence, this petition. I am very proud to say that Camp Shakespeare exists today because of your generosity. Thanks and thanks, and ever thanks for your assistance!
You may send gifts to me at PO Box 202, Round top, Tx, 78954. Please make checks “to” The University of Texas and mark them “for” Camp Shakespeare.
Take pains, be perfect. At the Duke’s oak we meet.
Doc
Jim (Doc) Ayres Professor Emeritus, The University of Texas Founding Director, Shakespeare at Winedale and Camp Shakespeare Director of Mission, Camp Shakespeare