I love Kathy's idea -- if I'm imagining it correctly. Small scenes, parts of scenes, monologues, sword fights done in the barn or on the mats. It reminds me of that wonderful performance done under the trees after the more formal play in the barn. It had such a fun and breezy and yet absolutely serious focus on Shakespeare. It felt like its own little fringe festival. That might be nice -- revisiting our favorite most beloved roles, scenes, monologues, fights, group scenes, songs and music that we've done in the past. And maybe -- because I love that kind of thing -- parodies of Shakespeare, too. A kind of a two day performance festival -- a little bit of Eeyore's birthday in that idea. I appreciate the way everyone is thinking and hope to hear more of it. I'm in London, by the way and saw a gender fluid Henry V at the Globe. The woman playing Henry was ok. But the man playing both Katherine and Pistol was something else. He was stocky, bald and older and captured the spirits of both roles so effortlessly and charmingly. Next week I'm seeing Henry IV Part 1 with a female Falstaff. I'm sure I'll have a much more critical take on that one. Love to you all and god almighty I can't believe Winedale is almost 50. Terry
-----Original Message----- From: Kathryn Blackbird kathrynblackbird@sbcglobal.net To: LaVonne Carlson lavonnehope@gmail.com; Madge Darlington mmdarlington@gmail.com CC: James Ayres jayres@cvctx.com; Shakespeare at Winedale 1970-2000 alums winedale-l@lists.wikimedia.org; Shakespeare Winedale shakespeare-at-winedale-email-list@googlegroups.com; Robin Grace Soto robingracesoto@gmail.com Sent: Wed, 22 May 2019 20:14 Subject: Re: 2020 Reunion
Great to get the discussions going....how quickly time passes! I like LaVonne's and Madge's ideas and was thinking myself that it would be wonderful to be more inclusive of all former students in a variety of performances. Perhaps instead of (or in addition to) doing full plays, we could open it up to any person or groups who wish to perform..... a song, a monologue, a small or a large or part of a scene, duels or sword fights or any solo or group performances. Many pieces could be worked up and ready to perform, or ready after short rehearsal periods....like the weekenders who performed under the pecan trees a few reunions ago. Perhaps we put out a challenge to have a group from each summer class perform something together. Although that would be 50 groups plus the 20 years of camp performers. Wow. Lots of possibilities! Just pondering....Kathy
On Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 8:51:08 AM CDT, Madge Darlington mmdarlington@gmail.com wrote:
Thanks for getting the ball rolling, Doc! LaVonne, I like your idea of 2 days. I love mixing the generations...Ancianos, James' students, and Robin and the Camp Shakespeare students/alums all intermingled. I'm happy to host a reunion summit in Austin if we decide that would be helpful in the planning. xo,Madge
On Tue, May 21, 2019 at 11:46 PM LaVonne Carlson lavonnehope@gmail.com wrote:
Thanks, as always, for envisioning ahead! Maybe we could have two performances on two days: The first could be those who come for a week, performing on Saturday; the other could be more improvisational—those who arrive for the weekend and have scenes memorized ahead and prepare/work together on Saturday and perform Sunday. I can’t wait!LaVonne
Sent from my iPhone On May 21, 2019, at 8:03 PM, James Ayres jayres@cvctx.com wrote:
Next summer Shakespeare at Winedale will celebrate its 50th anniversary and Camp Shakespeare will celebrate its 20th. This is clearly an historic occasion, something we should celebrate and indeed something that The University of Texas should celebrate. James and I will be getting together soon to exchange ideas about that celebration. I’d like to hear your ideas. Preparation for the 45th anniversary, when we took on two plays with some 42 folks, took an entire year. We need to begin that planning very soon, at least draw up a broad outline. I will be very busy beginning June 1 with Camp Shakespeare and will not be free until July 20 or so. But that should not discourage you from exchanging emails and tossing them my way. So let’s get rolling. Take pains, be perfect, Doc
Jim (Doc) AyresProfessor Emeritus, The University of TexasFounding Director, Shakespeare at Winedale and Camp ShakespeareDirector of Mission, Camp Shakespeare