Hello to everyone! It has been really good to hear from folks I have not heard from for a long time. Mike Godwin has done a remarkable job of developing the list, hasn't he? Well here is the letter Mike said I would write, telling you all of the plans we have thus far set down for the 40th reunion. When I say "we," I refer to Gail McDonald, Alice Gordon, Terry Galloway, Mary Collins, Kirsten Kern, Madge Darlington and myself. Gail was in the very first class, Terry the second, Alice the third, and so on. Three decades represented here.
The reunion really began with Mike's invitation to join the list, as many of you noted, so let's keep the exchanges and discoveries going. We are still looking for for others. So please help with that.
To celebrate the 40th year, James Loehlin, director of Sh at W since '01, has asked former students to present as prologues to the three plays he is directing, performances of 8-minute scenes from each of the 37 plays (some 5 -6 scenes before each of those performances, then). And he has designated Saturday evening, August 7, as "Reunion Night." At this point I am not quite sure what he intend to do, but I hope that as many of you as possible can attend that evening. You can read more in detail about James' plans for reunion at
shakespeare-winedale.org.
Plans for former students of the first 30 years (the so-called "ancianos") are these:
1. A week-long in residence opportunity to work on scenes from Sh in the Theater Barn toward a public Reunion Performance on Saturday, August 14, at 2:00 p.m. Dates of this adventure: Saturday, August 7 (arriving at 5:00 p.m.) through Sunday, August 15 (departing at 10.00 a.m.) Participants will be staying at the Shelby B & B 5 miles from Winedale. Cost for each participant is $320. All meals will be taken at Winedale in Wagner House at no charge. Sh at W fill fund that. Should you have interest in this adventure, please let me know before April 1. Deadline. On April 1, the committee of young women noted above, will select 20 from those who "apply." They will also select the scenes and assign roles.
2. Should you not have time or inclination for the week-long opportunity, you may be interested in a shortened version we hope to schedule Thursday, August 12 (arriving at 3:00 p.m. through Sunday, August 15 (departing at 10:00 a.m.) Those interested in this opportunity will work on short scenes, speeches, poems, etc., which will be performed at various times, e.g., as interludes between the scenes on Saturday, as performances at the brunch or at the reunion dinner, or just anytime the spirit strikes. Those working in this way will stay at B & B's in the area. Or possibly at Winedale in Wagner House. Again, all meals will be taken at Winedale.
3. Should you not have time for either of the above, we hope that you will attend any part of reunion week that you can, feeling free to drop in at any time, any day, but certainly to be present all day Saturday, August 15, and hopefully Sunday morning following. I can guide those in 2 and 3 to overnight B & B stays.
Most important to us at this point is that you make plans now to come to Winedale for the reunion, find your way back here. For any part of what we are planning. Bring everyone you love. Kids and other friends.
Here's a tentative schedule for Reunion Day, Saturday, August 14:
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Brunch. With performances by Camp Shakespeare kids and just anyone else.
2:00 p.m. Performance of scenes by week-long ancianos and others (see #2 above).
6:30 p.m. Reunion banquet. More performances.
Sunday, August 15:
Breakfast at Winedale 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Departure: 10:00 a.m.
I will of course have to learn how many to expect and on what days for meals (breakfast, lunch, supper) at Winedale.
So there's your invitation.
One further thing: please continue to search for folks missing thus far from the list and send your discoveries to Mike. He will send them to me. Many thanks.
From the e-mails I've read, excitement is building, folks are being re-connected. This is already a great experience, as many of you have noted.
Several have asked me to say something in this letter of what I have been doing. OK. Here it is. It would be really good to hear what you have been doing. So please feel free to offer that. We can create a notebook of those accounts.
I passed the directorship of Sh at W to James Loehlin in September, '00, after 30 years in the barn and performances of the 1603 Hamlet and Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe Theater, London, in '98 and '99 and Romeo and Juliet in the RSC Swann Theater at Stratford in '00. I began summer day workshops for kids 10-14 at Winedale in '01, an experience which developed Camp Shakespeare, which is now approaching its 8th year. Camp Shakespeare is mini-Winedale, a two-week in-residence exploration of the play through performance open to kids 10-16. We offer 2 two-week sessions of Camp Shakespeare. Have a look at the Camp Shakespeare link on
shakespeare-winedale.org. I retired from UT in '06 after teaching in the UT Oxford Program at Brasenose College (second time) and was eager to find out what doing nothing was like. But out of nowhere came an
invitation to teach Shakespeare at Texas A & M University. So I did, for 2 years. Currently I am back at UT for a semester. I am now in my 52nd year of University teaching. JoAnn and I have 7 kids between us and 13 grandkids, ages 24 - 3. We live on a small farm near La Grange (12 miles from Winedale) in an old farmhouse (c. 1902) which we are very slowly restoring. JoAnn is a Round Top real estate broker. I am very much involved in the reading program for 4th grade munchkins at Round Top Elementary and at The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center (my mom was Augustine Kutac) in La Grange, where I am helping organize the Czech library and design the museum at the site. I am trying to learn Czech. I also substitute teach at La Grange HS in the Honors and College Prep programs. And am very good at Wii bowling. Will take on anyone.
I really look forward to the reunion and to hearing from all of you. I am quite sure that if I have forgotten something in the above or misstated something that I will hear from the feminine authority noted above.
I hope that all of you are well, thriving,
Take pains, be perfect.
Doc