That was wonderfully well-written and beautifully expressed, Clayton. Truly
a joy to read.
Thank you!
-Yvette
On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 9:49 PM, Clay Stromberger <
cstromberger(a)mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
Thanks for this Michael -- as a longtime admirer of
Camp Shakespeare, I
have to say it truly is a remarkable experience to sit in the Barn and watch
a Camp performance and feel a shimmery goosebumpy feeling as the play begins
with a real muse of fire and not a beat missed, and think, "This is what it
felt like when I first walked in here in '83!" The passion for the words,
the commitment to an ensemble spirit and the gospel of selfless hard work --
somehow these kids pick it up in 12 days and unleash it in only two
performances.
I was mentioning last week to my son Augie, a first-time Camper last
summer, that a touring group (the American Shakespeare Center) was coming to
UT, and Augie replied, "Aw, it's probably just another group that doesn't
understand the 'Doc' way of doing Shakespeare." And you know, I went to
see
them, and he was right. They had energy, zip, crowd-pleasing "show"
elements -- but no shimmer, no goosebumps, no tears.
Some of the students I'm working with in the Shakespeare at Winedale
Outreach program (7 years old now) are thinking of applying to Camp this
spring, and the parents (middle-class, struggling, like many of us) are
already asking me about scholarship assistance. The former students of
Shakespeare at Winedale have played a key role in helping children of less
privileged parents have this experience through their annual donations, with
no amount being too small. So I hope everyone can pitch in some dollars
along with Michael to support this important and life-changing work!
It truly is a place where the original spirit of Shakespeare at Winedale
still burns bright. Amazing.
cheers,
Clayton S.
On Mar 15, 2010, at 9:28 PM, Barker, Michael wrote:
Let me warn everyone in advance,
Doc's got a memory like steel trap.
He remembers all.
Truly a great few hours with him and Joanne.
I also want to add that when Doc talks about his commitment to Camp
Winedale
he's got that sparkle in his eyes that he had at the birth of
Shakespeare at Winedale. It is astounding what he is doing with this
program. I don't think anything like it exists in the world. Just think, 30
years from there will be people out there reminiscing, "ah, to be 12 again,
and playing Jacques." How cool is that?
I'll be ponying up some bucks for this one.
All the best, michael
----- Original Message -----
From: winedale-l-bounces(a)lists.wikimedia.org <
winedale-l-bounces(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
To: Winedale-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org
<Winedale-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Sent: Mon Mar 15 18:49:17 2010
Subject: [Winedale-l] Reunion Update
Greetings to all again! Just have to tell you that JoAnn and I had a
chance to visit over a long luncheon with Michael Barker ('74-'75) who
is in Austin for the two-week SXSW Film Festival with a film "Get
Low," featuring Robert Duvall and Bill Murray. Our conversation at
lunch went something like "remember when we.....? " and remember when
I fell off the roof of the barn and broke my leg (Michael) : deja vu
all over again! It was great. We have reserved seating at the
Paramount red carpet filming affair, thanks to Michael. We are excited!
Mike Godwin continues his angelic vigilance over the list. And
awaits, as I do, contacts from folks from the land of the lost. So
please keep searching.
On another front: Camp Shakespeare (for kids 10-16) is approaching
its 8th year now. You can learn more about it at the shakespeare-
winedale.org site under "programs." We have two 2-week in-residence
sessions for kids 10-16, with 14 in each session. A mini version of
Sh at W. With some brilliant results. Ask Bruce Meyer, Jeff Larsen,
Clayton Stromberger, Lavonne Carlson, etc. Thus far, some 14 kids of
former Sh at W students have participated in Camp Shakespeare. Plus
three of my grandkids. Personal privilege here. This summer, Bruce
Meyer's daughter, Rebekah, 5 years of Camp experience behind her, will
serve her second term as assistant counselor in the Camp. So we are
growing and going. And taking on As You Like It and Romeo and Juliet.
We hope to represent Camp Shakespeare in one way or another during the
reunion week, with some of the "old" kids (now 17) doing some things.
We do need funding for Camp Shakespeare, though, to take care of
rising costs of accommodations in Round Top and to assist kids from
financially-disadvantaged families. Going into this '10 session, we
will need to raise $8,000 for those costs. You can help us with this
effort by sending a gift of $25-$100, or any amount you wish, to Camp
Shakespeare, P.O. Box 202, Round Top, Texas, 78954. Please make the
check to: The University of Texas and mark or "for" Camp Shakespeare.
I hope that all is well with all of you, that you are enjoying the
changing of seasons, and thriving.
Cheers,
Doc
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Clayton Stromberger
Outreach Coordinator
UT Shakespeare at Winedale
College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin
www.shakespeare-winedale.org
cell: 512-228-1055/ office: 512-471-8367
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