Upcoming: UT Camp Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew June 17-18, Winter's Tale, July 8-9

Received directly:

Camp Shakespeare:

The Taming of the Shrew, June 17 & 18

The Winter's Tale, July 8-9

(and next summer, a third session!)

The first summer session of Camp Shakespeare which began on June 5 will conclude with public performances of Shakespeare’s early farcical comedy, The Taming of the Shrew at the Sanford Schmid amphitheater on the La Grange fairgrounds on Friday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m., and at the Winedale Historical Center’s Theater Barn on Saturday, June 18, at 1:00 p.m.

Admission for the performances is $5.00. Youth under 12 are free. Reservations for the Winedale performance are encouraged. Please e-mail jayres@cvctx for information and reservations. Tickets are available through the Shakespeare at Winedale website.

Participating are campers from Dallas, Houston, Mineola, Gonzales, Austin, and Brenham. La Grange is represented by Bea Burton, daughter of Lori-Learned Burton and George Burton. The campers were selected for the two two-week residential experience from a field of 83 applicants from around Texas and beyond.

Since arriving, they have not only been confronting the challenges offered by the demands of the play and the daily routines of physical and vocal exercise, music and singing, cabin-cleaning, improvisations, journal-writing, textual and character analysis, and scene work, but also the ever-present Texas heat. Hourly Gatorade is an essential part of the routine.

Camp Shakespeare director, Jim (Doc) Ayres, reports that he and his staff are very pleased with the progress. “We have great kids in the program, a great staff, and a great play,“ he said.

The second session begins on June 26 with students from various Texas cities as well as Brooklyn, Hong Kong, New Orleans, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and Ontario. Victoria Borgstedte, daughter of Drs Allyson and Thomas Borgstedte, will represent La Grange. These campers will explore Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale.

The site of Camp Shakespeare is Briarfield B & B, near Round Top. Ayres will expand the program to three sessions next year to accommodate the increasing interest in Camp Shakespeare.