Chris Gerson
 Kim Martin-Cotten 
Zachary Michael Fine
 Tarah Flanagan  Doug Scholz-Carlson |
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I’m writing from Boca Raton, Florida, where I’ve spent the last two days (with one more to go), meeting faculty and talking to students in the theatre department at Florida Atlantic University, watching auditions and rehearsals, and enjoying the delicious January weather in south Florida before heading your way: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to be precise, where I begin rehearsals for “Duet for One” at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre on January 25. I can’t help but anticipate the winter weather I know all too well from time in the Upper Midwest (and with which I’ll soon collide), but am trying hard not to let those apprehensions diminish the enjoyment of my time here. [click to continue…]
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One more week, one more show.
Two by Shakespeare, one by Daly.
A comedy, a tragedy, a musical.
The green-eye’d monster
Boys lost at sea. Brothers found at home
A whore. A wife. An abbess. A handkerchief.
Visitors to a new land.
News from the front. News from home.
Sons and Fathers
Sins and Forgiveness
Swindles
Schemes
Slyness
Guile.
Venice.
Cyprus.
Elvis.
June 23 through August 1, 2010.
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Let’s admit it, last year at this time we were pretty desperate. We cut our budget to the bone. Even so, our fund raising goals looked impossible. The economy was in the tank, many foundations and major donors were cutting back. The one hopeful sign for GRSF was the steady stream of gifts from individuals. By some standards, the gifts were small, but together they added up to almost $80,000. It was the one area of funding that actually increased from 2008. We cut some salaries, worked longer hours, got creative and together we weathered the storm.
This fall, major donors noticed that vote of confidence from the community. We have new grants from the Kelly Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board to name just two. Both were impressed by the community’s support for GRSF - and they should be impressed. In tough times, people were choosing to support what truly matters to them.
Our community does matter. Now is the time to dream big, and we can do it with your help. Will you support the Festival with a year-end contribution of $10, 25, $50, $100, $500 or more? There is no such thing as a small gift.
Click here to make a donation to GRSF’s end-of-year campaign.
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Breaking news: Paul Barnes is at the Acoustic Cafe in Winona along with Doug Scholz-Carlson and Jonathan Gillard Daly announcing our 2010 season. It will, no doubt, be on CNN shortly, but we’d hate to see any of our patrons die of suspense, so here it is:
…and a surprise - GRSF’s first ever play by someone not named William, first musical, first original work by members of our company:
It’s been our tradition to pair something comedic with something more serious, and in so doing to stretch our resident company in two entirely different directions while also offering audiences a broad and varied playgoing experience. Othello and Comedy continue the tradition we established in our 2004 inaugural season and have endeavored to maintain ever since.”
The Daly News returns as the third production in the GRSF seventh season, after playing a sold-out, one-night only benefit performance in 2009. Written by GRSF founding company member and veteran actor, Jonathan Gillard Daly with music by Larry Delinger and Gregg Coffin, composer of GRSF’s 2009 production of Love’s Labour’s Lost and 2005’s Much Ado About Nothing. A musical adaptation of newsletters compiled by Gillard Daly’s grandfather, Martin Daly, The Daly News chronicles the true story of a family separated by the events of World War II.
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Bridging the Gap
With just two weeks left in the 2009 season, Producing Director Paul Barnes challenged us to raise an additional $25,000 in individual donations. It seemed an impossible goal, but Laurie Flanigan-Hegge, GRSF’s new Advancement and Community Development Manager, reports that we not only met the goal, we exceeded it: $27,886.31. In the midst of the worst economy in years, we increased individual donations over 2008 to a total of more than $77,000 in 2009. Once again we find ourselves amazed and grateful. Thank you.
And we are succeeding while strengthening the entire community. Our offer of a free pair of tickets to new members of the Minnesota Marine Art Museum helped them sharply increase their memberships. Offers on our website directly sold more than 400 hotel rooms in Winona this summer. We have stood with our neighbors after a play and talked about love, the nature of forgiveness and “how does Chris Gerson do that with his shoulder blades anyway?” [click to continue…]
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Thank you for a great season
Just two weeks ago, Paul Barnes stood before The Daly News audience and asked for $25,000 from individual donors to meet GRSF’s 2009 goal. By the time we sent our online appeal, that number was $17,926. Today, that number is down to $1,573. More than $23,000 in two weeks: an astounding achievement.
To all of you who already answered the call to bridge the gap and secure the future, heartfelt thanks.
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It is your last chance to Grill with Will, see a Prelude Concert, or attend a Company Conversation in 2009.
And don’t miss the plays audiences are raving about: Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Tempest, and now, Hamlet.
Buy tickets now.
See the full schedule: This Week at GRSF.
Dr. Peter Saccio wrote in The Shakespeare Bulletin:
“what I saw at Winona was so rich that I wished I could see another performance of each [production]…. I wanted instant replay of these nuanced narratives with their precise language, their sudden lightning-stroke revelations of personality, and their sinuous drive.”
See what he has to say about this year’s plays at 1pm Sunday on the Front Porch (buy tickets).
And yes, we need to finish our fund raising goal. Only $12,708 to go.
Close the Gap; Secure the Future: donate now.
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Close the Gap; Secure the Future: just $12,708 to go to meet the 2009 goal for individual donations. Click to contribute.
Don’t miss Peter Saccio this Sunday at 1pm on the Front Porch (read more).
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Full schedule: This Week at GRSF
The Great River Shakespeare Festival needs you. Thanks to all who made The Daly News a huge success and raised $4,134 for GRSF, but there’s still $16,062 to go in order to make the 2009 goal for individual donations.
Join us: Click here to contribute.
Saturday, 7/18 - Rochester Day (read more)
Sunday, 7/19 - Shakespeare For Young Actors
Come see a free performance of scenes and monologues by the teenage students in our training program. (read more)
AfterWill
Great conversation and wine with the cast after the shows on Saturday and Sunday. Whether you are coming to the play that night or not, join us for the party. (read more)
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