Great River Shakespeare Festival’s (GRSF) associate director and veteran actor, Doug Scholz-Carlson and Winona’s Poet Laureate, Ken McCullough host a sonnet writing workshop this Wednesday, June 30th at 8:00 PM at the Acoustic Café (77 Lafayette Street).
This event acts as the official kickoff for GRSF’s annual city-wide Sonnet Contest and will include discussions regarding sonnet structure as well as ample time to craft the perfect sonnet with guidance from GRSF company members and Ken McCullough, Winona’s Poet Laureate.
The workshop marks the beginning of the 2010 city-wide sonnet contest. Submissions will be accepted through July 28th. Great River Shakespeare Festival and Winona’s Poet Laureate will announce the winners on July 31st. Winners will receive a copy of Shakespeare’s sonnets as well as other prizes.
The Great River Shakespeare Festival runs from June 23 to August 1, 2010. For further information, visit www.grsf.org. Tickets to productions, GRSF Front Porch Conversations and other 2010 Season special events are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Festival box office at (507) 474-7900, by going online (www.grsf.org), or stop by the Festival office at 79 E. Third Street in downtown Winona.
The Great River Shakespeare Festival will feature a panel discussion with local World War II veterans as well as conversation about its 2010 season plays, The Daly News, Othello, and The Comedy of Errors as part of its annual Community Forum this Monday, June 21st at 6:00PM in the Winona State University Performing Arts Center.
Focusing on life and family during WWII, this Monday’s Community Forum features Bud English, who served on a Navy supply ship stationed in the Pacific and now lives in Arcadia, Darol “Lefty” Lee and Charlie Kubicek, both Marines who served in Iwo Jima and now live in Winona, and Francis Losinski, an Army captain who served throughout Europe and now lives in Winona.
“We’re expanding our season this year to include Jonathan Gillard Daly’s original musical about his family’s experience during World War II,” according to Paul Barnes, GRSF Producing Director. “Because of this departure from our usual two plays by Shakespeare production roster, we thought it appropriate to feature The Daly News as the centerpiece of our annual forum, which has become the inagural conversation of each new season in Winona.” Daly will also participate in Monday’s discussion.
The Daly News, a musical adaptation of newsletters compiled by Martin Daly, grandfather of GRSF founding company member, Jonathan Gillard Daly, played a sold-out, one-night only benefit performance in 2009. Written by 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, The Daly News chronicles the true story of a family separated by the events of World War II. The production will open Sunday, July 4 and run in repertory with Othello and The Comedy of Errors.
The 2010 season Community Forum will begin at 6:00PM. Admission is FREE and open to the public.
Join GRSF at Mugby Junction for a lively discussion about both of this season’s plays by Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors and Othello. This season’s moderators include St. Mary’s University professors Dr. Pat Costello, John Kerr and Steven Bouler. Grab a friend, grab some coffee and dive into these two exciting worlds of William Shakespeare.
Tuesday, June 15 @ 7:00PM - Comedy of Errors – Tuesday, June 22 @7:00PM - Othello
*Please arrive early to purchase snacks or beverages as we will begin promptly.
Education is a significant component of GRSF’s mission. We strive to enhance the playgoing experience through numerous classes, workshops, and programs for learners of all ages and backgrounds, each of which is designed to increase our audience’s comfort and confidence with the plays of Shakespeare.
Programs include:
- Company Conversations following Thursday evening performances
- Saturday Festival Mornings at the Acoustic Cafe in downtown Winona
- A Writing and Rhetoric workshop for teachers
- Shakespeare for Young Actors (grades 7 - 12)
- “Chill With Will” nights at the theatre for middle and high school students
- Front Porch Conversations guest speakers series
And various collaborative programs developed in conjunction with
- Winona State University’s Elderhostel program
- the Great River Collegium
- the Cannon Valley Elder Collegium
- Winona Public Library
- Winona Parks and Recreation Department
- Minnesota Marine Art Museum
This is the new education site for the Great River Shakespeare Festival. Check back as we add information about all our education programs as well as Shakespeare resources and articles that will help you enjoy the plays even more.