There art thou happy
A Message from ASC’s Artistic Director
At each performance of Romeo and Juliet, I get to listen to Greg Phelps as Friar Lawrence remind me that a “pack of blessings light upon thy back,” while he enumerates the fortunes that have been overlooked, telling him “there art thou happy” with each. We’ve all been through a challenging few years. The pandemic has cost us all much too much and remains a worry just as turbulence mounts half a world away. The Friar’s words come as a timely reminder.
Every night we get to spend together at the Blackfriars Playhouse reminds me of the American Shakespeare Center’s blessings. I see good friends like Jessika Williams and Patrick Earl back at home on the stage, there art thou happy! Extraordinary new talents light upon our backs in Tevin Davis and Erica Cruz, there art thou happy! (If you haven’t heard Tevin sing yet…) We were able to fulfill some dreams paused by Covid in welcoming back director José Zayas and Corrie Green, both of whom were slated for the canceled 2021 Touring Company.
In just a few short months, the ASC Theatre Campers will be back on campus at Mary Baldwin University and in the Playhouse in full force. This will be my fifth summer getting to work with these bright students and I always learn something from my time with them. They, the future of Shakespeare, come in each year with their open hearts and wide-eyed curiosity, leaving us all with inspiration and renewed zeal for our work, there art thou happy!
As you make your way back to the playhouse this spring and hear Friar Lawerence call on Romeo to reflect on his many blessings, know that none of this would be possible without the steadfast support of people like you. Your notes of encouragement, the laughter and applause you give from your seats in the Playhouse, we count ourselves blessed to have you in our corner. There, are we the happiest. As our team continues working to fill the Blackfriars Playhouse with soul-stirring drama and the kind of laughs no mask could contain, I hope you will consider a gift to support our work. It means the world.
I hope to see you in the Playhouse soon,
E. Brandon Carter
Artistic Director
Make your commitment ongoing.
Epizeuxis is the rhetorical device which denotes the repetition of words, for example, Hamlet’s famous phrase Words, words, words. Members of this society have pledged ongoing monthly or quarterly gifts.
Even just $10/month – the price of a couple of lattes – adds up to more than $100 annually.
Maximize the impact of your gift with employer matching.
Check with your Human Resource Department to see what options are available through your workplace.
Often, all you need to do is fill out your company’s gift-matching form, and submit online or send it along with your donation to ASC. Sometimes your company will match your gift even if you’ve retired, or they will provide monetary donations to match your volunteer hours.
The following is an incomprehensive list of companies who have matching gift programs and/or have generously matched gifts for ASC in the past.
- Aetna
- Allstate Insurance
- Ameritech
- AT&T
- Augusta Health
- Bank of America
- BMO Harris Bank, N.A.
- Briggs and Morgan, P.A.
- Cadence
- Chase
- Chevron
- Deutsche Bank
- Dominion
- ExxonMobil
- Fannie Mae
- First Citizens National Bank
- IBM
- Merrill Lynch
- Norfolk Southern
- Pfizer
- Walmart
- Voya Financial
Make a difference in the life of a high school camper.
The ASC Theatre Camp is America’s preeminent college prep program for Shakespeare scholarship and performance. Each year over 70 students gain practical skills in theatre performance and connections that last lifetimes.
The Sidney Stark III Memorial Scholarship Fund supports the American Shakespeare Center’s Theatre Camp which empowers high school students to leap into college life through the learning experiences within Shakespeare’s text. Named for Sidney Stark, an English teacher who dedicated his life to sharing the joy of language, this fund invests in students’ performance training, academic exploration, and the opportunity to share their passion with new friends from across the country.
We hear from students every year who are eager to participate, but can’t afford the cost of camp. That’s we we started the ASCTC Scholarship Fund – so generous patrons can make a difference in the lives of our campers.
With your gift, we can help more high school students rediscover the universality of Shakespeare’s language, and make that treasure their own. We can expand the reach and impact of ASCTC to a broader range of campers, from here in Staunton and throughout the United States.
Learn about ASC Theatre Camp Donate
Shakespeare had a soundtrack.
You can help support ours.
Your gift will be used to purchase new in-house instruments; provide music lessons, upkeep, and repairs; pay musician salaries; and so much more. Next time you see actors whaling on a shiny new saxophone, you’ll know you helped put it in their hands.
Questions? E-mail development@americanshakespearecenter.com