December 30th 2010: 2010 Year-End Donations

In this Issue

• 2010 Year-End Donations
• Audition Update
• Participating
• 2011 Performance Dates and Locations
• Shakespeare Around Town

2010 Year-End Donations

2010 was another exciting year for Willamette Shakespeare. Our production of A Midsummer Night's Dream reached over 2400 people, more than twice the attendance of our inaugural show in 2009. We would not have been able to do it without the generosity of our donors and volunteers.

Choosing not to charge for tickets enables us to reach a broader audience, but it also increases our reliance on donations. Our shows may be free for you, but our costs are substantial and sources of funding difficult to find. Our current sluggish economy makes money even more difficult to raise, while making the need for free theatre that much greater.

Helena (Teresa Lawrence) and Demetrius (Alex Yochim) in a A Midsummer Night's Dream

Of course we hope you will contribute to Willamette Shakespeare and help us in our mission to provide high quality theatre to the Willamette Valley. We also encourage you to contribute to the many other valuable arts and cultural organizations around the state.

The Oregon Cultural Trust is a great way for arts supporters to make their contributions go farther. Every dollar you contribute to a participating non-profit (yes, Willamette Shakespeare is one), you can match with a contribution to the Cultural Trust. That matching donation can be used as a tax credit. Think of it as your chance to tell the state where you want your tax dollars to go--how often do you get a chance to do that? Money from the Trust is then used to fund Oregon Cultural institutions around the state (again, Willamette Shakespeare is one).

So if you are looking for a way to reduce your 2010 tax burden while helping the arts thrive in Oregon, make a donation to Willamette Shakespeare for a tax deduction and matching donation to the Cultural Trust for a tax credit. Hurry up, you only have two days left to go.

Have a very happy New Year. See you in 2011!

Daniel R Somerfield
Artistic Director

Audition Update

As mentioned in previous newsletters, we will be holding our annual auditions shortly. We are just finalizing the location and will be formally announcing auditions in the next few days. In the meantime, we can tell you that they will be scheduled by appointment on the first Saturday (2/5) and Sunday (2/6) in February during the daytime. Callbacks will be held the following Saturday (2/12). Both will be held within Portland at a location to be announced shortly.

Auditioners will be expected to perform one or two short classical monologues for a total of 3 minutes or less. It is recommended that at least one of the monologues be in verse.

Snout (Meredith Ott) and Flute (Philip J. Berns) in a A Midsummer Night's Dream

If you would like to be notified when plans are finalized, you can fill out the our mailing list form and check the box indicating interest in auditions. You can also email audition@willametteshakespeare.org. Auditions will also be announced on PDXBackstage, the PATA call board and our Facebook page.

Participating

If you want to participate in Willamette Shakespeare's season, there are a number of ways to do so. If you are an actor, we encourage you to attend our open auditions, as mentioned above. If you are interested in participating in the design or technical aspects of the production, please send a resume to daniel@willametteshakespeare.org. If you are not experienced in theatre on or off-stage but still would like to participate, there are other ways you can help: we are always on the lookout for people to volunteer as ushers, house-managers, poster placement, etc.

And, of course, we welcome donations. We are committed to keeping the shows free and we can't do that without help from people who can afford to make a contribution. Willamette Shakespeare is a 501(c)(3) public charity and any contribution made to the organization is tax deductible and can be matched with the Oregon Cultural Trust for a tax credit. More information on contributing via check or online is available at our website.

2011 Performance Dates and Locations

Performances of All's Well That Ends Well will be Fridays and Saturdays at 7 PM and Sundays at 6 PM. Although food will be available for purchase you are welcome to bring your own picnic. Local wines will be available for sale at all locations. Oregon Liquor Control Commission regulations do not permit audience members to bring their own alcohol.

• August 5th - 7th: Reed College Cerf Ampthitheatre, Portland, OR [map]
• August 12th - 14th: Stoller Vineyards, Dayton, OR [map]
• August 19th - 21st: Montinore Estates, Forest Grove, OR [map]

Shakespeare Around Town

A number of other companies have shows coming up or already in production. We encourage you to support Shakespeare in the Willamette Valley by attending as many of these shows as you can.

Northwest Classical - The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Northwest Classical presents The Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by company member Butch Flowers. Always focusing on story and language, Northwest Classical's productions tend to be direct and intimate.

December 17th - January 9th. Thurs - Sat. 7 PM. Sun 2 PM
Tickets are $18. $15 for students and seniors
The Shoe Box Theatre
2110 SE 10th Ave in Portland

Bag and Baggage - Macbeth

In March, Jan Powell directs Artistic Director Scott Palmer's adaption of Macbeth for Hillsboro's Bag & Baggage. The company specializes in creative and original interpretations of classic works, so expect a new take on Shakespeare's dark vision of power and corruption.

March 11th - 27th. Eves 7:30. Sun 2PM
Tickets are $16 - $23
Venetian Theatre
253 E Main St. in Downtown Hillsboro

More Shakespeare to report? Email info@willametteshakespeare.org. We will add your show to our list.