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DSF Audience Survey

david — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:26:49 +0000

At DSF, we truly value the opinion of our audience. As we celebrate our 10th summer, we are hard at work creating a Strategic Plan that will lead us into the next ten years. Your responses to these 12 short questions will be a huge asset in helping us craft that plan.

DSF Monthly – January 2012

david — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:10:19 +0000

We hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday and are enjoying the start of the new year.

In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find some fun facts about the creative team that is already at work dreaming up the 2012 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and learn about ways you can participate in this summer’s festival. You can catch up on some of the great press DSF has already gotten this year and read the third in our series of reminscences about DSF’s 2003 inaugural production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

MIDSUMMER Memory #3

Getting ready for DSF’s 2012 A Midsummer Night’s Dream, each month we’ll hear the memories of a participant in the inaugural 2003 production.
Brian K. Elam – “Robin Starveling”

Alright. Seriously. When I did Midsummer at Delaware Shakespeare a LONG time ago, one memory sticks out. On stage as Robin Starveling, I was playing the “moon” in the play within the play. Meanwhile, Greg Robleto, “whom Pyramus presented in his sport,” began his monologue while I, as said moon, stood a bit upstage center, posing.

When suddenly, from the midst of the audience, I saw a grasshopper make an extremely long jump from the seats to my bright mint green tunic.

Continue reading Brian’s MIDSUMMER Memory

What does DSF and “Dancing with The Stars” have in common?

One of Amanda's designs for "Dancing with The Stars"

The answer to that question will be revealed momentarily. First, DSF is thrilled to announce the creative team for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. (Personal website when available can tell you a little more about these artists.)

Director…David Stradley (www.davidstradley.com)
Set Design…Christopher Haig (www.chrishaigdesigns.blogspot.com)
Costume Design…Amanda Wolff (amandawolff.com)
Light Design…David Todaro (www.davidtodaro.com)
Sound Design…Stephen Manocchio
Property Design…Avista Custom Theatrical (www.avistacustom.com)

While DSF is excited to be working with all of these talented designers, we thought you would be interested to know that Amanda Wolff had two of her designs featured on a November episode of “Dancing With the Stars.” She won a design contest sponsored by Macy’s and the tv show. You can read about her experience on the show here and here.

We can’t wait to see what Amanda – and all of our other designers – come up with for Midsummer.

55 Hours Cover for Article about DSF

DSF in the News

Delaware Shakespeare Festival was recently profiled in 2012 preview issues of both 55 Hours and Spark. People are really looking forward to what we have going on in 2012 – we hope you are, too!

55 Hours Article

Spark Article

Opportunities to take part in the 2012 Festival

DSF recently posted auditions announcements for our 2012 production. We are looking for actors and college apprentices. You can find out more about the February auditions here.

As always, we will need a whole team of technicians, box office and concession stand workers, and volunteers to help the 2012 Festival come off without a hitch. Job descriptions for technicians and front-of-house positions will be listed soon. If you are interested in volunteering, please drop us an email at info@delshakes.org.

Watch for Exciting Announcements

In February, watch for announcements about DSF 10th Anniversary activities and about DSF’s participation in the “Year of the Bard” – an exciting collaboration with a wide array of Delaware cultural organizations.

Yours,

David Stradley

Artistic Director

DSF Featured in Spark 2012 Preview

david — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:11:33 +0000

Delaware Shakespeare Festival continues to feel the love from the local press. After being picked as one of the 2012′s “Delightful Dozen” by 55 Hours just before the new year (read that article here), DSF was featured in Spark’s 2012 Preview issue (January 4). We are picked as one of the festivals to look forward to – right up there with the Greek Festival and the Italian Festival. Jeez, two weeks ago we were mentioned in the same breath as Ashley Biden’s wedding – now we are on the same page as the Italian Festival. Stop it, Wilmington – we’re blushing. (By the way, Spark has long been one of DSF’s biggest fans – right back at you, Spark!)

(Click on the image for a bigger view)

DSF Announces Auditions for 2012 Festival Production

david — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:05:41 +0000

Calling all actors!!! Information about auditions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream has just been posted to the Auditions page. Go to www.delshakes.org/about-us/auditions for a detailed listing. Auditions to be held February 11 and 12, 2012.

DSF Makes 55 HOURS “2012′s Delightful Dozen”

david — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:34:40 +0000

Delaware Shakespeare Festival is excited to be involved in a unique collaboration with First State Ballet Theater, OperaDelaware, and many, many other Delaware cultural organizations to make 2012-13 “The Year of the Bard” in the First State. Plans are still being developed, but that didn’t stop the NewsJournal and 55Hours from making the collaboration one of its “Delightful Dozen” of things to look forward to in the new year.

We always knew Delaware Shakespeare Festival was just as cool as, say, a Vice President’s daughter’s wedding. Now we have proof! DSF and Ashley Biden are two of the most exciting things in 2012. You can read the whole article here. Make sure to click through to the second page to read about DSF.

And be on the lookout for more information soon about “The Year of the Bard.”

DSF Monthly – December 2011

david — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:16:07 +0000

Janice Rowland and Reuben Mitchell in THE WINTER'S TALE

We hope you and your family are enjoying a peaceful holiday season.

In this month’s newsletter, you can read the second in our series of reminiscences about DSF’s 2003 inaugural production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream - and find news about dates and staff who will be bringing you DSF’s 2012 A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

MIDSUMMER Memory #2

Getting ready for DSF’s 2012 A Midsummer Night’s Dream, each month we’ll hear the memories of a participant in the inaugural 2003 production.
Gary Smith – “Egeus”

The poster advertising the DSF production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is still on the wall above the desk in my office, right next to a drawing of the reproductive tract of a water snail (don’t ask – it’s what I get paid to do). I joined the production late and had very little time to get to know the cast, crew and admin folks. What struck me at the time was just how brave Molly Cahill and her family and friends had been to even countenance such an undertaking. The DSF started a couple of years after we had founded our own amateur theatrical society in Kennett Square (KATS) and that was proving hard enough, I can only imagine how difficult it was to create a professional company from scratch.

Continue reading Gary’s MIDSUMMER Memory

2012 Festival Dates

Save the date! We are pleased to announce the performance dates for our 10th Anniversary Festival!

The Freeman Stage at Bayside

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will perform at Rockwood Mansion Park July 13-28. As a new feature this year, we’ve added rain dates (or heat dates) on July 17, 24, and 29 in case we are forced to cancel any performances due to the elements.

For the second straight year, DSF will be hitting the road. On August 2, the company of Midsummer will travel to Fenwick Island to perform at The Freeman Stage.

We hope to see you at Rockwood or at the beach for Shakespeare’s most magical comedy!

End of Year Giving!

There is still time to support DSF with an end-of-year gift.

We cannot create high quality, accessible productions of Shakespeare’s greatest works without the support of great friends such as you.

You can contribute to DSF through Network for Good. Just click on the link below, and you’ll be taken right to a contribution page.

Network For Good

New DSF Staff

We are pleased to announce several new DSF staff members – or rather we are pleased to announce several old DSF friends who are back for more fun.

DSF’s current Education Director, Allyson Good, has added the title of Business Manager. Allyson played Lady Macbeth in 2010.

Jeff Robleto has begun serving as Associate Producer. Jeff directed Love’s Labour’s Lost (2005) and played Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2003).

Jim Burns is our new Marketing Director. Jim played Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing (2006) and also appeared in As You Like It (2004).

Brand new to DSF is Production Manager Jessica Simkins. Jessica recently served as stage manager for Delaware Theatre Company productions of All My Sons (directed by DSF Artistic Director David Stradley) and A Capella Humana.

We are thrilled that these passionate Shakespeare fans have joined the DSF team.

Enjoy Your Holidays!

Everyone at DSF wishes you and yours a most joyful holiday season.

We are excitedly preparing for our 10th Season and look forward to sharing more information with you about A Midsummer Night’s Dream in coming newsletters.

Yours,

David Stradley

Artistic Director

DSF Monthly – November 2011

MCG — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:49:37 +0000

As we head into the holiday season and begin preparation for our 10th Anniversary production, we at Delaware Shakespeare Festival have much to be grateful for.

Jake Blouch rocking out in THE WINTER'S TALE

The support of passionate Shakespeare fans like you!
A tremendous 2011 production of The Winter’s Tale
A new board member, Charles Conway, who was recently profiled by the NewsJournal as one of “50 Who Matter” (click for video)
And much, much more!

We hope you enjoy reading the first in a series of reminiscences about DSF’s 2003 inaugural production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream - and browse through two ways you can support DSF during the end-of-year giving period.

MIDSUMMER Memories – Pt. 1

Getting ready for DSF’s 2012 A Midsummer Night’s Dream, each month we’ll hear the memories of a participant in the inaugural 2003 production.
GREG ROBLETO – “Bottom”/Executive Director

I remember the first meeting in the living room of Molly Cahill’s parent’s house. Molly announced she wanted to start this company and put on a play and those in attendance, I’d say about 4-5 of us, all agreed it should be done. None of us were all that clear on how to do so, but with the generous support of the Cahill family we were guaranteed a budget, and somehow Molly and Jen Thompson (the director of that first show) found a space at a nearby church for rehearsing and convinced Archmere to let us perform on their lawn and utilize their art building as our backstage.

Continue reading Greg’s MIDSUMMER Memory

Your donations help us to hire talented actors like Janice Rowland and Erik Mathew (pictured above).

Fall Campaign

Please help us celebrate 10 years of DSF and lay the groundwork for an incredible 2012 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

As a non-profit organization, ticket sales provide less than half of our operating budget. We cannot do what we do without the support of individuals like YOU. We hope you will consider giving to our fall fundraising campaign through Network for Good. Just click on this link – Network for Good - and you’ll be taken right to a contribution page.

iGive for the Holidays!

Another great way to support DSF is to register with iGive.com. Once you register with iGive, a portion of online purchases you make through hundreds of sites (like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Macy’s, Starbucks, etc.) will be donated back to DSF.

A quick registration process is required and you’ll need to download an app to your computer. But after that it’s smooth sailing! Every purchase makes money for DSF – the typical iGive shopper raises $50 a year for their cause.

Just follow this link – iGive.com - and click on “Join Today” to start the process. Make sure to list “Delaware Shakespeare Festival” as your cause.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

We look forward to sharing information with you in the December Newsletter about our 2012 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Yours,

David Stradley

Artistic Director

Festival Favorite David Stradley Announced As New Leader

greg — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:12:53 +0000

David Stradley in Love's Labour's Lost

The Festival is excited to announce that David Stradley, a director and actor with a long history with the company, has been appointed as the new artistic director.

David just directed DSF’s critically acclaimed 2011 production of The Winter’s Tale. As an actor, David might be best remembered as playing Richard in DSF’s 2007 production of Richard III. He has also appeared in As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, and Love’s Labour’s Lost (his personal favorite DSF experience because he met his wife, Michelle, in the cast).

David Stradley in Love’s Labour’s Lost
“I’m honored to be given the opportunity to lead Delaware Shakespeare Festival into the future,” David says. “I hope to continue the tradition Molly has created of the Festival as a great
Delaware summer event, while increasing the excitement connected to our fun, accessible productions of the world’s best playwright.”

Molly adds, “DSF is very lucky to have David at the helm.”

David, who has been referred to as “one of the region’s most highly regarded freelance theater directors,” frequently directs at Delaware Theatre Company. He has also worked at Arden Theatre Company, Folger Shakespeare Library, People’s Light and Theatre Company, Sundance Institute Theatre Lab, Walnut Street Theatre, and the Wilma Theater.

To learn more about David, see his website at www.davidstradley.com.

DSF Founder Molly Cahill Govern moving on

greg — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:10:35 +0000

Molly Cahill Govern

Delaware Shakespeare Festival’s founding artistic director, Molly Cahill Govern, has announced that she will be stepping down from her post to focus on her theatre career in Washington, D.C.

“After nine wonderful seasons, I am moving on to new opportunities near my home in Virginia,” Molly says. “I am very proud to be the founder of the Delaware Shakespeare Festival. I want to thank everyone – from our audience, to our sponsors, to our staff and volunteers – who supports our mission to bring Shakespeare to the First State.”

Coverage of the 2011 Festival from Content Delaware

greg — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 01:06:58 +0000

Content Delaware is a non-commercial, hyper-local website featuring high quality digital video stories and interviews focusing exclusively on Delaware. Here is there coverage from the 2011 Festival production of The Winter’s Tale.

The Winter's Tale