RAT Texas Shakespeare Festival

[kafclown@well.com (Adam)]

Can't remember if I saw this on the list yet--  If you haven't seen it,
take action baby!

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear friends, colleagues, and theatre-loving organizations:

Just wanted to let you know that one of our own, Texas Shakespeare Festival
(Kilgore, Texas), has lost the majority of its funding becuase Raymond
Caldwell stood up for artistic freedom against arch conservatives in his
community.  Please spread the word.  If you publish a NEWSLETTER or write
articles for a MAGAZINE or NEWSPAPER, please write a story about this to
help raise awareness that in East Texas, bigots are shutting down a
theatre.  They are also talking about forming a committee to censor future
play selection in a college.

THIS STORY NEEDS TO BE TOLD.

Because of his choice to go ahead with his recent production of "Angels in
America" at Kilgore College (despite the outrage of homophobes in the
community), Caldwell became the target of personal insults printed in local
newspapers, as well as threats to his safety and the safety of his family
and theatre students.  Now that the production has closed, those direct
threats have decreased; however, his brainchild, the Texas Shakespeare
Festival, is being strangled.  Despite the steady trickle of protest
letters from actors and directors all over the United States who have
worked at TSF, and even an inspiring letter from Mr. Kushner, the
powers-that-be at the college and in the community have pulled the
festival's funding -- becuase Mr. Caldwell put on "a gay play."

Texas Shakespeare Festival has produced professional productions of classic
works every summer for over a decade.  Mr. Caldwell's festival has brought
joy, culture, and commerce to the community that now spits in his face.

The future of Raymond Caldwell and The Texas Shakespeare Festival is
unsure.  Perhaps a new community will open its arms -- the festival could
relocate and continue its work.  There are plenty of Texas cities that lack
a professional Shakespeare festival and have the audience support for one.
Or, perhaps the East Texas community will turn around, realize the value of
the festival, hear the voices of protest from the national artistic
community at large, and restore funding.  Raymond seems to think this an
unlikely ending.  But no matter what happens, PLEASE TELL THIS STORY so the
closed-minded people in power will know that THEATRE ARTISTS DO NOT SIT
BACK QUIETLY AND ACCEPT THIS KIND OF BIGOTRY AND BULLYING.

Thank you for reading this. If you have questions, encouragement, or need
additional information to
WRITE A STORY,
please contact:
Raymond Caldwell
at
RymndCldwl@aol.com

Raymond is fighting the good fight, but tiring.  Shouldn't the artistic
community he defended with his bravery come to his aid?  Publicity on his
behalf is the best way to do that.  So, please WRITE A STORY about this,
TELL YOUR FRIENDS, and/or FORWARD THIS EMAIL to those you think can help.
Do your part to defend artistic and academic freedom by speaking up in this
case.  Thank you.

Warm regards,
Sharron Bower

P.S. See below: a note from the president of Kilgore College (who is in
support of Raymond and the festival) that states how you can help.

-------------------------------------------

>November 2, 1999
>
>Dear Friend:
>
>As most of you have probably heard by now, on October 28th, the Gregg
>County Commissioners voted to rescind their budgetary allotment of $50,000
>to the Texas Shakespeare Festival.  They said that the reason was that the
>county should not be funding the fine arts, but there is no doubt that the
>rescinding of this money was directly connected to the College's decision
>to proceed with the play, Angels in America.  A number of you have asked
>how you can support the College, the Festival, and the principles of
>academic/artistic freedom.  There are several ways:  (1) within your own
>circle of influence, please let the action of the Commissioner's Court be
>known; (2) if you have ways of publicizing the loss of $50,000 by
>networking on the INTERNET, you will help spread the awareness of the
>consequences of preserving academic and artistic freedom and possibly help
>us recover some of the lost funds; (3) if you know of any possible funding
>sources, please do not hesitate referring us to those sources, or referring
>those sources to us.  Thanks so much for your ongoing support; it has
>buoyed us through these difficult days.
>
>William M. Holda, Ed.D.
>President, Kilgore College
>1100 Broadway
>Kilgore, Texas  75662-3299
>(903)-983-8100
>(903)-983-8600 (fax)