University of Texas Appoints Madge Darlington Interim Director of Shakespeare at Winedale

A Note from our Interim Director, Madge Darlington, M.F.A.

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve as Interim Director for Shakespeare at Winedale for Summer 2024 and Spring and Summer of 2025. Like so many of “we few, we happy few,” that attended Shakespeare at Winedale as students, it has been the foundational experience of my academic and artistic life. Currently, I’m an Assistant Professor of Instruction at UT’s Department of Theatre and Dance where I teach multiple classes in an Area called Performance as Public Practice. There students explore facets of artistic citizenship, an ethical and civic-minded approach to studying and practicing live performance as scholars, artist-citizens, and activists.

I spent nine summers at Winedale in the 1990s, four years as a student and five as Doc’s assistant and the first full-time Program Coordinator. In 1998, I had the good fortune to spend the summer assisting not only Doc Ayres, but also James Loehlin. It is hard to imagine a scholar who possessed more grace, intelligence and kindness than James. As many have said of James recently, “we shall not look upon his like again.”

I am grateful for some wonderful conversations I’ve had in the last few weeks with Laurel Loehlin, John Gonzalez, Doc Ayres, Clayton Stromberger, Allison Dillon, Robin Grace Soto, David Higbee Williams, and Tara Kirkland. I will continue to consult with and rely on them and others as my brain/heart trust while our entire community gathers to celebrate the 54th year of Shakespeare at Winedale in the Department of English.

This summer’s class of students will be taking up the study and performance of: 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Merry Wives of Windsor

and

Othello.

 

I look forward to meeting and reconnecting with many of you at the Theatre Barn at Winedale during the public performances in July and August. In the meantime, I wish you a joyful and peaceful winter break.

With love,

Madge

 

Madge Darlington, M.F.A.

Assistant Professor of Instruction

University of Texas at Austin

 

Co-Founder and Co-Producing Artistic Director

Rude Mechs Theatre Collective

 

Interim Director

 

Shakespeare at Winedale