2010 Lunt-Fontanne Fellows and Master Teacher Dedicate Week to Lynn Redgrave

 

Photos by Jim Brozek Photography © Ten Chimneys Foundation.

Notes from Sean Malone – President, Ten Chimneys Foundation
Sunday, July 11, 10:33 p.m.

The second year of the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program is off to an exciting, and touching, start. Master Teacher Barry Edelstein and the nine 2010 Fellows shared their desire to dedicate their work during this week to the memory of our dear friend, Lynn Redgrave, the inaugural Master Teacher of the program.

Barry Edelstein arrived from Manhattan, on the heels of his enormously successful launch of this year’s Shakespeare in the Park (featuring Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice). The 2010 Lunt-Fontanne Fellows arrived from top theatre cities across the country.

After everyone settled in at The Delafield Hotel, I had the great pleasure of giving this talented group of artists a behind-the-scenes tour of Ten Chimneys. The Lunts specifically created Ten Chimneys to be a retreat that would simultaneously rejuvenate artists and inspire them to do extraordinary artistic work. It was wonderful to see a group of premier actors meet each other at Ten Chimneys – just as the Lunts intended. The light rain only served to add to the experience. With umbrellas in hand, we walked the grounds –the effect was, according to more than one Fellow, magical.

We finished the tour in the Main House Dining Room, where dinner was waiting for us – prepared by Shully’s Cuisine and drawn entirely from Alfred Lunt’s Cookbook. The menu included: cold vichyssoise, a perfect beef pot roast with potatoes and vegetables, and blueberry cake with fresh whipped cream. Alfred Lunt would have been proud – and full.

Befitting the history of the Lunts’ table – the charming conversation at dinner covered a wide range of topics – including: where American theatre is today and where it’s going, families and home communities, the nature and challenges of being a professional actor, why Al Pacino is so exceptional in Shakespeare in the Park, keeping great playwrights writing for the theatre, the exciting work that would be done during this week at Ten Chimneys, and a promise made by one Fellow to take a dip in the Lunts’ pool à la Noël Coward. (For the sake of discretion, I won’t be more specific.) The Fellows and Barry repeatedly expressed their enthusiasm for the week to come, and their appreciation for the opportunity at hand. At the end of dinner, the conversation turned toward the wonderful Lynn Redgrave, whose passing, as Barry said, “was a blow to all of us who value the theatre and love Shakespeare.” Everyone at the table was moved by the idea of dedicating their artistic work, and the entire week, to Lynn’s memory.

Monday, Barry and the Lunt-Fontanne Fellows begin that artistic work and dig in to their first master class sessions together. They can’t wait. Honestly, neither can I.

Day Two: Fellows Begin Powerful Exploration of Shakespeare

 

Larry Yando (Chicago Shakespeare Theater) performs a monologue, as Celeste Ciulla (The Old Globe) looks on. Photo by Jim Brozek. (Please click on the photo for a high-resolution version.)

Notes from Sean Malone – President, Ten Chimneys Foundation
Monday, July 12, (12:12 a.m. Tuesday morning)

Today, the theatrical work of the 2010 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship program started, with the first master class sessions with the nine Fellows selected from across the country and renowned Shakespearean, Barry Edelstein. The weeklong master class began in the mural-filled Main House Drawing Room at Ten Chimneys, with a circle of chairs to the Noël Coward Piano. Barry started the program by sharing a little about his journey with and love for Shakespeare, from his days as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford to Shakespeare in the Park in Manhattan (and – most recently – his work with Al Pacino on The Merchant of Venice).

Each of the nine Fellows then shared a Shakespearean monologue they had brought with them. The work was extraordinary – powerful, subtle, riveting. Celeste Ciulla (The Old Globe) started things off with Cassius from Julius Caesar; James Carpenter (California Shakespeare Theater) shared King Richard from the end of Richard II; Stephen Berenson (Trinity Repertory Company) gave us Jaques from As You Like It; Pete Pryor (The Wilma Theater) offered Richard’s opening soliloquy from Richard III; Bob Davis (Guthrie Theater) gave us a piece from (and as) Hamlet; Jacqueline Williams (Goodman Theatre) shared Cleopatra from the end of Antony and Cleopatra; Andrew Long (Shakespeare Theatre Company) offered us Suffolk from Henry VI, Part II; Larry Yando (Chicago Shakespeare Theater) followed immediately after with York from Henry VI, Part II; and Laura Gordon (Milwaukee Repertory Theater) brought us back full circle to Julius Caesar with Portia’s monologue to Brutus.

With a break for lunch on the Main House Terrace, prepared and hosted by six Ten Chimneys Volunteers, the rest of the day was spent diving into the core principles of Barry’s approach to Shakespeare – none of which were intended to be new to these accomplished and acclaimed actors from around the country, but which helped to quickly forge a common vocabulary and focus that will serve as the foundation for all of the work to come during the week. In the Drawing Room in the morning, and continuing at the Lunt-Fontanne Program Center in the afternoon, Barry and the Fellows worked on, explored, and discussed pieces from The Merchant of Venice, Henry IV, Part III, All’s Well That Ends Well, and Antony and Cleopatra.

After an invigorating day of work, we welcomed back four of last year’s Lunt-Fontanne Fellows – Dan Donohue (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Lee Ernst (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), Mary Beth Fisher (Goodman Theatre), and Naomi Jacobson (Arena Stage) – for a celebratory dinner at the Lunt-Fontanne Program Center. The 2009 Fellows were overjoyed to return; their eagerness to share stories of their Ten Chimneys experiences with the 2010 Fellows was matched only by the 2010 Fellows’ eagerness to hear them. It was another great night. And the connection between two years of the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program was deeply meaningful – for everyone at the dinner, and for American theatre.

 

Master Teacher Barry Edelstein discusses his approach to Shakespeare with the Fellows.

Bob Davis (Guthrie Theater) performs a monologue during the afternoon Master Class session.

 

Several 2009 Fellows join the 2010 Fellows in a toast during dinner at Ten Chimneys.

Day Three: NPR’s “Weekend Edition” Visits as Master Acting Work Deepens

Master Teacher Barry Edelstein leads the morning master class in the Lunt-Fontanne Program Center at Ten Chimneys.

Notes from Sean Malone – President, Ten Chimneys Foundation
Tuesday, July 13, 9:37 p.m.

The third day of the 2010 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program started with NPR’s Jacki Lyden joining Barry Edelstein and the Fellows for the ride to Ten Chimneys. Ms. Lyden will be here all week, working on a piece about this important national program for Weekend Edition.

The two sessions on the second day of master classes were revelatory. It was truly fascinating, over the two days, to see this extraordinary group of artists exploring so many in-depth concepts so thoroughly, thoughtfully, expertly, and expediently: the art of using language to persuade – how Shakespeare’s characters form spontaneous arguments and figure out problems right in front of the audience; the prevalence and power of antithesis in Shakespeare; how (and when, and why) characters change the height of their language, sometimes speaking directly and bluntly, sometimes moving to metaphor and poetry and linguistic flourishes; the importance and impact of phrasing speech with the verse line (in a realistic way); and what can be accomplished by emphasizing the verbs in any Shakespearean text. For all of these principles, Barry and the Fellows explored how the techniques and forms and structures are not for their own sake. They are not merely intellectual, nor is the final goal simply to make Shakespeare understandable. As Barry said in one of the sessions, nobody goes to see Death of a Salesman and leaves saying to their spouse, “I understood everything they were saying.” Though people often leave Shakespeare productions saying just that. Of course it all has to make sense, and these principles help make that happen – but that should be a given. These principles are the building blocks that make psychological and emotional truth possible on stage. And from where I was sitting and observing . . . boy, do they.

Having explored the core principles that will guide the week (using a variety of scenes and speeches from Shakespeare’s plays), Barry and the Fellows will next turn their attention to some of Shakespeare’s sonnets, which Barry described as “mind-blowingly fun and terribly rewarding.” The Fellows finished their work for the day with an assignment to pick any of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets to share and work on together on Wednesday. I can’t wait to see what they pick.

There was more to the day than the impressive work of the master class sessions. In the morning (while Barry and the 2010 Fellows were digging in to changing height of Shakespearean language), the returning 2009 Fellows reconnected with Ten Chimneys – walking the grounds, reminiscing about Lynn Redgrave, and rediscovering the meticulously designed rooms of the Main House and Cottage, and even running a few lines together (for an upcoming project) in the log cabin Studio – where the Lunts and their illustrious guests so often ran lines. Both years of Fellows and Barry shared a lunch by the pool. The day concluded with a relaxed dinner at The Delafield Hotel. (Most of the friends around the table vowed to skip dessert; few held to their promise.) As the evening came to a close, there was a camaraderie, comfort, and respect among the newly formed group – and a sincere enthusiasm for the next day of work together.

Master Teacher Barry Edelstein leads the afternoon master class in the Drawing Room at Ten Chimneys.

The 2010 Lunt-Fontanne Fellows enjoy a poolside lunch with Master Teacher Barry Edelstein and visiting 2009 Fellows.

Laura Gordon (Milwaukee Repertory Theater) enjoys the beautiful Ten Chimneys grounds after lunch.

Master Teacher Barry Edelstein (right) and Fellow Jacqueline Williams (Goodman Theatre) listen as Larry Yando (Chicago Shakespeare Theater) discusses a scene during the morning master class.

Day Four: Fellows and Master Teacher Embrace Spirit of Ten Chimneys

Jim Carpenter (California Shakespeare Theater) studies in the Studio.

Notes from Sean Malone – President, Ten Chimneys Foundation
Wednesday, July 13, 11:37 p.m.

A hot, sunny, gorgeous Ten Chimneys morning. The group had the opportunity explore the Ten Chimneys estate on their own. They studied their Shakespeare; wrote in their journals; wandered the famous bedrooms (Noëllie’s, Larry’s, Helen’s, the Lunts’), the Studio, Cottage, the gardens. They swam in the pool. And yes, one Fellow did jump in Noël Coward-style; I’m not saying who. (If you’re not sure what that means, it’s time for you to make a first or return visit. That said, it means what you guess it means.)

In the afternoon, the Fellows and Barry dove into the sonnets. Barry asked the Fellows to approach them as if they were theatrical – making choices about who is saying the “lines,” to whom he or she is saying them, and why. The work was, as Barry had promised the day before, indeed, “mind-blowingly fun and terribly rewarding.” Barry noted, and the Fellows agreed, that each sonnet is a “tiny little laboratory” of all they’d been exploring over the previous two days. There was also an in depth discussion about the nature of Shakepearean text and the difference between sarcasm and dramatic irony (and the potential rewards of the latter).

When the master class sessions were done for the day, while some of the Fellows and Barry dined, Celeste Ciulla (The Old Globe), Bob Davis (The Guthrie), and Laura Gordon (Milwaukee Rep) stayed back in Alfred’s Kitchen to make an Italian plum torte for the group. Celeste was the baker; Bob and Laura were the self-proclaimed sous-bakers. When the rest of the group arrived at Ten Chimneys for dessert, the three were waiting for them in the arrival court with aprons and cocktails. The torte was absolutely delicious, garnering effusive applause; Alfred Lunt would have been proud. (Click here for the the recipe and a photo of the three bakers on our Facebook page.)

After dessert, Barry and the Fellows chatted for hours in the Lunts’ Drawing Room – where so many great actors have talked the night away – their discourse focused on contemporary regional theatre and their experiences as professional actors. The group found the conversation invigorating and important.

As we mark the halfway point of this eight-day annual program, and look at how much has already been accomplished and experienced, one can’t help but be energized and eager for what the second half of the program will bring.

Larry Yando (Chicago Shakespeare Theater) is interviewed by NPR’s Jacki Lyden.

Ten Chimneys volunteer and Master Gardener Dan Cummings talks with Fellows Jacqueline Williams (Goodman Theatre) and Laura Gordon (Milwaukee Repertory Theater) on the Estate Wednesday morning.

Celeste Ciulla (The Old Globe) enjoys the Lunts’ pool.

(From left) 2010 Fellow Bob Davis (Guthrie Theater), Master Teacher Barry Edelstein, and Ten Chimneys President Sean Malone enjoy a beautiful morning on the Ten Chimneys Estate.

Days Five & Six: A Day of Great Work, A Day of Retreat and Reflection

Jacqueline Williams (Goodman Theatre) and Bob Davis (Guthrie Theater) at work in a master class, as Master Teacher Barry Edelstein looks on.

Notes from Sean Malone – President, Ten Chimneys Foundation
Saturday, July 17, 8:37am

Thursday and Friday of the 2010 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program were remarkable.

On Thursday, Barry and the Fellows continued to work deeper into their exploration of Shakespeare. After they’d finished with every Fellow delving into a sonnet of his or her choosing, they all worked together on Shakespeare’s epic poem The Rape of Lucrece. The day included continued exploration of the use and nature of dramatic irony in Shakespeare’s writing. The five hours of intense and intensive work simply flew by.

Thursday night, the Fellows enjoyed a night on the town. Stephen Berenson (Trinity Rep), Bob Davis (The Guthrie), and Laura Gordon (Milwaukee Rep) went to downtown Milwaukee with Ten Chimneys Foundation Director of Program, Kristine Weir-Martell – taking in the Milwaukee Art Museum, Jazz in the Park, and dinner at Elsa’s. Celeste Ciulla (The Old Globe), Andrew Long (Shakespeare Theatre Co.), and Pete Pryor (The Wilma) went rock climbing in Pewaukee. And James Carpenter (Cal. Shakes), Jacqueline Williams (The Goodman), and Larry Yando (Chicago Shakes) spent a leisurely evening in Delafield.

Friday was a day of retreat and reflection – with Master Teacher, Barry Edelstein, away from the group in New York for about 24 hours. When Barry generously agreed to step in for Lynn Redgrave this summer, he was able to coordinate and shift all of his commitments for this week except for one; the Public Theater’s annual Summer Shake Up, a program that welcomes over 1,000 teenagers to the Delacorte Theater in Central Park for a day of Shakespeare workshops. Barry flew back to New York City late Thursday night, led theSummer Shake Up day in Manhattan, and flew back to Wisconsin late Friday night.

Friday morning, the Fellows gathered in the Drawing Room to reflect on the work they’d been accomplishing together, talk about the work to come over the remaining days, and read through and explore texts including The Merchant of Venice, Winter’s Tale, andRichard III.

In the afternoon, Fellows made themselves at home at Ten Chimneys. Once again, they spent time on the grounds and in the rooms of Ten Chimneys – working, journaling, running lines, and simply connecting with this special place. And, it was a hot day, so, once again, there was a lot of time spent at and in the once-a-summer-filled pool. (I’m not commenting on how many more Fellows paid homage to Noël Coward’s historic swimwear choices. But everything was in impeccable taste.) Friday night, the Fellows were treated to a summer supper party on Pine Lake, at the home of a Ten Chimneys Trustee – for good food, good conversation, a lovely lake view, and delicious sangria. The evening was concluded with cocktails and jokes in The Delafield Hotel Bar.

This morning, the Fellows are ready for a final day of master class sessions – and for their Concluding Presentation (a live master class that the public gets to watch) at 8pm.

Fellows enjoy a master class in the Drawing Room at Ten Chimneys.

Bob Davis (Guthrie Theater), Laura Gordon (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), and Stephen Berenson (Trinity Repertory Company) take in the beauty of the Lake Michigan shore in Milwaukee.

Andrew Long (left, Shakespeare Theatre Company) and Pete Pryor (The Wilma Theater) prepare for a rock-climb in Pewaukee during an evening off. (Photo by Celeste Ciulla)

Andrew Long (left, Shakespeare Theatre Company) and Celeste Ciulla (The Old Globe) rock-climbing. (Photo by Pete Pryor)

Days Seven & Eight: A Transformative Week Concludes

Notes from Sean Malone – President, Ten Chimneys Foundation
Sunday, July 18, 2:35 p.m.

After a day of retreat and reflection on Friday, the 2010 Fellows dove back into their exploration of Shakespeare. Having spent considerable time with the beauty and theatricality of Shakespeare’s poetry, Barry and the Fellows spent all of Saturday back with his plays – delving into them with great passion, nuance, and insight.

Saturday night was the Concluding Presentation of the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program – which, like the entire week of artistic work, was dedicated to the memory of the great Lynn Redgrave. The audience was given a rare treat – the Fellows and Barry allowed us to “pull back the curtain” and see what had been happening during the week’s master class sessions. In front of the audience, the nine Fellows did new work and exploration with Barry. This was not a performance. This was a live Master Class.

In each case, the Fellow would offer a piece of Shakespeare. Barry would then work with him or her just as he had during the master classes – focusing on whatever way he thought would be most useful to the Fellow: exploring meaning and context or how the argument builds, pointing out antithesis or the structure of the verse line or the change in the height of the language, calling out the verbs in a speech. The Fellow would then make adjustments and offer the piece again. The quick evolution was stunning. These are nine of the very top stage actors in America, and none of them held anything back with their first attempts; not surprisingly, their first offerings were already deeply impressive and moving. So, when the pieces grew so dramatically and powerfully, we were left in awe – time after time after time. It was tremendous theatre work.

At the end of the evening, Barry and the Fellows shared some reflections of their weeklong experience at Ten Chimneys. They continued that conversation on Sunday morning, as they wrapped up their experience in the Drawing Room – where they’d done such beautiful work throughout the week. They spoke, quite seriously, about being transformed, and “forever changed,” about having found “inspiration to last a lifetime.” They spoke of the profound need for a program like this, and the fact that it didn’t (and, perhaps, couldn’t) exist anywhere else. And they spoke about their desire, and their commitment, to become “evangelists” – of Ten Chimneys, the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program, and the core values and inspiration that both represent.

After wrapping up the experience in the Drawing Room (including mimosas and everyone inscribing each other’s Complete Works of Shakespeare), Barry and the Fellows took some time walking around the estate together one last time and say farewell – for now – before returning to their homes across the country.

Throughout the week, it was a joy to celebrate the 2010 Lunt-Fontanne Fellows. We were honored to give them this opportunity to be inspired, to grow artistically, to renew their passion for their art form, and to deepen their commitment to mentorship. Ultimately, of course, this program does not exist solely to serve actors, but to strengthen the ability of actors and theatres to enrich people’s lives in communities across the country. As each class of Fellows connects with and inspires hundreds of fellow actors and tens of thousands of audience members, year after year after year, the exponential impact of their work, their dedication, their talent, and their experiences as Lunt-Fontanne Fellows is truly remarkable.

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Click here to visit Flickr for additional images of the 2010 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program.

Bob Davis (center left, Guthrie Theater) and Jim Carpenter (center right, California Shakespeare Theater) read Shakespeare sonnets.

Larry Yando (Chicago Shakespeare Theater) discusses notes with Barry Edelstein.

Celeste Ciulla (The Old Globe) and Larry Yando (Chicago Shakespeare Theater) set the scene for Celeste’s reading of a sonnet.

On Sunday, the Fellows enjoyed one last beautiful summer day at Ten Chimneys before their departure.