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FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
As we enter our second decade, it is gratifying to witness the many ways that GRSF has matured, realizing so many of our original goals. Seeing Andrew Carlson’s passionate, nuanced performance as Hamlet this season was a perfect example. Andrew joined the Apprentice Actor Training Program, moved on to an internship and then full membership in the professional acting company. He is now a leader in the company, starring as GRSF’s rst Hamlet and serving as our Education Director. While growing as an artist within GRSF, he has extended opportunities to the next generation by
founding the Shakespeare for Young Actors and school residency programs.
Just as Andrew has climbed the ranks as artist, the company too has risen in prominence. is year, critics from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Milwaukee, Rochester, La Crosse and beyond not only praised the productions, but treated GRSF as an expected part of the cultural landscape of the region. It is clear that more and more audience members view the journey to Winona as a yearly tradition.
Maturity brings stability and an ever widening reputation for artistic excellence. Our challenge is to keep the fresh, innovative energy that made us passionate about GRSF in the rst place. is season, we produced four titles never before seen on the GRSF stage. In our third professional company production, we tried a new experiment and produced a language driven play by a modern play- wright. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead not only ful lled part of the original vision of the company, it proved to us that our audience is eager for a wide range of challenging theatre. We added new education programs to serve younger students, and our opening and closing concerts attracted an even wider audience from the community.
If the rst year of our second decade is any indication, maturity will never mean stagnation for GRSF. Maturity will mean that we have the con dence to grow.
Doug Scholz-Carlson
Artistic Director
WINONA, MINNESOTA GRSF.org
FROM THE DIRECTORS
