COMPANY KICK-OFF PICNIC

Last night our Board of Trustees hosted a picnic to welcome the 2009 CATF Company. The weather was perfect…the view from the Frank Center Lawn was spectacular and the food was delicious. Linda Wanger, CATF Trustee and her committee did a fabulous job.

Suzanne Shipley, President of Shepherd University gave welcoming remarks. Penny Porter from Senator Jay Rockefeller’ s office read a letter from the Senator:

     “As Ed will enthusiastically remind you this evening, art, and specifically theater, has the power to open dialogue. It has the power to engage the individual-to open communication, to encourage listening, learning and thinking. From politics and war to marriage and families, you will tackle difficult subjects this year. Audiences will be moved by the work you are about to do this summer, and I thank you for making the theater festival a West Virginia tradition.

     Again , my congratulations to you for creating the future of American theater in Shepherdstown, West Virginia! Thank you, Ed, for turning your vision into reality, and my best wishes for another sucessful season at CATF.”    (John D. Rockefeller IV)

Delegate John Doyle from the West Virginia Legislature brought greeting from Governor Joe Manchin.

I posted my remarks to the Company on Monday’s blog.

Today we begin the rehearsal process with a COMPANY READ-THRU beginning at noon.

Ed Herendeen