Virtual theatre for Wimberley children

The EmilyAnn Theatre, like all other theatres across the country, has had to temporarily shut down, canceling five productions, a full half year of theatre education and classes, and their huge annual Butterfly Festival. In the midst of these trying times, the EmilyAnn team put together take home live caterpillar kits and packets for families to drive by and pick up (at no cost, though donations were appreciated), and Wimberley families were able to raise their own butterflies!

The EmilyAnn team of actors have rehearsed and recorded five FREE children’s shows. These productions are professionally edited with engaging actor backgrounds, fully costumed with props, written and directed by our resident playwright, Heath Thompson. They are written and performed in a “Blue’s Clues” style, where the kids at home are asked to respond and participate in the story themselves. These shows are perfect for children ages 2-10, though older children and adults love them, as well. You can watch Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty and more, with Goldilocks also coming this next month.

Along with the children’s shows, the Emily-Ann actors have been busy rehearsing and recording professional-quality productions of some of Shakespeare’s works, including The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and Romeo & Juliet, all featuring some of Central Texas’ most celebrated classical actors. These are also available to watch on our new YouTube channel (EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens OFFICIAL) for free.

The EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens is also known for their award-winning summer program for high school students, Shakespeare Under the Stars. What is usually a 6 week Shakespeare Intensive in which the students participate from 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday for four weeks and then perform for two weeks, has been condensed to an online rehearsal process and will culminate with a recorded reading of The Comedy of Errors. This year’s group of high school students did still get to also participate in one professional acting and voice workshop (they usually get five during the summer program), led by Austin Shakespeare and The Hidden Room’s Justin Scalise. The final recording of this production will also serve as a fundraiser for the EmilyAnn’s Theatre Education programs, which serve over 300 students every year.

If you would like to say “Thank you” to the Emily-Ann for their free offerings to the community during this time, and for all they do for the Wimberley community and its students throughout the year, please visit their website at www. emilyann.org , click on the DONATE button, and choose Camps/Education from the drop down menu.

Keep an eye on their new YOUTUBE page for more family fun! EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens Official YOUTUBE