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Mission

Ten Chimneys Foundation’s Mission

  • Preserve and Share the buildings, furnishings, collections, and grounds of a national treasure – Ten Chimneys, the estate created by Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.
  • Serve as a continuing resource and powerful inspiration for theatre, the arts, and the art of living.
  • Offer public programs consistent with the Lunts’ varied interests and core values, while maintaining the integrity and intimacy of this extraordinary estate.

Ten Chimneys is a National Historic Landmark, a “Save America’s Treasures” project site, and is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. Ten Chimneys is owned by the non-profit 501(C)3 organization Ten Chimneys Foundation, Inc.

LFFP Day Three:  Lynn Redgrave Welcomes Milwaukee Actors and Fellows Explore the Estate

July 15, 2009

LFFP Photos by Jim Brozek Photography © Ten Chimneys Foundation

Notes from Sean Malone – President, Ten Chimneys Foundation
Wednesday, July 15, 8:19 p.m.

The third day of the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program has been truly wonderful. In the morning, the Lunt-Fontanne Fellows – selected as the top regional theatre actors in the country – had the opportunity to study, relax, and rejuvenate as they explored the inspirational Ten Chimneys estate: marking up their Shakespeare scripts by the pool, spending time in the Swedish-style log cabin Studio, learning about the beautiful gardens, journaling in the Library, and enjoying other reflective pursuits.

While the Lunt-Fontanne Fellows were on the historic estate, Lynn Redgrave led a dynamic half-day Shakespearean master class for 11 highly accomplished professional actors from the Milwaukee area. Lynn worked with each of the talented actors on a monologue they had prepared in advance.

Following are the actors who participated, with the role and play of the monologue they brought for Lynn.

Angela Iannone: Rumor from Henry IV, Part I
Jenny Wanasek: Duchess of Gloucester from Richard II
Laura Gordon: Portia from Julius Caesar
Matt Daniels: Brutus from Julius Caesar
Karen Janes Woditsch: Eleanor from Henry VI, Part II
Deborah Staples: Hermione from Winter’s Tale
Jonathan West: Camillo from Winter’s Tale
Nathan Hosner: Prince Hal from Henry IV, Part I
Mark Corkins: Macbeth from Macbeth
Laura DeMoon: Phoebe from As You Like It
Robert Allan Smith: Iago from Othello

The growth in the monologues after each actor had worked with Lynn was astounding, regularly drawing “ooohs” and effusive applause from the observers. The actors expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to work with a teacher of Lynn Redgrave’s talent and generosity. And Lynn expressed (repeatedly) how impressed she was by the depth of talent in the Milwaukee acting community.

After lunch, Lynn and the Lunt-Fontanne Fellows gathered in the Lunts’ Drawing Room to continue the intensive scene work that had started on Tuesday – with two pieces from King Lear. A scene from Act I was explored by Francis Guinan (Steppenwolf Theatre) and Lee Ernst (Milwaukee Repertory Theater) – and a scene from Act IV was undertaken by Naomi Jacobson (Arena Stage), Dan Donohue (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Francis Guinan, Kim Staunton (Denver Center Theater), and Mary Beth Fisher (Goodman Theatre).

After the day’s activities – including a surprise birthday celebration for Fellow Jon Gentry, from Arizona Theatre Company – the Fellows and Ms. Redgrave had a night off, with many accepting our offer to take them to downtown Milwaukee for a night on the town.

Tomorrow will see the Fellows dive into Shakespearean monologues – and perhaps even a little Noël Coward.

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