The Bard's groupies need gas money

Poetry in the Renaissance was believed to be a divine power. "Much is the force of heaven-bred poesy," William Shakespeare wrote in "The Two Gentlemen of Verona."

To many Shakespeare lovers, including Lewis-Clark State College professor Bernice Harris, that never changed.

For seven years, Harris has raised money to take students in her Shakespeare English class to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland to give them a taste of that power.

"I've had students say it's a life-changing experience," says Harris.

At first she took students in her own car and paid for their tickets with a grant. Through the years the number of students who wanted to go grew and she rented a van. When the grants got more competitive, she began to sponsor fund-raisers.

This year Harris and her husband Teb Blackwell are hosts of a Students-to-Ashland Gala Feb. 1 at the Lewis-Clark Center for Arts & History. Those attending are asked to make a contribution of any amount to help send students to the festival.

"Reading Shakespeare is good but Shakespeare is meant to be seen," says Harris who is chairwoman of the division of literature and language at LCSC. "For many students this is their first time to see a professional theater production."

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is the nation's oldest and largest theater in rotating repertory. It presents an eight-month season of 11 plays with five by Shakespeare. Each year it is visited by hundreds of high school and college student groups.

"The productions are so incredible there. Inevitably there is one play where we can hardly talk, we are blown away by the power."

The only requirement for students to go on the trip is that they take Harris' Shakespeare class. Students read the plays they will see before they go and discuss them in class and on the way to the festival. This spring Harris will take 10 students with money raised at a fund-raiser at her home a year ago.

Harris hopes to raise $1,200 to $1,500 Feb. 1 to accompany the grant she will apply for. Her goal is give everyone who takes her class the opportunity to go the festival.

Money pays for a rental van and students' lodging and tickets. Students pay for one night's lodging as well as for food. Harris pays for her own lodging and tickets.

The Students-to-Ashland Gala begins at 7:30 p.m. and will feature dancing and entertainment.

Refreshments will be served and wine, beer and soft drinks will be available for a nominal donation.

Featured will be music of the Pacific Northwest, from Bing Crosby to Jimi Hendrix to Nirvana, from the collections of Blackwell and Mike Feeney, both of Lewiston.

LCSC students will present a theatrical event authored by Charity Thompson.

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Karinen may be contacted at jkarinen@lmtribune.com