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Leslie's Study Abroad Trip!

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This spring, I'll be taking an amazing theater class at Harper College which will allow me to fully immerse myself in the life and work of William Shakespeare through discussion, performance, and most importantly, a week long trip to London! Most people who know me can probably tell from that sentence alone why I'm so interested in this class, but for those who don't, let me fill you in:

I'm the proud, lucky daughter of two amazingly talented theater professionals—Tim, an actor turned lawyer (despite the famous threat in Henry VI, “Let's kill all the lawyers!”), and Lee, a stage manager/production manager/producer. Between them, my parents have decades of experience working in theater; naturally, my childhood involved musicals, theater camp, school plays, acting, singing, playing backstage and learning about the plays and playwrights that shaped modern theater. As book lovers, too,Tim and Lee taught me to appreciate all aspects of Shakespeare's plays. They always encouraged reading in our household and shared their favorite plays and stories with us, never underestimating a child's ability to enjoy A Midsummer Night's Dream or Macbeth.




Now, as a 22-year-old English major, I'm over-the-moon excited about this opportunity to study Shakespeare and Elizabethan theatre in a truly in depth, hands on way!

What will I do on this trip?

-100 Year of Theatre History Walking Tour
-see the theatre collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum
-go on a tour of the National Theatre Complex
-visit the Globe Theatre (unfortunately it will be too cold to see a play)
-see a West End theatre performance
-go on a backstage tour of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
-see a performance at the National Theatre
-meet a local Shakespeare expert guide for a 2 hour tour of Stratford including a visit to Shakespeare's birthplace and Anne Hathaway's cottage
-see a Royal Shakespeare Theatre performance
-go on a tour of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre complex
-do a workshop at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust with the Royal Shakespeare Company

How will your contribution help finance my trip?

Harper is preparing this trip with Select Travel Study, and the program price for a minimum of 10 participants is $2,855. Select Travel Study doesn't have their first deadline until December, but Harper's first two deadlines of $1000 each are October 1 and November 1. While I can cover some of the cost on my own, I need your help to make this trip possible! In addition to the tubular itinerary I have listed above, Select Travel Study will provide...

-roundtrip coach airfare from Chicago to London
-airline taxes and fuel surcharges
-hotel accommodation for 6 nights
-breakfast (we'll be buying our own lunches and dinners)
-motor coach trips
-local taxes and service charges

Why should you help fund this trip?

Obviously, going on this trip will be a lot of fun. Your contribution will help me fulfill a personal dream by financing a travel opportunity that might not be possible again for many years.

But this trip is about more than just having fun. My greatest goal as an English major is to help kids become strong readers and thinkers. Coming from a theater family, I was privileged to have inherited an enthusiasm for this profoundly influential writer, but it's not always easy for young people to become interested or stay interested in reading. I think every kid should be able to find joy and excitement in literature, and I think they need access to engaging stories from a young age in order to appreciate more challenging works of literature as they mature. By helping me expand my understanding of one of the greatest minds of the English language through this trip, I'll be able to incorporate my experiences in my education as I prepare for a career in publishing.

Furthermore, in order to show my gratitude for your contribution, anyone who helps fund my trip to London will receive a souvenir (check out the reward levels to see what type of souvenir you could get with your donation!) and a snazzy thank you card. If you choose to help with my fund, please email me with your mailing address so I know where to send your souvenir and card!
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Donations 

  • Thomas Hines
    • $25 
    • 9 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $10 (Offline)
    • 9 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $200 (Offline)
    • 9 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $100 (Offline)
    • 10 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $800 (Offline)
    • 10 yrs
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Organizer

Leslie Murray
Organizer

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