In 1983, when 18-year-old James Loehlin first stood in Winedale’s theater barn, he found a home in its isolated wooden magic. Seen by classmates as a ‘boy genius’ due to his extensive knowledge of Shakespearean performance history as a mere UT freshman, Loehlin’s devotion foreshadowed his future in taking over the Shakespeare at Winedale program.
Shakespeare at Winedale is a UT program that gives students immersive summer and spring Shakespeare education through involvement in performances. Loehlin enjoyed two summers as an undergrad in the program before returning as the Shakespeare at Winedale Regents Professor of English and program director in 2000. He held those positions until his death in September. Before his passing, he and his friend and colleague Clayton Stromberger planned “Henry V,” Loehlin’s favorite play, as the 2024 spring course’s major performance. The performance, scheduled for Apr. 19-20 in the Windale barn, has been taken on as a tribute to Loehlin’s life since his passing.
“He especially loved (‘Henry V’s’) St. Crispin’s Day speech… ‘We few, we happy few, we band of brothers,’” said Stromberger, whose friendship with Loehlin began during Winedale’s 1983 summer session. “When he would talk about ‘we happy few,’ there was a sense he was talking about those of us here in the barn working together. The Shakespeare at Winedale experience invites that kind of intense connection.”
According to his peers, Loehlin claimed “Henry V” as his favorite for its varying interpretations. The topic of his dissertation and first book, the play was also produced during his first summer as Winedale’s director. Now, Stromberger — Winedale’s outreach coordinator — and other UT/ Winedale staff will take a team approach in teaching 2024’s spring Shakespeare Through Performance course and producing Loehlin’s “Henry V” tribute.
“(The spring class will) definitely be dipping into his “Henry V” book for inspiration … and try to channel a bit of his spirit,” Stromberger said.
Alumna Renee Jackson took multiple courses with Loehlin during her time at UT, including the 2015 summer Winedale program — when Loehlin last led a production of “Henry V.” She said she couldn’t think of another piece the students workshopped as heavily together.
“For the opening chorus, he took us to the parking lot for the barn, which is this huge open field,” Jackson said. “We stood in a giant circle far from each other, and we had to yell the chorus across the circle to understand the gravitas of opening that play.”
As the spring course preparations were being made, Laurel Loehlin, James Loehlin’s wife, started the James N. Loehlin Memorial Fund to assist Shakespeare at Winedale in emergency needs and provide student scholarships. The fund has already raised over $200,000 from program friends and alumni, some of whom have gone on to be award winning professionals in theater.
“The Winedale community is very generous,” Laurel Loehlin said. “They’re very supportive of me … kids have come to weed my garden for me, people are trying to bring me food and take care of me.”
Though Laurel Loehlin doesn’t know her level of involvement at Winedale moving forward, two decades of students hold memories of the Loehlins’ vital role in the Winedale’s family atmosphere. Inspired by his legacy, Loehlin’s friends will work tirelessly to honor the brilliance he brought to their lives through Winedale.
“I’m sustained by the faith that it was very important to James that it continue, and that will give us all a lot of strength,” Stromberger said.
