William Shakespeare is alive and well in Bloomington-Normal thanks in part to Jay and Sue Edmondson. The couple has been entertained for decades with a mix of classic and modern performances by the College of Fine Arts and Illinois Shakespeare Festival—and they are making sure others will be too.

“We’ve always been interested in the arts,” Sue said. “We enjoy the symphony, opera, and theatre. So organizations like Friends of the Arts and the Shakespeare Society were natural organizations for us to belong.”

Knowing the impact the University has on the community and the arts, and wanting to support their own passion for theatre, Jay and Sue made a bequest that will support the Shakespeare Society. Their gift will ensure that the general needs of the society are met and that the plays they love will continue to touch audiences for generations to come.

“A bequest provides the opportunity to plan for both retirement and for sharing with the University,” Jay said.

The plays of Shakespeare have endured for almost 400 years. Thanks to the dedication of theatre patrons like Jay and Sue, Shakespeare’s works will endure for many more.