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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Camille Lightner Playhouse in Brownsville is |
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celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2023, and this occasion |
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provides a welcome opportunity to honor this South Texas treasure; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The Camille Playhouse traces its roots to the fall |
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of 1963, when several English, speech, and drama teachers, along |
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with a few interested theater buffs, got together and started a |
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theater group called "The Brownsville Players"; they originally |
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performed in an old, vacant cotton sampling warehouse on Central |
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Avenue, and their first two productions were Green Grow the Lilacs |
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followed by Thieves' Carnival; and |
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WHEREAS, In the summer of 1964, the Sams Foundation |
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recognized the group's hard work and provided a grant for the |
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construction of the present-day theater; the City of Brownsville |
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donated the land in Dean Porter Park, and on January 31, 1965, the |
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Camille Lightner Playhouse was dedicated in memory of Camille Sams |
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Lightner, a talented performer with a love for theater who passed |
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away in 1962; the Sams Foundation provided another grant in 1974, |
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and shortly thereafter, a much-needed addition to the building was |
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constructed for storage, work, and rehearsal space; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the Camille Playhouse is one of the oldest |
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theaters south of San Antonio, and except for the two years of |
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interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has consistently |
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presented 60 seasons of stage productions; the theater offers |
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programs to people of all ages, both on the main stage and during |
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its Youth Summer Workshops; and |
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WHEREAS, For six decades, the Camille Lightner Playhouse has |
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provided entertainment, enlightenment, and education to its |
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audiences, and in so doing, it has helped build a strong sense of |
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community and made an invaluable contribution to the rich, cultural |
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fabric of Brownsville; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Camille |
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Lightner Playhouse and extend to all those associated with the |
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theater sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the theater as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Gamez |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2096 was adopted by the House on May |
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29, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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