When John Gardner, who has served a number of terms on Bethel’s Board of Trustees, retired from a successful career in accounting and finance in the early 2000s, he decided there was one thing he should know more about: Shakespeare.
That curiosity led him and his wife, Therese, to attend a production of “The Merchant of Venice” during a vacation near Lake Huron in Stratford, Ontario. What began as a single theatre outing became a lifelong passion that would eventually create opportunities for dozens of Bethel students.
Though neither of the Gardners attended Bethel, they developed a connection to the university through St. Mark Missionary Church in Mishawaka, where they met students, alumni, faculty and staff. John became further engaged as a member of Bethel’s Board of Trustees in 2007. As they attended campus events and performances, they became increasingly impressed by the quality of Bethel’s theatre program.
“For a small university, the quality of Bethel theatre is through the roof,” John says.
Wanting to invest further in Bethel’s theatre program and expose students to world-class theatre, the Gardners launched “The Stratford Experience” in 2013. Now, more than a decade later, the program is still going strong. This year, they will travel with 19 Bethel students from August 3-10, to be immersed in theatre together.
“The Stratford productions are even better than Broadway,” John says.
Located in a vibrant downtown area similar to Goshen, Ind., the Stratford Festival attracts visitors from around the world and operates four theaters ranging in size from approximately 300 to 1,800 seats. During the weeklong trip, students attend 10 to 12 professional productions while also gaining access to behind-the-scenes experiences that are not available to most visitors. And due to the Gardners’ generosity, it is all free of charge to Bethel students.
As part of the trip, students tour Stratford’s 100,000-square-foot costume and prop warehouse, which supplies all four festival theaters and even serves other theaters throughout the region. They also receive backstage tours of the Festival Theatre, where they learn about the craftsmanship involved in professional theatre production, ranging from costume construction and wig-making to prop creation, jewelry design and technical production.
“The Stratford Festival is a well-oiled theater machine,” John says. Students also witness the remarkable speed and coordination required to change sets between productions. In just a few hours, crews can transform an entire stage, sometimes replacing everything from scenery to flooring in preparation for the next performance.
Prior to touring Stratford’s Costume and Prop Warehouse. Home to more than 50,000 costume pieces and countless props and set pieces, it is one of the largest theatrical costume and prop warehouses in the world.
While the productions themselves are impressive, the Gardners believe the relationships built throughout the week are equally valuable. During the trip, they intentionally meet with students in small groups over lunch and dinner, creating opportunities to learn more about their lives, goals and interests. The week concludes with a formal group dinner and a final breakfast together before returning home.
Bethel University students gathered for a farewell breakfast at The Bruce before concluding their Stratford trip.
Over the years, the couple has watched students return to Stratford multiple times and develop greater confidence in both their artistic abilities and themselves.
“We see a world of difference in the confidence of students who go for several years with us,” John says.
For Therese, one of the greatest rewards is witnessing that growth firsthand. “It makes us feel young to get to watch new students grow as individuals throughout the trip,” she says.
Grace Cole, Everest-Rohrer Chapel and Fine Arts Center manager, agrees, saying the opportunity has been life-changing for students. “If you are trying to be an artist and produce great theater, you have to see great theater,” Cole says. “Everyone has something to gain from going.”
Though the trip is geared toward students involved in music and theatre, the lessons learned extend far beyond the stage. Students gain a greater appreciation for teamwork, leadership, confidence, technical craftsmanship and creative collaboration.
“You learn a lot outside of the classroom, and seeing theatre at its finest helps students gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for it,” John says.
After more than a decade of bringing students to Stratford, the Gardners continue to invest their time, resources and energy into creating meaningful experiences for the next generation.
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- Bethel students gather outside the stage door of the Tom Patterson Theatre with cast members from “Forgiveness”.
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- Bethel students pose on the stage of the festival theatre amid the set of “Dangerous Liaisons.”
About the Gardners
John Gardner served as a captain and instructor navigator in the U.S. Air Force before building a career in business and finance. He retired in 2006 as chief financial officer of Noble Composites, Inc., after also serving as chief financial officer of Fabwel, Inc., and as a partner at McGladrey and Pullen CPAs. Therese Gardner spent part of her career working in banking before opening and operating a natural health store in Mishawaka, Ind., until her retirement. Together, the couple has pursued a variety of interests over the years including biking across the country twice.