Lee Bequest funds summer Youth Theatre Program at Vesterheim for the next two years

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum's popular summer Youth Theater Program with Upstart Crow Theatreworks will continue in 2011 and 2012, thanks to a bequest from Robert E.A. and Elaine Lee.

The Lee estate plan was set up before their deaths and is administered by their children. According to their daughter, Barbara Greenfeldt, the Lees "wished they had the resources to make substantial donations during their lifetime. They would have been gratified to support Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum through this gift." The Lee children unanimously decided to designate their parents' planned estate gift towards Vesterheim's youth education programs.

Robert E.A. Lee grew up in Spring Grove, Minnesota, and attended Luther College. He married Elaine E. Naeseth and they had six children: Barbara, Paul, Richard, Sigrid, Sylvia, and Peg. Their family moved to Baldwin, New York, in 1954. An educator, writer, and volunteer, Lee served the Lutheran Church for many years and wrote a book about his mother's life, "Mathilda's Journey."

Greenfeldt, on behalf of her siblings, wrote Vesterheim that they were pleased to make a donation in memory of their parents, "sincerely and with gratitude for the work you do in preserving our heritage."

Vesterheim's summer Youth Theater Program includes a two-week class for children ages 9 to 13, led by Kristen Underwood of Upstart Crow Theatreworks. During the class, participants work together to create a play based on a selected topic connected to the museum's collection or special exhibitions. The play is then performed for the public during Decorah's Nordic Fest celebration of Scandinavian heritage. This year completed the eighth year that Upstart Crow and Vesterheim have collaborated on this program.

Underwood founded Upstart Crow Theatreworks in Decorah in 2002, and offers theatre classes throughout the year. Past Vesterheim and Upstart Crow original productions include "For Our Land," "The Primstav Play," "Painting Portraits," "The Crossing," "The Empty Chair," "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Art," "The Land of the Midnight Sun," and "The Secret Life of Trolls."