Shakespeare Santa Cruz

Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Founded in 1981, it was a professional theatre company in residence at the University of California, Santa Cruz. For over three decades, the company produced an annual summer festival of Shakespearean and classic plays, alongside contemporary works, becoming a significant cultural institution in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its unique performances were staged in both an indoor proscenium theatre and an outdoor redwood forest setting on the university campus.

History

The company was established in 1981 through the vision of Audrey Stanley and with the support of UC Santa Cruz chancellor Robert L. Sinsheimer. Its inaugural season featured productions of The Tempest and The Taming of the Shrew, establishing a model of blending Elizabethan theatre with the natural landscape. Early growth was bolstered by partnerships with Actors' Equity Association and support from the California Arts Council. Under the long tenure of Artistic Director Paul Whitworth, who began his leadership in the 1990s, the company expanded its artistic scope and financial base, navigating challenges such as the recession of the early 1990s. A major financial crisis in 2009 led to a restructuring effort spearheaded by the University of California administration and a public fundraising campaign.

Productions and repertoire

The core of its programming was the works of William Shakespeare, with frequent productions of popular comedies like A Midsummer Night's Dream and tragedies such as King Lear. The repertoire also regularly included plays by other classic authors, including Anton Chekhov, Molière, and Oscar Wilde. A commitment to new works was evident through initiatives like the "Winter Festival," which showcased modern plays and world premieres. Notable productions over the years included a rock-and-roll The Two Gentlemen of Verona, a critically acclaimed The Merchant of Venice, and an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Venues and facilities

Performances were held in two distinctive locations on the UC Santa Cruz campus. The indoor venue was the Theater Arts Center's Mainstage Theater, a 500-seat proscenium arch facility used for more technically complex productions and inclement weather. The celebrated outdoor venue was the Sinsheimer-Stanley Festival Glen, a natural amphitheater set within a grove of coast redwood trees. This "Forest Glen" required innovative staging and design to integrate performances with the environment and utilized temporary seating for audiences. The company's administrative and rehearsal home was within the university's Theater Arts department facilities.

Artistic leadership and company

The founding artistic director was Audrey Stanley, a noted Shakespearean scholar and director. Paul Whitworth, a respected actor and director with credits at the Royal Shakespeare Company, served as artistic director for nearly two decades, shaping the company's aesthetic. Marco Barricelli succeeded Whitworth in 2007, bringing experience from the American Conservatory Theater and Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The company employed a mix of Equity actors, local professionals, and advanced students from the university, with notable artists like Danny Scheie and Mike Ryan appearing frequently. Designers, directors, and composers were drawn from across the national regional theatre scene.

Closure and legacy

Despite a successful restructuring after 2009, the company faced insurmountable financial deficits and was closed by UC Santa Cruz in 2013 due to ongoing budgetary pressures. Its final production was The Liar by David Ives. The closure prompted significant outcry from the Santa Cruz community and the broader American theatre field. Its legacy directly led to the 2014 creation of Santa Cruz Shakespeare, a new independent company that continues the summer festival tradition at a different location, DeLaveaga Park. The Sinsheimer-Stanley Festival Glen remains a site for theatrical productions, and the company is remembered for its high-quality performances and unique integration of art and nature.

Category:Theatre companies in California Category:Shakespeare theatres in the United States Category:Organizations established in 1981 Category:Organizations disestablished in 2013