Directed by Rebecca Haley Clark, the production will run through Sept. 20 under the trees and stars in the Audrey Stanley Grove at Santa Cruz’s DeLaveaga Park. Tickets prices range from $20 to $75 and are available at santacruzshakespeare.org. The seasonal box office is open for phone orders Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 831-460-6399 and two hours prior to every performance.

Following the epic sweep of its 2025 summer productions with the theme “No One is Alone”, SCS’s fall production of “Master Harold” snaps us into the deeply intimate and intense apartheid era of South Africa. The production stars Corey Jones as Sam, Nick Rossi as Hally and Elliot Sagay as Willy.

About the production: Young Hally, who is white, spends the afternoon after school in his family’s tea shop with two of the family’s servants, Sam and Willy, who are black. Over the course of 90 minutes, we bear witness to the shifting relationship between all of them: a relationship built both on love and respect, as well as one built on bigotry and institutionalized racism. Fugard’s autobiographical masterpiece is both joyous and brutal, with an ending that will leave you both stunned and inspired. It brings home the season theme “No One is Alone” with a beautiful recognition – one that would lead Fugard to becoming one of the great playwrights of the 20th century.

“As we watch the massive shifts in the world rock the very foundations beneath our feet, we are confronted with a call to action: What am I going to do about all this?” said director Rebecca Haley Clark. “This play forces us to consider three different time periods. 1950. The time period of the play itself, just after the enactment of the system of apartheid in South Africa. 1982. The time period in which the play was written, less than a decade before the official end of apartheid. And 2025. The here. The now. The crossroads. It also forces us to consider space. What does my tiny surfer beach community have to do with a tea shop in Port Elizabeth, South Africa?”

For tickets and information visit santacruzshakespeare.org.

About Santa Cruz Shakespeare

Featuring professional actors from around the country and inspired by deep local roots that go back more than 40 years, Santa Cruz Shakespeare stages bold productions of the plays of Shakespeare and other great playwrights that stimulate audiences’ senses and spark their imagination.

August 5, 2025 – SANTA CRUZ, CA—Santa Cruz Shakespeare (SCS), a nationally recognized professional theatre company in Santa Cruz County with deep local roots that go back more than 40 years, today announced enrollment is open for ShakesEDU fall classes and theatre camp. Additionally, bookings are open for Shakes on the Move, a traveling troupe that will perform abbreviated productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and a bilingual version of Romeo and Juliet.

Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s ShakesEDU offers a wide range of theatre classes beginning in September. ShakesEDU provides students of all ages with a wide variety of opportunities to learn about Shakespeare in a fun and engaging environment, including acting, writing, production and even a taste of hip-hop. Enroll now for classes at https://old.santacruzshakespeare.org/classes/.

Traveling troupe Shakes on the Move returns Sept. 1. The dynamic, 45-minute adaptation of Romeo and Juliet infuses Shakespeare’s original language with a multicultural twist, celebrating the beauty of diverse storytelling. By blending languages and cultural influences, this production makes Shakespeare accessible, relevant and deeply engaging for modern audiences.

For those who missed A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Grove, this high-energy adaptation brings music, humor and heart of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy directly into schools, libraries, retirement communities and other venues. To learn more about booking Shakes on the Move, visit https://old.santacruzshakespeare.org/tour/.

Beginning Sept. 13, fall classes include:

Shakeschool

Sunday, Sept. 13 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Location: Veteran’s Memorial Building, Downtown Santa Cruz

A professional development workshop to equip teachers with practical tools for bringing Shakespeare’s works to life in the classroom. Continuing education credit is available through the University of the Pacific. For teachers only, cost is $225.

Bust a Rhyme (age 10-17)

Sept. 22-26, Monday through Friday 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Show: Sept. 26 at 6 p.m.

Location: Veteran’s Memorial Building, Downtown Santa Cruz

Unlock the power of rhythm and flow—hip-hop style. Learn how to use beat, meter, and rhyme to craft bars and express yourself! From the roots of Shakespeare to the fire of Kendrick, it’s all about owning your voice. Cost is $295.

Budding Bards (ages 10-17)

Sept. 29 – Oct. 29, Monday and Wednesdays 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Show: Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.

Location: Veteran’s Memorial Building, Downtown Santa Cruz

Calling all young poets and storytellers! Sharpen your writing skills and bring your creative vision to life in verse, monologues, scenes, or a short story. Be included in SCS’s new youth publication The Quill. Cost is $395.

Fall Theatre Camp: Macbeth by William Shakespeare (ages 6-17)

Sept. 30 – Nov. 20 Tuesday and Thursdays, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Ages 6 – 11) Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. (Ages 11 – 17) Show: Nov. 20

Location: Veteran’s Memorial Building, Downtown Santa Cruz

A Scottish general driven by prophecy and ambition, Macbeth descends into murder, madness, and mayhem to seize the throne. Develop your artistic skills, from acting and movement to singing and vocal production. Build confidence and learn teamwork as you lead the charge to perform in this amazing drama. Cost is $595 for ages 6-11 and $695 for ages 11-17. Enrollment closes Sept. 15.

About “ShakesEDU”

Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s “ShakesEDU” Education Program is dedicated to educating the community about Shakespeare and the art of theatre. The education program offers a variety of programs for learned of all ages, from touring productions, classes and in-school workshops to Book Clubs, professional development workshops and Weekend with Shakespeare. Learn more: https://old.santacruzshakespeare.org/educators/.

About Santa Cruz Shakespeare

Featuring professional actors from around the country and inspired by deep local roots that go back more than 40 years, Santa Cruz Shakespeare stages bold productions of the plays of Shakespeare and other great playwrights that stimulate audiences’ senses and spark their imagination. For more information about SCS, visit santacruzshakespeare.org.

July 2, 2025 – SANTA CRUZ, CA—Santa Cruz Shakespeare (SCS), a nationally recognized professional theatre company in Santa Cruz County with deep local roots that go back more than 40 years, today announced tickets are now on sale for its new Monday Night Revels series of highly acclaimed performances, including music, comedy and Shakespeare-inspired drag, each for one night only at The Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park in Santa Cruz.  

“We are thrilled to expand our season offerings to include Monday Night Revels,” said Charles Pasternak, Artistic Director. “This is an opportunity to elevate and diversify The Grove experience with musical performances from Rockapella and the Surf City All-Stars Beach Boys tribute group, comedian Brian Kiley and a Shakespeare-inspired drag performance. We invite our community and the larger region to join us these special evenings this summer!” 

Rockapella, a cappella Vocal Group  

Monday, July 21 at 7 p.m.  

Formed in 1986, Rockapella rocketed to stardom in 1993 with their hit single “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” (featured in the PBS TV series of the same name). Led by Scott Leonard’s signature high tenor voice and mind-blowing arrangements and Jeff Thacher’s one-of-a-kind vocal percussion, Rockapella has been a global phenomenon for nearly 40 years, setting the standard for all a cappella vocal groups. The “band” (famous for their ability to imitate the sounds of instruments with only their voices) has been featured everywhere from the Boston Pops to the Muppets, and their voices have been the soundtrack for everything from Folgers and Doritos to Aflac and HBO.   

This is a family-friendly event, with kids tickets available. Tickets range from $40-80 and are available for purchase: https://old.santacruzshakespeare.org/book/?instance=73001  

Brian Kiley, Emmy Award-Winning Comedian 

Monday, July 28 at 7 p.m.  

Brian Kiley is a two-time Emmy Award-winning comedian and writer who’s been a fixture in late-night TV for decades. He’s racked up nearly two dozen appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and he still performs at comedy clubs around Los Angeles. For 27 years, Brian was a staff writer for Conan (and head monologue writer for more than a decade), winning an Emmy in 2007 for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy/Variety Series and getting nominated 16 times. He also worked on the final season of Ellen, picking up a Daytime Emmy in 2022. In addition, Brian has had a special on Comedy Central, and his jokes have been featured everywhere from GQ and Reader’s Digest to the New York Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle.  

This is a family-friendly event, with kids tickets available. Tickets range from $40-80 and are available for purchase here: https://old.santacruzshakespeare.org/book/?instance=73401  

Pink Ladies of the Sonnets  

Monday, August 4 at 7 p.m.  

Theatre is the original home of drag — the Greeks started it, but Shakespeare mastered it. Presented in collaboration with Maggie’s Gurls (a non-profit dedicated to preventing suicide among LGBTQ+ youth), experience an evening of sparkling performances by some of the Bay Area’s most talented drag queens and kings, inspired by Shakespeare’s sonnets. Attendees are encouraged to put on their best drag outfit or just come as they are. But be prepared to have a fabulous time! 

Tickets are Pay-What-You-Will and are available for purchase here: https://old.santacruzshakespeare.org/book/?instance=73601  

Surf City All-Stars play the music of The Beach Boys 

Monday, September 22 at 7 p.m.  

The Surf City All-Stars are the only “tribute” group in which every member has played in The Beach Boys’ band.  Experience an unforgettable night of music featuring all the favorite Beach Boys classics, complete with those rich harmonies that made the group famous. 

This is a family-friendly event, with kids tickets available. Tickets range from $40-80 and are available for purchase here: https://old.santacruzshakespeare.org/book/?instance=73801  

About SCS’s 2025 Summer and Fall Season  

Tickets are on sale now for Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s 2025 season “No One is Alone”. Enjoy productions of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical, Into the Woods, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Pericles, as well as Athol Fugard’s “Master Harold”… and the Boys. Performances will take place July 13 through September 20 in the Audrey Stanley Grove at Santa Cruz’s DeLaveaga Park. Tickets prices range from $20 to $75 and are available at santacruzshakespeare.org. The seasonal box office is open for phone orders Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 831-460-6399 and two hours prior to every performance. 

About Santa Cruz Shakespeare 

Featuring professional actors from around the country and inspired by deep local roots that go back more than 40 years, Santa Cruz Shakespeare stages bold productions of the plays of Shakespeare and other great playwrights that stimulate audiences’ senses  and spark their imagination. 

June 17, 2025 – SANTA CRUZ, CA—Santa Cruz Shakespeare (SCS), a nationally recognized professional theatre company in Santa Cruz County with deep local roots that go back more than 40 years, today announced the cast and production teams for its 2025 Summer and Fall Season that includes two plays by William Shakespeare, a musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine and a play by Athol Fugard, as well as the popular Fringe Series of two staged readings and two performances of the apprentice show.

Performances will take place July 13 through September 20 in the Audrey Stanley Grove at Santa Cruz’s DeLaveaga Park. Tickets prices range from $20 to $75 and are available at santacruzshakespeare.org. The seasonal box office is open for phone orders Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 831-460-6399 and two hours prior to every performance.

SCS’s performance calendar can be found online.

CAST AND PRODUCTION TEAMS

Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine

Opening Night: July 19, 2025, 8 p.m.
Director: Jerry Lee
Music Direction: Luke Shepherd

Starring Charlotte Munson as the Witch, Tyler Nye as the Baker and Melissa WolfKlain as the Baker’s Wife. The ensemble includes: Mai Abe, Jordan Best, Alex Cook, Daniel Harray, Justin Joung, Elliot Sagay, Lori Schulman and Ciarra Stroud.

Production team includes Michael Schweikardt and Bennett Seymour (Scenic Design), Austin Blake Conlee (Costume Design), Marcella Barbeau (Lighting Design) and Barry G. Funderburg (Sound Design).

Director’s Note

“[Into the Woods] fits beautifully in a Shakespeare festival season. It’s rooted in heightened language. Characters soliloquize, wrestle with choices, and engage directly with the audience. Its themes run deep. The questions it raises are timeless. We wanted to craft a piece that felt
organically born of the Grove. That celebrated the natural beauty of this performance space. We decided to set our production in America—Santa Cruz—at the end of the Gilded Age. Our fairy tales feel less like rustic German folklore and more like stories that have journeyed across the ocean, over the Rockies, and settled on the California coast. We wanted these characters to feel rooted in this space, like they grew here. And with one little toe still dipped in antiquity of classic fairy tales.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

Opening Night: July 18, 2025, 8 p.m.
Director: Paul Mullins

Starring Mike Ryan as Nick Bottom and Justin Joung as Puck. The ensemble includes: Alex Cook, Jono Eiland, Daniel Harray, Corey Jones, Lily Kops, Charlotte Munson, Tyler Nye, Allie Pratt, Kavin Pugazhenthi, ML Roberts, Desiree Rogers, Nick Rossi, Elliot Sagay, Shelby Denise Smith, Ciarra Stroud, Paige Lindsey White, Melissa WolfKlain, Lincoln Best and Joseph Pratt Lukefahr.

Production team includes Michael Schweikardt & Bennett Seymour (Scenic Design), B. Modern (Costume Design), Marcella Barbeau (Lighting Design) and Mackenzie Adamick (Sound Design).

Director’s Note:

“When [A Midsummer Night’s Dream] was published in the Quarto in 1600 the title page states that the play “hath been sundry times publicly acted”. The play has continued to be “sundry times publicly acted” for these past four hundred years. It is the most frequently produced of Shakespeare’s plays. For many it is the first Shakespeare play seen in performance and remains for many their favorite. Midsummer stands among Shakespeare’s greatest plays due to its astonishing blend of imagination, insight into human nature, and timeless theatrical appeal.”

Pericles by William Shakespeare and George Wilkins

Opening Night July 31, 2025, 8 p.m.
Director Charles Pasternak

Starring Paige Lindsey White as Pericles and Allie Pratt as Marina. The ensemble includes: Jono Eiland, Corey Jones, Lily Kops, Kavin Pugazhenthi, ML Roberts, Desiree Rogers, Nick Rossi, Mike Ryan and Shelby Denise Smith.

Production team includes Michael Schweikardt and Bennett Seymour (Scenic Design), Erin Reed Carter (Costume Design), Marcella Barbeau (Lighting Design) and Mackenzie Adamick (Sound Design).

Director’s Note:

“Pericles is one of my favorite plays. It stands powerfully with The Winter’s Tale and Cymbeline as a late triumvirate in Shakespeare’s career in which the traditional lines of comedy and tragedy blur, ambiguity is magnified, forgiveness is paramount, and miracles are possible. We need the stories of Shakespeare’s late plays now more than ever. They’re complicated, wild, sexy, and fierce… they don’t let us off the hook; they don’t let us box up good and evil easily. They ask a lot of us. But their return is great.”

“Master Harold”… and the Boys by Athol Fugard

Opening Night September 5, 2025, 7 p.m.
Director Rebecca Haley Clark

Starring Corey Jones as Sam, Nick Rossi as Haley and Elliot Sagay as Willy.

Production team includes Michael Schweikardt and Bennett Seymour (Scenic Design), B. Modern (Costume Design), Marcella Barbeau (Lighting Design) and Luke Shepherd (Sound Design and Composition).

Director’s Note:

“As we watch the massive shifts in the world rock the very foundations beneath our feet, we are confronted with a call to action: What am I going to do about all this? Working on Master Harold…and the Boys, has further solidified that gnawing question of what would I do if I were in those circumstances, the question that always reveals itself during times of immense change and social upheaval. Who am I really? This play forces us to consider three different time periods. 1950. The time period of the play itself, just after the enactment of the system of apartheid in South Africa. 1982. The time period in which the play was written, less than a decade before the official end of apartheid. And 2025. The here. The now. The crossroads. It also forces us to consider space. What does my tiny surfer beach community have to do with a tea shop in Port Elizabeth, South Africa?”

SCS’s Fringe Series

The 2025 Season includes the Fringe Series, comprised of two staged readings and two performances of its apprentice show, Betrayal by Harold Pinter, happening Tuesday nights in August at 7 p.m. Price is pay-what-you-will.

Learn more about the 2025 Summer Season.

Santa Cruz Shakespeare Membership

Become an annual member of SCS to support the entire 2025 season and ShakesEDU. SCS memberships range from $50-$10,000 with tiered benefits including pre-sales, ticket discounts, early admission, free parking, free food and drink, cushioned seats, and other benefits. For those under 25 years old, join the Hathaway Club and receive one half price regular ticket to any three shows. More information about membership.

About Santa Cruz Shakespeare

Featuring professional actors from around the country and inspired by deep local roots
that go back more than 40 years, Santa Cruz Shakespeare stages bold productions of
the plays of Shakespeare and other great playwrights that stimulate audiences’ senses
and spark their imagination.