Cal Shakes Announces 2019 Season

California Shakespeare Theater (Cal Shakes) today announced its 2019 Season at the Bruns Amphitheater: A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, May 22-June 9; The Good Person of Szechwan by Bertolt Brecht, July 3-21; the world premiere of House of Joy by Madhuri Shekar, August 14-September 1; and Macbeth by William Shakespeare, September 18-October 6. Cast and creative teams for each will be announced at a later date.

Artistic Director Eric Ting commented: "Next summer, we're bringing back two beloved plays by William Shakespeare that collectively represent the best of his works; and we're pairing them with two modern classics: one old, one very new. It's a season of glorious comedy, stark tragedy, and complex humanity that grapples with the timeless question: how are we responsible to one another?"

First up, Shakespeare's delightfully charming comedy of desire, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Four lovers escape into the woods and find themselves entangled in the royal politics of a magical world. When it comes to love, what's fantasy and what's reality? Tricks abound and wires cross as we all seek escape from (or surrender to) the clutches of love.

Next, Cal Shakes presents for the very first time a play by Bertolt Brecht, The Good Person of Szechwan. In a city of "haves" and "have-nots," can a good person stay good even as their fortunes rise? The Good Person of Szechwan is a fable for our times exploring the lengths to which one must go to keep clean in a dirty world.

The season continues with the World Premiere of House of Joy by Madhuri Shekar. House of Joy is being produced as part of Cal Shakes' New Classics Initiative, which engages living writers in dialogue with our classical canon to see old stories through new eyes, challenging, expanding, and revitalizing our very notions of universal. Set in a place and time something like 17th century Delhi, House of Joy is a tale of adventure and intrigue drawn from Indian legends and history. An elite bodyguard must choose between protecting the empire and protecting her vulnerable charge, but who will she betray?

Finally, Cal Shakes presents Macbeth, Shakespeare's cautionary tale of unbridled ambition. Determined to fulfill a prophecy of greatness, Macbeth's hunger for power consumes all he holds dear. How far would you go to take what you've been told you deserve? And who will rise up to stop you?

Season packages for the four-play season are available now; single and group tickets go on sale to the public spring 2019. Prices start at $132 for a four-play subscription, with discounts available for seniors, youth, and full-time K-12 educators.

For information or to charge tickets by phone with VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call the Cal Shakes Box Office at 510.548.9666. Additional information and online ticketing is available at www.calshakes.org.

California Shakespeare Theater (Cal Shakes) concludes its 44th season with the return engagement of Marcus Gardley's black odyssey directed by Eric Ting September 25-October 7. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Eric Ting and Managing Director Susie Falk, the company is a nationally-recognized leader in drawing on the power of authentic, inclusive storytelling to create more vibrant communities. Serving more than 43,000 people annually, Cal Shakes invites people from all walks of life to make deeply-felt connections with our shared humanity through its work onstage, in schools, and with people in non-traditional settings throughout the Bay Area who have little or no access to theater. For more information, visit www.calshakes.org

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