Santa Cruz Shakespeare Sets 2016 Summer Festival Lineup

Santa Cruz Shakespeare is thrilled to present its 2016 summer repertory season, with performances beginning July 12 and playing through August 28 at its new home in The Grove at DeLaveaga Park, 501 Upper Park Rd. in Santa Cruz.

The 2016 season, the first in the company's new outdoor venue in DeLaveaga Park, starts with Shakespeare's magical comedy in the woods, A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Terri McMahon,opening on July 15; followed by Shakespeare's dark family tragedy, Hamlet, opening July 29 with direction by Paul Mullins, director of the SSC's Henry V in 2013. Plus, Santa Cruz Shakespeare continues the tradition of showcasing the season's intern acting company with a Fringe production of the time-traveling, gender-bending comedy Orlando, by Sarah Ruhl and based on the novel by Virginia Woolf, with three performances only starting August 17.

Tickets go on sale May 16, 2016 with a Santa Cruz Shakespeare Member pre-sale starting May 2, and can be purchased online at santacruzshakespeare.org.

Artistic Director Mike Ryan frames the season by saying, "In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Theseus, the Duke of Athens says, 'The lunatic, the lover, and the poet / Are of imagination all compact.' The three plays of the 2016 season explore the transformational power of madness, love, and art. I am also extremely proud that we will continue our policy of gender equitable casting and telling inclusive stories for a twenty-first century audience. This year, we will heighten those efforts by casting a woman in the traditionally male role of Hamlet."

In addition to the performances, Santa Cruz Shakespeare will offer special events throughout the summer, including a First Friday Season Kick-off Celebration on May 6, a Season Preview at Bookshop Santa Cruz on

June 7, post-show discussions throughout the month of August, and Weekend With Shakespeare, August 12-14, where participants will hear leading Shakespeare scholars and theatre artists share their insights into the season's plays through lectures and discussions.

Santa Cruz Shakespeare will once again offer a "Free Youth Ticket" to one of its productions, a program initiated last season to encourage the introduction of Shakespeare to the next generation. This year, those 18 and under accompanied by a paying adult will receive a free groundling ticket to all performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The theatre company is working to raise $1 million to fund the construction of the new outdoor theater at DeLaveaga Park. Over $655,000 has already been pledged for the project, and a #BuildTheGrove campaign is underway with a public appeal to raise the additional funds. Detailed information about the campaign can found online at santacruzshakespeare.org/buildthegrove.

"We'll be breaking ground shortly on this exciting and ambitious project," says Board President Rick Wright. "The Grove will provide the literal foundation for Santa Cruz Shakespeare as our permanent home for many years to come. This is an opportunity to invest in Santa Cruz Shakespeare and our community. To raise the remaining $345,000, I invite those who have not yet pledged to join our board members and the many others who have already donated to become part of the future of Santa Cruz Shakespeare."

Donations to support the 2016 season and the #BuildTheGrove campaign can be made securely online atsantacruzshakespeare.org.

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