Shakespeare to Play Throughout the Bay Area This Summer

The San Francisco Gate has compiled a list of Shakespearean plays which will take place this summer throughout the Bay Area.  Some 28 of the Bard's works are on offer this summer from the usual ("Romeo and Juliet," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Twelfth Night," "Macbeth") to such rarities as his first, goriest tragedy, "Titus Andronicus" (opening Cal Shakes' season), and the late, odd "Cymbeline" (S.F. Shakespeare).

"Shrew"s will be tamed, Viola and Rosalind will dress up as boys to get their men (hmm), Caesar will fall, "Wives" make merry and Prospero and Puck will work their magic spells. A dedicated Henry V fan could follow his three-play career, if willing to travel from Santa Cruz ("Henry IV, Part One") to Ashland, Ore., ("Henry IV, Part Two") and dash back to Saratoga for "Henry V." the newspaper reports.

The following is a partial list of Shakespeare productions in the Bay Area.  To view the entire listing, please click here.

California Shakespeare Theater

Titus Andronicus, directed by Joel Sass, begins previews June 1, runs June 4-26.

The Verona Project, adapted from "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" and directed by Amanda Dehnert, begins previews July 6, runs July 9-31.

Candida by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Jonathan Moscone, begins previews Aug. 10, runs Aug. 13-Sept. 4.

The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Shana Cooper, begins previews Sept. 21, runs Sept. 24-Oct. 16.  Bruns Amphitheater, 100 Gateway Blvd., Orinda, (510) 548-9666, www.calshakes.org.

American Conservatory Theater MFA Program

As You Like It, directed by Mark Rucker, begins previews Thurs., runs Sat.-May 28. Zeum Theater, Yerba Buena Gardens, Fourth and Howard streets, San Francisco, (415) 749-2228, www.act-sf.org.

Marin Shakespeare Company

Macbeth, directed by Lesley Schisgall Currier, begins previews July 8, runs July 15-Aug. 14.

The Complete History of America (abridged) by Adam Long, ReEd Martin and Austin Tichenor, directed by Robert Currier, begins previews July 22, runs July 30-Sept. 25.

The Tempest, directed by Jon Tracy, begins previews Aug. 19, runs Aug. 27-Sept. 25. Dominican University, San Rafael, (415) 499-4488, www.marinshakespeare.org.

S.F. Shakespeare Festival

Cymbeline, Free Shakespeare in the Park, directed by Kenneth Kelleher, in the following locations:

Amador Valley Community Park, Pleasanton, July 23-Aug. 7.

Memorial Park Amphitheater, Cupertino, Aug. 13-28.

Presidio Parade Ground, San Francisco, Sept. 3-25.

For more information call: (415) 558-0888 or visit: www.sfshakes.org.

Livermore Shakespeare Festival

Macbeth, directed by Lisa A. Tromovitch, June 30-July 30.

Lend me a Tenor by Ken Ludwig, directed by Leslie Martinson, July 7-31.  Concannon Vineyard, 4590 Tesla Road, Livermore, (800) 838-3006, www.livermoreshakes.org.

Woman's Will

A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Victoria Erville, plays in the following locations:

John Hinkel Park, Berkeley, July 16

Hillside Clubhouse, Rossmoor, Walnut Creek, July 17

Dimond Park, Oakland, July 23-24

San Felipe Park, Hayward, July 30

Hinkel Park, Berkeley, July 31, Aug. 6

Rengstorff House, Mountain View, Aug. 7

Downtown Library, Danville, Aug. 13

Amador Valley Community Park, Pleasanton, Aug. 14

McLaren Park, San Francisco, Aug. 20-21

Dolores Park, San Francisco, Aug. 27-28

All shows free. For more information, call:  (510) 420-0813 or visit:  www. womanswill.org.

Shakespeare on the Square

Much Ado About Nothing, directed by David Koppel, May 20-June 4. Theatre on San Pedro Square, 29 N. San Pedro St., San Jose, (800) 838-3006, www.arclightrep.org.

Los Gatos/Mid-Peninsula Shakespeare festivals

Macbeth, July 15-Aug. 5

Twelfth Night, July 16-Aug. 6.

Charley's Aunt by BranDon Thomas, July 17-Aug. 4. Oak Meadow Park, Los Gatos, (800) 838-3006, www.festivaltheatreensemble.org.

The shows preview as the Mid-Peninsula Shakespeare Festival, free, at Full Circle Farm, 1055 Dunford Way, Sunnyvale:

Twelfth Night, June 4-24

Macbeth, June 10-26

Charley's Aunt, June 17-25.

Shady Shakespeare

Henry V, directed by Larry Barrott, July 29-Sept. 2.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Dinna Myers, Aug. 5-Sept. 4. Sanborn Park, Saratoga, (408) 264-3479, www.shadyshakes.org.

Curtain Theatre

The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by Michele Delattre, Aug. 27-Sept. 18. Old Mill Park, Mill Valley, free, www.curtaintheatre.org.

 

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