Shakespeare Santa Cruz Opens July 23

Community encouraged to participate in free or low-cost events

SANTA CRUZ — The 2013 summer season of Shakespeare Santa Cruz (SSC), is almost upon us. The featured performances of the season include:

• The Taming of the Shrew, opening July 26 at 8 p.m.
• Henry V opening August 9 at 8 p.m.
• The Fringe Show, the West Coast premiere of Jon Jory’s adaptation of Tom Jones on August 20 and 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Performances begin July 23, and in addition to attending performances, community members are encouraged to take part in the myriad events surrounding SSC’s summer season.

“We are very excited to share the completion of the Henriad with our audiences,” said Artistic Director Marco Barricelli. “Actor Charles Pasternak, seen last season as Hal in Henry IV, Part Two, continues his work as Hal this season in the title role of Henry V, bringing Shakespeare’s three year making-of-a-king cycle to a close.”

In another casting twist, real-life married couple Fred Arsanault and Gretchen Hall play sparring lovers Petruchio and Kate in The Taming of the Shrew. Audience favorite Mike Ryan also returns to play Duke of Exeter, trusted advisor to King Henry and Vincentio in Shrew, and local actor Nick Bilardello will be featured in both productions. Headshots and role assignments for the summer company can be found online at http://www.shakespearesantacruz.org/season/the_company.php.

In addition to casting, SSC has many informative events for the public this summer. “There’s much more to Shakespeare Santa Cruz than just attending a performance or two,” says Barricelli. “We want our community to meet the artists, learn about the plays and processes, and have the opportunity to ask questions and have a voice in what we do.”

One of the most popular events is “Noon at the Nick,” a free discussion series at the Nickelodeon Theater in downtown Santa Cruz every Friday in July. This special event features season directors, dramaturgs, and actors gives community members the extraordinary opportunity to meet the SSC Company as they discuss each production and answer questions from the audience.

Capitola Book Café hosts a “Discussion with the Directors” on Monday, July 8 from 7:30 – 9pm. This free event offers an up close and personal look at the visions and concepts from directors Edward Morgan (Shrew) and Paul Mullins (Henry V) as they work with this season’s actors in rehearsals.

For those interested in historical information on the script of each play, textual consultant Michael Warren will discuss both plays at the Santa Cruz Downtown Library Branch on Church Street on Monday, July 15 from 6-7pm. Warren has participated with SSC since its inception in 1981 and shares fascinating information about Shakespearean times, language, and history.

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Tickets to the All Festival Glen Season can be purchased by calling 831-459-2159 or online at www.shakespearesantacruz.org/tickets. Performances begin July 23 and run through September 1, with Shrew and Henry V performing in repertory throughout the summer.