Show all results...

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

menu

menu

menu

San Francisco
Shakespeare
Festival

Celebrating 41 years of Access, Engagement, and Education

Scroll

access

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival’s mission is to make the words and themes of Shakespeare accessible to everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, financial status or level of education. By lowering practical and perceptual barriers, we encourage broad participation in the arts and make these activities a part of community life.

engagement

The Festival serves as a catalyst for audience development by reaching thousands of people who otherwise do not attend live theater or may have never experienced it at all. Our programming represents the plays in their finest light, demonstrates their relevance to today’s society, and inspires our students and audiences to seek out additional theatrical experiences.

education

We are dedicated to arts education, using our programs to foster a life-long appreciation of learning and the arts. We offer day camps and classes for children age 7 to 17, as well as in-school residencies and playshops.

what's shakin'

shakespeare camps
july - august

Experience welcome but not required for our summer day camp programs for ages 7-18.  Now enrolling July and August sessions in San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Berkeley, Additional dates and venues may be added.  

free shakespeare in the park
july 22 - september 24

Our 41st season of Free Shakes returns to the parks in 2023 with our production of Cymbeline, directed by Resident Artist Maryssa Wanlass.  July through September performances in Cupertino, Redwood City, San Francisco and Orinda have been announced.

saturday classes for teens
Fall Session TBA

Saturday Upstart Crows classes are physically and mentally engaging weekend sessions where students age 11-18 deepen their skills and knowledge through a comprehensive rehearsal process that explores language, history, voice, movement, text analysis, and play.

shakespeare on tour
February 14 - May 12

Returning after a pandemic hiatus, 2023’s Shakespeare on Tour brings a one-hour version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to schools and public venues across California.  Limited dates remain available for booking, with curriculum materials and playshops also available for students.

gala and auction
may 20

Our annual gala fundraiser returns in-person with An Enchanted Evening at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club on May 20. Celebrating our 41 years of Shakespeare, there will be live entertainment, a fabulous multi-course Italian dinner, and everyone can participate in the auction to make donations and bid on wine, travel, experiences, and more.

Next artistic director
carla pantoja

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival is proud to announce Carla Pantoja as its next Artistic Director. Pantoja will provide artistic vision, strategic direction, and passion to build on SF Shakes’ 40-year commitment to changing lives through accessible Shakespeare-based performances, education, and engagement.

support sf shakes

Your gift keeps Shakespeare accessible to all.
Donate today to make a difference.

Events

May 2023

SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
Events for May

1st

No Events
Events for May

2nd

No Events
Events for May

3rd

No Events
Events for May

4th

No Events
Events for May

5th

No Events
Events for May

6th

Events for May

7th

No Events
Events for May

8th

No Events
Events for May

9th

No Events
Events for May

10th

No Events
Events for May

11th

No Events
Events for May

12th

No Events
Events for May

13th

No Events
Events for May

14th

No Events
Events for May

15th

No Events
Events for May

16th

No Events
Events for May

17th

No Events
Events for May

18th

No Events
Events for May

19th

No Events
Events for May

20th

No Events
Events for May

21st

No Events
Events for May

22nd

No Events
Events for May

23rd

No Events
Events for May

24th

No Events
Events for May

25th

No Events
Events for May

26th

No Events
Events for May

27th

No Events
Events for May

28th

No Events
Events for May

29th

No Events
Events for May

30th

No Events
Events for May

31st

No Events

social

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Summer is Coming!!
Have a Great Summer with Bay Area Shakespeare Camps! 
🎭🎉
Get into the Act: sfshakes.org/camps/

Now Enrolling 
(ages 7-13) in Santa Clara, July 10 - 21
(ages 9-13) in Berkeley,  July 24 - Aug 4
(ages 11-18) in San Francisco, July 10 - Aug 4

Learn about acting, movement and Shakespeare in a fun, supportive and engaging environment. 

#bayareasummercamp #summercamp #theatre #education #funsummer #Shakespeare  #santaclara #cupertino #berkeley #sanfranciscoImage attachmentImage attachment+4Image attachment

Summer is Coming!!
Have a Great Summer with Bay Area Shakespeare Camps!
🎭🎉
Get into the Act: sfshakes.org/camps/

Now Enrolling
(ages 7-13) in Santa Clara, July 10 - 21
(ages 9-13) in Berkeley, July 24 - Aug 4
(ages 11-18) in San Francisco, July 10 - Aug 4

Learn about acting, movement and Shakespeare in a fun, supportive and engaging environment.

#bayareasummercamp #summercamp #theatre #education #funsummer #Shakespeare #santaclara #cupertino #berkeley #sanfrancisco
... See MoreSee Less

6 hours ago
We THANK YOU!
Thank you to those participating in SF Shakes’ Enchanted Evening last Saturday.

The participation of over 100 people through ticket sales, auction-winning bids, and donations made our annual gala and online auction a tremendous success! With your generous support, we raised over $60,000 for our arts and education programs!

Many thanks again for your support of San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and our commitment to equitable arts access.

sfshakes.org/donate/

#sfshakesfest #41yearsofFreeShakes #shakespeareforall #ArtinAll

We THANK YOU!
Thank you to those participating in SF Shakes’ Enchanted Evening last Saturday.

The participation of over 100 people through ticket sales, auction-winning bids, and donations made our annual gala and online auction a tremendous success! With your generous support, we raised over $60,000 for our arts and education programs!

Many thanks again for your support of San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and our commitment to equitable arts access.

sfshakes.org/donate/

#sfshakesfest #41yearsofFreeShakes #shakespeareforall #ArtinAll
... See MoreSee Less

1 day ago
ANNOUNCING: Free Shakespeare in the Park’s CYMBELINE to perform at the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater this September!

Cal Shakes & SF Shakes are pleased to jointly announce that the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater will host Free Shakespeare in the Park this summer, with free performances of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline the weekend of September 16, 17, 23 & 24 at 4 pm. 
sfshakes.org/cymbeline/

“Free Shakespeare in the Park will be a wonderful addition to our At The Bruns arts series this summer,” says Cal Shakes Executive Director Clive Worsley. “This is a great opportunity for audiences to continue to enjoy Shakespeare onstage at the Bruns, in anticipation of our own Shakespeare production in 2024 for our 50th Anniversary. We are deeply appreciative of the several donors who have chosen to support this collaboration. 

“I’m delighted that our two companies could partner to bring Free Shakespeare in the Park to the Bruns this summer, says SF Shakes Executive Director Toby Leavitt. “We want to make this a win-win-win, certainly for both our organizations and especially for audiences.” 

Cymbeline, Shakespeare’s epic romantic adventure, features a dazzling mix of comedy, tragedy, and fairy tale that concludes with inventive scenes of revelation and joyous reconciliation.

#sfshakesfest #freeshakespeareinthepark #ArtsinAll #SFShakes #atthebruns #CalShakes #AtTheBruns #Shakespeare Cal ShakesImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

ANNOUNCING: Free Shakespeare in the Park’s CYMBELINE to perform at the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater this September!

Cal Shakes & SF Shakes are pleased to jointly announce that the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater will host Free Shakespeare in the Park this summer, with free performances of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline the weekend of September 16, 17, 23 & 24 at 4 pm.
sfshakes.org/cymbeline/

“Free Shakespeare in the Park will be a wonderful addition to our 'At The Bruns' arts series this summer,” says Cal Shakes Executive Director Clive Worsley. “This is a great opportunity for audiences to continue to enjoy Shakespeare onstage at the Bruns, in anticipation of our own Shakespeare production in 2024 for our 50th Anniversary. We are deeply appreciative of the several donors who have chosen to support this collaboration."

“I’m delighted that our two companies could partner to bring Free Shakespeare in the Park to the Bruns this summer," says SF Shakes Executive Director Toby Leavitt. “We want to make this a win-win-win, certainly for both our organizations and especially for audiences.”

Cymbeline, Shakespeare’s epic romantic adventure, features a dazzling mix of comedy, tragedy, and fairy tale that concludes with inventive scenes of revelation and joyous reconciliation.

#sfshakesfest #freeshakespeareinthepark #ArtsinAll #SFShakes #atthebruns #CalShakes #AtTheBruns #Shakespeare Cal Shakes
... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago