Whew! 2017 is barely four weeks old and things are already full speed ahead at SF Shakes (and we’re willing to bet your January has been the same). A mere 20 days ago, we posted some resolutions that our company has made for our 35th Anniversary Season, and we asked you to hold us to those resolutions.
Here’s what we’re been doing so far to fulfill them—in other words, here’s a sample of everything that goes on in our office these days.
- Our free “35 Famous Speeches in 35 Famous Places” pop-up performance series is coming together.
So far our actors are scheduled to speak Shakespeare at the Conservatory of Flowers, Yerba Buena Gardens, the Presidio Officer’s Club, and at Chrissy Field with a killer view of the Golden Gate Bridge. We hope you’ll bring the whole family to these performances all year long! - Over in Education Land, the talented home schooled actors in our Seven Ages Troupe and Burgeoning Bards Troupe are meeting every week to explore Shakespeare.
- The cast of our Free Shakespeare in the Park Hamlet is coming together to support Davern Wright in the title role…and it’s a fantastic cast. Can’t wait to announce the full list to you soon!
- Starting tomorrow, our spring Upstart Crows class will meet each Saturday to put together their production of The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Last semester’s Upstart Crows production of Henry V. - Shakespeare on Tour began travelling all over the state again this week: since their opening at Mission Blue Center just this past Sunday, they’ve already given six performances of Twelfth Night in schools and public venues across the Bay Area!
The cast of Shakespeare on Tour’s Twelfth Night. - We’re co-producing two exciting youth productions across the South Bay: The Little Princess with Los Altos Youth Theatre, which has already started rehearsals, and Ramayana with the City of Cupertino, for which registration is now open (if you’re in or near Cupertino, come join the fun)!
- Our Midnight Shakespeare program in Oakland started this week.
Midnight Shakespeare production of Measure for Measure, 2015. - Right now we have staff members in Baltimore representing our work at the annual Shakespeare Theatre Association conference.
- We’re planning, planning, planning for our fabulous 35th Anniversary Gala in April.
- Registration for Bay Area Shakespeare Camps is already taking off (side note: if you’re waiting to register, don’t wait too much longer)!
So…how are we doing so far? Are we holding to our resolutions to celebrate our 35th anniversary season in style, give audiences of all ages and backgrounds access to Shakespeare and the arts, and appreciate our San Francisco home? Stay tuned: the party’s just getting started.
After all, look at the legacy we’re honoring this year:
