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July 28, 2008

Shakespeare Santa Cruz season opens to rave reviews

By Scott Rappaport (831) 459-2496; srapp@ucsc.edu

The 2008 Shakespeare Santa Cruz (SSC) season opened on July 15 and already the company is receiving rave reviews for its first two productions--Bach at Leipzig by Itamar Moses, and Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

The San Jose Mercury News noted that Marco Barricelli's inaugural season at the helm of SSC "has brought a brash new sensibility to the repertory…on opening weekend, the festival's iconic redwood glen bristled with renewed vigor, alight with the promise of new possibilities."

Good Times said that "SSC pulls out all the stops in delicious Bach At Leipzig," and reported that "opening night was packed and the cast received a standing ovation for a superb production" of Romeo and Juliet.

Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well opens on August 1 at the outdoor Redwood Glen, and Lanford Wilson's Burn This will debut the following evening on August 2. All four plays will be performed in repertory through August 31.

Reviews, audio interviews and photos of the new season can be found on the SSC web site at: ShakespeareSantacruz.

Other special events presented by SSC in conjunction with its summer festival during the month of August will include:

NOON @ THE NICK
Free discussion series. Bring your lunch and enjoy this extraordinary opportunity to meet the Company actors, directors, designers and artisans. The Nickelodeon Theater is located at 210 Lincoln Street in downtown Santa Cruz.

• Friday, August 1 at 12 p.m: Burn This
• Friday, August 8 at 12 p.m: The Antiquarian's Family (Fringe Show)

MARCO BARRICELLI AT THE CABRILLO FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
August 3 @ 1 p.m. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. Free Family Concert. SSC Artistic Director Marco Barricelli will narrate composer Michael Daugherty's Troyjam.

A MUSICAL EVENING WITH BACH
Wednesday, August 6 @ 6:30 p.m. Mainstage Theatre Lobby. Enjoy a free pre-play performance by the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra.

WEEKEND WITH SHAKESPEARE
August 8-10
Deepen your experience with this popular series of events, a weekend of lectures and discussions exploring the season's plays and theme. A rare opportunity to engage in entertaining and enlightening dialogue with guest speakers and Company actors. Refreshments included. Cost: $28 (Adults) and $12 (Youth under 18 years). Sponsored by Don and Diana Rothman.

AUTHOR TALK: ITAMAR MOSES
Sunday, August 10 at 5:30 p.m. Capitola Book Café. FREE event featuring Bach at Leipzig playwright Itamar Moses.

BACKSTAGE TOURS
Free. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek at the inner workings of SSC. Tours are offered every Saturday in August at 11 a.m. Reservations required. Call (831) 459-5810 to reserve your spot.

TALK-BACK WITH THE ACTORS
Directly after the performance. Free for performance ticket-holders.

• August 16 after 2 p.m. show: Bach at Leipzig
• August 17 after 2 p.m. show: Burn This
• August 21 after 2 p.m. show: Romeo and Juliet
• August 23 after 2 p.m. show: All's Well That Ends Well

COMMUNITY NIGHTS
Reduced pricing for Santa Cruz County residents, with proof of residency. $26 reserved / $24 general admission.

• August 7 @ 7:30 p.m.: Burn This
• August 13 @ 7:30 p.m.: Romeo and Juliet
• August 21 @ 7:30 p.m.: Bach at Leipzig
• August 26 @ 7:30 p.m.: All's Well That Ends Well

For more information, call the UCSC Ticket Office at (831) 459-2159.

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