Tickets On Sale June 1st for “RII” & “The Agitators,” Available In-Person at Audrey Stanley Grove or Streaming Online
Santa Cruz Shakespeare (SCS), an inspired, professional theater company in Santa Cruz County with deep local roots that go back more than 40 years, will return to live outdoor performances at Audrey Stanley Grove (The Grove) in DeLaveaga Park for the Summer 2021 season, which runs July 20- August 29, 2021. Tickets are available starting June 1, with members receiving early access to tickets, ticket discounts and preferred seating options. Due to limited capacity at the venue, people are encouraged to purchase tickets early.
“We are thrilled to bring Shakespeare and other critically acclaimed contemporary productions back to The Grove at DeLaveaga Park this summer,” said Managing Director Larry Mabrey. “We’ve used the time since last summer’s canceled season to plan some of the most modern and culturally relevant productions of our times, bringing the community together in an intimate setting for reflection on the parallels of recent societal events and encourage deeper conversations for all ages.”
For the 2021 season, SCS continues its passion of being inclusive, inquisitive and meeting the moment by choosing two relevant productions this season:
“RII” by Jessica Kubzansky
The story that sets England’s Wars of the Roses in motion, Jessica Kubzansky’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Richard II tells the story of that king’s ill-fated reign using just three actors. What is our responsibility when a bad leader rightfully occupies the throne? This exploration of divine right, capricious leadership and bloody insurrection is packed with contemporary political relevance. A critic’s choice pick when it premiered at the Boston Court theatre in Los Angeles, Charles McNulty, critic for the LA Times, called the play a “feat of ingenious stagecraft.”
“The Agitators” by Mat Smart
This play tells the story of Fredrick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony. Over the 45 volatile years they knew one another, they were friends, allies and adversaries. Their hopes and dreams for equality brought them to common ground and political battlefields. As agitators, they were not content to let either our nation or each other rest in complacency, and their respective fights for racial justice and gender equity continue to this day.
All performances will be approximately two hours long and will include a 15-minute intermission.
Venue, Streaming and Ticket Information
Santa Cruz Shakespeare performances take place in The Audrey Stanley Grove (The Grove) at Upper DeLaveaga Park in Santa Cruz.
With a “safety first” mantra, Santa Cruz Shakespeare has implemented numerous COVID safety protocols for its 2021 Season, including a revised seating layout that ensures adequate space and comfort for patrons.
For guests who prefer to view SCS’s 2021 Season from the comfort of their home, Santa Cruz Shakespeare will offer digitally streamed performance tickets of its productions in August.
Tickets for the 2021 Summer Season can be purchased at santacruzshakespeare.org/season-2021 or by calling the Box Office at (831) 460-6399.
About Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Featuring professional actors from around the country and inspired by deep local roots that go back more than 40 years, Santa Cruz Shakespeare stages bold productions of the plays of Shakespeare and other great playwrights that stimulate audiences’ senses and spark their imagination. For more information about SCS, visit santacruzshakespeare.org, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.