Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Globally-recognized, award-winning professional theatre productions in beautiful Santa Cruz, California.
THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!
Tickets for the 2026 Festival Season will be available to the public on May 1.
Premium seats go quickly, so get yours a.s.a.p.!
2026 PRODUCTIONS
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
THE FESTIVAL SEASON
The annual Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festival
with five productions on stage in repertory
Location: The Grove @ DeLaveaga Park
Dates: July 11 through October 4, 2026
THE REVELS
ENTERTAINMENT SERIES
Monday Night Revels and Community Revels
One-night-only national and local superstars
Location: The Grove @ DeLaveaga Park
Dates: July 20 through September 29, 2026
A SANTA CRUZ HOLIDAY TRADITION RETURNS
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens returns with new music and holiday warmth
Location: Veterans Memorial Building
Dates: December 3 through December 24, 2026
There’s so much to do and see at the Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park! Check out these special events at the theatre, and opportunities to elevate your day at Santa Cruz Shakespeare.
Family Days
July 29 + August 5 - Gates open at 10AM and the shows begin at noon. Kids age 12 and under are free with a paid adult ticket!
Backstage Tours
Thursdays, August 6, 13, and 20. Join us for backstage and behind-the-scenes tours led by senior SCS team members.
Whiskey Tasting
July 17 + August 27 - Join SCS Board Members in our new secret speakeasy for drams of select Highland, Speyside, and Islay whiskies,.
Pre-show Dramaturgy
6:00 p.m. in the Beer Garden August 5 – Much Ado About Nothing August 12 – Fences August 19 – Macbeth September 17 – Private Lives September 24 – The Last Five Years
Post-show Talkbacks
Stick around after the following matinee performances: August 8 – Fences August 15 – Macbeth August 22 – Much Ado About Nothing September 19 – The Last Five Years September 26 – Private Lives
Friday Night Wine Tastings
Meet our amazing local wine partners! On Friday Nights we celebrate our partnerships with amazing local wineries and offer tastings before each show.
Our Festival home — The Beautiful Audrey Stanley Grove @ DeLaveaga Park
The Santa Cruz Shakespeare Theatre in the Audrey Stanley Grove at DeLaveaga Park in Santa Cruz is a 490+ seat outdoor amphitheater. For matinee performances, a large shade is deployed, protecting a majority of the seating. Evening performances are held under the gorgeous skies of Santa Cruz, California. Be prepared for warm days and cool nights. Arrive early to enjoy our picnic area overlooking the town all the way down to the shore, or sit in the beer garden with delicious treats from Line 38, Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s food and drink experience, offering an elevated menu using fresh local ingredients.
The theatre at the Audrey Stanley Grove opens 2 hours before evening performances and 1 hour before matinees.
Santa Cruz Shakespeare is passionately dedicated to educating our community about Shakespeare and the art of theatre. We offer a variety of programs for learners of all ages, plus Shakes on the Move touring productions that travel throughout the Bay Area, bringing professional theatre to schools, community centers, elder care facilities, and more.
Summer Camp I
Courageous Creatives
June 22-26 — performance: June 27
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
with optional extended care
Summer Camp II
Much Ado About Nothing
July 6-10 — performance: July 11
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
with optional extended care
Summer Camp III
Greek Classics
July 13-17 — performance: July 19
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
with optional extended care
Shakes on the Move
The Fall 2026 touring program includes workshops of The Tempest, and Macbeth. Bring SCS to your school, recreation center, or retirement home!
Student Matinees
Teachers! Bring your students to the SCS theater!
SMATs are available for Macbeth, Fences, and Much Ado About Nothing.
Weekend with Shakespeare
August 7 - 8, 2026
A partnership between Santa Cruz Shakespeare, UCSC’s Shakespeare Workshop and UCSC's Humanities Institute.
DINING AT THE GROVE
Line 38 is Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s food and drink experience at the Grove, offering a variety of tasty bites and classic favorites plus your local wines, beers and refreshing specialty cocktails. Line 38 opens 2 hours before evening performances and 1 hour before matinees.
New for 2026: Gourmet Picnic Baskets!
Beautifully packaged and perfect for sharing, each basket features exceptional, gourmet, indulgent foods selected for flavor and quality and a bottle of one of Santa Cruz’s best wines.
Baskets can be altered for vegetarian and non-alcoholic preferences.
Baskets are available at Line 38 before every performance, while supplies last.
