December 17, 2025
Ties That Bind; A yuletide tale with holiday zest
...there’s no denying the generous spirit that brings [Santa Cruz Shakespeare's Artistic Director Charles] Pasternak, his co-director Alicia Gibson and his cast of all-stars down from DeLaveaga Park to strut their stuff among us, at a time of year when we need exactly this sort of sweet stagecraft.
tickets for A Christmas Carol are on sale now »
December 13, 2025
This Bay Area production of A Christmas Carol emphasizes the actual carols
[Santa Cruz Shakespeare's] "A Christmas Carol" is once again packed with more than a dozen Christmas carols sung throughout, about half of which are new this year. While the biggest draws for the holiday show might be local favorite actor Mike Ryan as Scrooge and an elegant stage adaptation of the story from SCS Artistic Director Charles Pasternak that’s remarkably faithful to Dickens’ text, those who saw its debut last year can attest that another big part of its charm is its attention to the music.
tickets for A Christmas Carol are on sale now »
December 3, 2025
Santa Cruz Shakespeare regales with spirited production of 'A Christmas Carol'
Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s production of this holiday classic is expertly crafted to illuminate the greatest hope for humanity — our capacity for redemption.
tickets for A Christmas Carol are on sale now »
November 26, 2025
‘A Christmas Carol’ highlights a busy holiday season in Santa Cruz County
According to Santa Cruz Shakespeare Artistic Director Charles Pasternak, audiences can expect much of the same traditional spirit and vibe as last year’s show, and bringing in director Alicia Gibson allows him to open the production to other artistic visions. SCS plans to stage the play every December going forward.
tickets for A Christmas Carol are on sale now »
September 12, 2025
In Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s brilliant ‘Master Harold,’ superb performances deliver devastating truths
"With Rebecca Haley Clark's clear direction, the stellar performances of [Corey] Jones, [Nick] Rossi and [Elliot] Sagay, it is nothing short of magnificent. One of the best moments of theater in recent memory. Don't miss it before it closes on Sept. 20."
September 10, 2025
Santa Cruz Shakespeare presents masterful ‘“Master Harold” … and the Boys’
"The exceptional cast has transformed a brilliant script into a transcendental theatrical experience... this play has risen to the top of my list of all-time great productions. Theater doesn’t get better than this."
September 10, 2025
Prejudice…and Pride; Masterful acting probes an unsettling classic
"It takes skill, courage and psychological insight to forge an organic theater piece using only three players and a controversial script. Yet that’s exactly what Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s Rebecca Haley Clark has done with Athol Fugard’s “Master Harold”…and the Boys. Emotional intensity ripples through each line, each exchange, each gesture of this disarming production."
August 26, 2025
Santa Cruz Shakespeare set to expand again, with six full productions slated for 2026
"While the rest of the theater world seems to be dramatically contracting, Santa Cruz Shakespeare — somehow, in some way — is dramatically expanding. On Monday, Santa Cruz’s premier theater company announced plans for the 2026 season, even as the 2025 season is still unfolding."
August 22, 2025
Pirates, brothels and ... the Bard? One of Shakespeare's least-known plays gets rediscovered in Santa Cruz
"Santa Cruz Shakespeare makes 'Pericles' a labor of love—and critics are loving it, too... The production has been getting rave reviews, and [director Charles] Pasternak first and foremost hopes audiences will be entertained. But there’s a bigger picture he wants it to fit into, as well."
August 6, 2025
It’s time for a trip south — Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s ‘Pericles’ is that good
"If this is the kind of work we can expect from [director Charles] Pasternak, who became the company’s artistic director in 2023, Santa Cruz Shakespeare is all the more worthy a destination for Bay Area theatergoers." PDF available »
August 6, 2025
Santa Cruz Shakespeare shines with powerful production of ‘Pericles’
Beautifully designed and expertly acted, this production of “Pericles” is mind-expanding and mood-altering. It is not to be missed.
August 6, 2025
Photos | The Bard backstage at Santa Cruz Shakespeare
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