Free Shakespeare in the Park

The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival
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Michael Craig Storm and Emily Jordan return to Free Shakespeare in the Park as Pericles and Thaisa.
Audiences who saw the 2007 Free Shakespeare in the Park production of A Midsummer Night's Dream may remember them in the roles of Oberon and Titania.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Shakespeare in the Park: Gary martinez as Bottom
Gary S. Martinez as Bottom in Free Shakespeare in the Park's 2007 production of
A Midsummer Night's Dream


Mayor Proclaims 'Shakespeare in the Park Day'

A Midsummer Night's Dream video clip
PAST REVIEWS:

A Midsummer
Night's Dream

(Summer 2007)

"This funny, appealing production casts quite
a spell."

- Pam Grady,
San Francisco Chronicle

"It's an evening of rollicking fun for the whole family."
-Sue Steinberg,
The Indepenedent


"A perfectly over-the-top version of 'Pyramus and Thisbe' that will leave your belly aching
from laughter."

- Denise Battista,
PlayShakespeare.com

"Martinez as Bottom
flat-out steals the
show with his rich characterization."

- Pat Craig,
Contra Costa Times

The Tempest
(Summer 2006)

"Anchored by the mercurial Motyka and Julian Lòpez-Morillas' solid, densely textured Prospero, "The Tempest" is the festival's strongest offering in years."
- Robert Hurwitt,
Chronicle Theater Critic


"A superb professional cast that understands how to deliver Elizabethan English as familiar speech."

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- Susan Steinberg,
The Independent

"An enchanting production for an afternoon in the park."
- Jaime Robles,
The Piedmont Post


Much Ado About Nothing
(Summer 2005)

" 'Much Ado About Nothing' provides enough raucous laughter to warm any chilly summer evening."
-Pat Craig,
Contra Costa Times

"All of the actors did an outstanding job."
-Jerri Long,
The Pleasanton Weekly

 

Bring family and friends to enjoy Shakespeare's grand tale
of heroic adventure!

 

Forced to flee for his life as a young man, Prince Pericles embarks on an epic journey that leads him from a tragic shipwreck to a joyful marriage and from the loss of his beloved daughter to a surprising reunion.

Along the way he encounters many memorable characters, from clownish fishermen to dancing suitors to roguish pirates!

Ultimately good triumphs over evil, jealousy and vice are punished, and faithfulness and virtue are rewarded.

 

Although a runaway hit in the Bard's time, Pericles is now rarely produced. Come join us and celebrate the 400 year anniversary of this captivating story! It's hard to imagine a better place to see it than outdoors in the Bay Area's most beautiful parks.

Resident Director Kenneth Kelleher sets the production in frontier America of the mid-1800's, where a good tall tale was always appreciated. The cast of 11 actors play numerous roles and live music throughout the show, featuring spirited folk, country, and bluegrass tunes.

Mr. Kelleher celebrates his 6th year with the Festival this season. His arresting visual style and use of music and dance brought rave reviews for our 2007 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream as well as our 2006 production of The Tempest.


 

Pleasanton's Amador Valley
Community Park
(Santa Rita Rd & Black Ave)

2008 Show Schedule:

  • Saturday, June 28 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, June 29 at 7:30 pm
  • Saturday, July 5 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, July 6 at 7:30 pm
  • Saturday, July 12 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, July 13 at 7:30 pm

    Map and directions to the Pleasanton shows
    Current weather in Pleasanton
  •  

    Cupertino's Memorial Park Amphitheater
    (Stevens Creek Blvd & Mary Ave,
    across from De Anza College)

    2008 Show Schedule:

  • Saturday, July 19 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, July 20 at 7:30 pm
  • Friday, July 25 at 7:30 pm
  • Saturday, July 26 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, July 27 at 7:30 pm
  • Friday, August 1 at 7:30 pm
  • Saturday, August 2 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, August 3 at 7:30 pm

    Map and directions to the Cupertino shows
    Current weather in Cupertino

  • San Mateo's
    Central Park
    (5th Ave & El Camino Real)

    2008 Show Schedule:

  • Saturday, August 9 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, August 10 ata 5:00 pm
  • Saturday, August 16 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, August 17 at 5:00 pm
  • Saturday, August 23 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, August 24 at 5:00 pm

    Map and directions to the San Mateo shows
    Current weather in San Mateo
  •  


    The Presidio's Main Post
    Parade Ground Lawn

    (between Graham St & Keyes Ave, near the Officer's Club & Visitor's Center)

    2008 Show Schedule:

  • Saturday, August 30 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, August 31 at 2:30 pm
  • Monday, Sept 1 (Labor Day) at 2:30 pm
  • Saturday, Sept 6, 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, Sept 7, 2:30 pm
  • Saturday, Sept 13 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, Sept 14 at 2:30 pm
  • Saturday, Sept 20 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday, Sept 21 at 2:30 pm

    Map and directions to the San Francisco shows
    Current weather in San Francisco
  •   A Bay Area tradition since 1983!

    Scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream (Free Shakespeare in the Park 2007)

    About Free Shakespeare in the Park

    Free Shakespeare in the Park began in 1983, with its debut production of The Tempest in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. (List of our production history.) It is now one of the major free Shakespeare programs in the nation. Produced every year in San Francisco, Oakland, Pleasanton, Cupertino, and San Mateo from July through September, Free Shakespeare in the Park provides an opportunity for everyone to see high quality, professional theater free of charge. If you've never joined us for one of our shows, we have some tips you might find helpful!

    2007 Sponsors of Free Shakespeare in the Park:


    Oakland logo
    Pleasanton logo
    Cupertino logo

    The City of Oakland
    www.oaklandnet.com

    The City of Pleasanton
    www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/
    pleasanton.html

    The City of Cupertino
    www.cupertino.org


    San Mateo logo
    DSMA logo
    PCF logo
     

    The City of San Mateo
    www.cityfsanmateo.org

    Downtown San Mateo Assoc.
    www.downtownsma.org

    Peninsula Community Fdn.
    www.pcf.org


    SF Fndn logo
    D&L Packard Fdn logo
    Applied Materials logo
     

    The San Francisco
    Foundation
    www.sff.org

    The David and Lucile
    Packard Foundation
    www.packard.org

    Applied
    Materials
    www.appliedmaterials.com



    GFTA logo
    Arts Council Silicon Valley logo
     

    San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund
    www.sfgfta.org

    Arts Council Silicon Valley
    http://www.artscouncil.org/

     


    Major Goods and Services Provided by:

    Mobile Modular logo
    BBI logo
     

    Mobile Modular
    www.mobilemodular.com

    BBI Engineering, Inc.
    www.BBInet.com



     
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