March 24, 2025– SANTA CRUZ, CA—Santa Cruz Shakespeare (SCS), celebrating 12 years as a nationally recognized non-profit professional repertory theatre company with history in Santa Cruz County going back more than 40 years, today announced the launch of “ShakesEDU” its expanded education program. “ShakesEDU” will provide students aged 10-18 with a wide variety of opportunities to learn about theatre, playwriting, acting and improv. The program represents SCS’s commitment to community-building and investing in future fans of local theater productions.
“We’re really excited to help local youth move from the page to the stage by offering classes that will help them explore their relationship with theatre and themselves,” said Rebecca Haley Clark, director of education at Santa Cruz Shakespeare. Clark was first introduced to Shakespeare as a student at Gault Elementary and is excited to bring back the kind of programming that started her journey in theatre.
Continued Clark, “We are passionate about offering spaces for youth to discover their love of art, express themselves freely and gain experiential knowledge of the craft of theatre. This year we’ll be offering year-round opportunities – our spring classes and summer intensive are just the beginning.”
Beginning April 14, spring classes include:
Acting 1 (ages 10-13)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 15 through May 8 from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Acting 1 North takes place at Santa Cruz Vet’s Hall, 846 Front St in Santa Cruz. Acting 1 South takes place at Watsonville Center for the Arts, 875 Main St in Watsonville.
Acting 1 includes acting exercises, text study, vocal techniques and tools to gain comfort in front of an audience. This class culminates in a performance showcase.
Improv 1 (ages 10-13)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 15 through May 8 from 5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. at Santa Cruz Vet’s Hall, 846 Front Street in Santa Cruz
Improv 1 includes games and scenes focusing on communication, active listening, trust and character-building. Participants gain confidence performing and have fun in the process.
Poetry and Playwriting (ages 10-13)
Mondays and Wednesdays, April 14 through May 7 from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Poetry and Playwriting North takes place at Santa Cruz Vet’s Hall, 846 Front Street in Santa Cruz. Poetry and Playwriting South takes place at Pajaro Valley Arts (Porter Building), 37 Sudden St, Watsonville.
In Poetry and Playwriting, participants will study meter, form and dramatic structure and can create their own original work. The class culminates in a showcase of readings.
Bilingual Storytelling Intensive (ages 14-18)
Monday May 12 through Thursday May 15 from 5:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Vet’s Hall, 846 Front Street in Santa Cruz.
Inspired by Shakespeare’s tales, youth are invited to explore the tradition of storytelling in their own cultures and language. This intensive culminates in a bilingual showcase, where youth are invited to highlight their storytelling.
Enroll in classes here: https://santacruzshakespeare.org/classes/. Classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. Classes are $395, scholarships available. Additional classes will be offered in the Fall, September through November.
Santa Cruz Shakespeare Summer Intensive returns in July, with expanded offerings for youth.
Summer Shakespeare Intensive Level 1 (ages 10-13) and Level 2 (ages 14-18)
Monday July 7 through Friday, July 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a show on Sunday, July 13 at noon. Rehearsals at the Santa Cruz Vet’s Hall, 846 Front Street in Santa Cruz with the show at the Audrey Stanley Grove, 501 Upper Park Rd.
Students will learn from our professional summer company of award-winning artists in this weeklong intensive, which culminates in a performance on the Grove stage on Sunday, July 13. Includes free student admission to the professional matinee the same day. Master classes taught by professional actors, costumers, directors and more are taught in the morning. The summer intensive offers an opportunity to practice stage craft, perform live in an outdoor theater and promote self-expression.
Level 1 $625 and Level 2 is $725, scholarships available. Enroll in the summer intensive here: https://santacruzshakespeare.org/classes/.
About “ShakesEDU”
Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s “ShakesEDU” Education Program is dedicated to educating the community about Shakespeare and the art of theatre. The education program offers a variety of programs for learned of all ages, from touring productions, classes and in-school workshops to Book Clubs, professional development workshops and Weekend with Shakespeare. Learn more: https://santacruzshakespeare.org/educators/.
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.
