Stacy Ross

We are pleased to welcome the inimitable Stacy Ross to the ranks of our Associate Artist company. Ross, who made her Cal Shakes debut performing in all four shows of our 1992 season (as Nerissa in The Merchant of Venice, First Witch in Macbeth, Juno in The Tempest, and Julia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona), has been seen most recently on our stage as a series of brassy (and often bloodthirsty) babes in Titus Andronicus (2011), Mrs. Warren’s Profession (2010), Macbeth (2010), and An Ideal Husband (2008).

Hearty congrats also go to playwright Octavio Solis (John Steinbeck’s The Pastures of Heaven), who this month was awarded a prestigious United States Artists Fellowship. The USA Fellows—50 in all—each receive $50,000 toward project development and related expenses. Up next for Solis is his final South Coast Repertory workshop for Cloudlands, a musical collaboration with Adam Gwon, directed by Amanda Dehnert (The Verona Project); performances begin May 1. Solis is also working on commissions for the Magic Theatre and for Yale Rep.

L. Peter Callender and Joan Mankin are currently wowing audiences in The Soldier’s Tale at Aurora Theatre; if you’d like to catch it, you need to hurry, as it closes December 18. Callender goes straight into rehearsals for Frankie and Johnnie in the Clair de Lune (Jan 20–Feb 5) at Diablo Actors Ensemble, followed in the Spring by Xtigone (April 20–May 13) at African-American Shakespeare Company in San Francisco, where he is also Artistic Director. In February, Mankin will perform at the Ashby Stage in an original piece by Joan Holden called Counter-Attack, based on the interviews with diner waitresses found in the book Counter Culture.

Nancy Carlin’s production of Trevor Allen’s Working for the Mouse ends at EXIT Theatre Dec 17. Next she’ll direct Arms and the Man at Center Rep (Jan 27–Feb 25). James Carpenter is playing Scrooge in American Conservatory Theater’s  A Christmas Carol—for the sixth year in a row—through December 24, once again under the direction of fellow Associate Artist Domenique Lozano.

Susannah Schulman and Danny Scheie in the Berkeley Rep production of YOU, NERO; photo by Kevin Berne.

Speaking of A.C.T., Janet Foster has joined their Artistic Associate Company, as well, and is their new Casting Director, to boot. She’s currently casting Scorched, the West Coast premiere of Maple & Vine, and the award-winning Higher.

Dan Hiatt will be playing Jacob Marley and many others in a very musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol adapted and directed by Rick Lombardo and running through Christmas Eve at San Jose Rep.  Jan 17–Feb 12 he’ll play Harry Wilson in The Pitmen Painters by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) at TheatreWorks, directed by Leslie Martinson and also featuring James Carpenter and Cal Shakes regular Nicholas Pelczar.

Danny Scheie and Susannah Schulman are performing together in Amy Freed’s You, Nero at Arena Stage through January 1, reprising the roles they originated at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2009.  And upcoming projects for lighting designer Scott Zielinski in 2012 are Cat On A Hot Tin Roof for the Guthrie Theater, Good Goods at Yale Repertory Theater, An Iliad at New York Theater Workshop, Miss Fortune at Royal Opera House (London) and Abigail’s Party for the National Theater of Norway (Oslo).

December 2, 2011

Cal Shakes builds community. Our work—whether onstage, in classrooms, or in community settings—helps people of all ages discover and develop vital imaginative tools that improve lives and strengthen our society.

By giving to Cal Shakes this year, you will directly impact individuals  and communities, many of whom desperately need creative resources to survive, let alone thrive. You make a difference when you invest in Cal Shakes. You became a fundamental partner in our distinctive service: Fostering a vital culture of creativity that makes the Bay Area the most innovative, inclusive, and interesting super-neighborhood in our country.

Cal Shakes needs a major influx of donations in order to successfully meet our financial goals this year, and to ensure that we’re in the strongest position to meet the challenge of fulfilling our mission in 2012.

As government funding for the arts and arts education continues to decrease, many people are less and less able to access the creative tools and experiences that connect us as people and help our communities thrive. That’s where Cal Shakes comes in. And that is why I need your help, as our partner, to sustain and expand the work we do: building community through theater.

With your support for our Annual Fund, we can:

• Respond to the ever-growing demand for Cal Shakes arts education programs, and serve more Bay Area students.
• Ensure that future generations of artists and theatergoers—including your children and grandchildren—will be able to experience the beauty and power of Shakespeare and the classics.
• Create new outlets for marginalized voices, as Cal Shakes makes new American plays in collaboration with members of disparate Bay Area populations.

Your support makes the work of this Theater—your Theater—possible, and impacts thousands of people, many of whom would not have access to the arts or arts education without you.

Your investment in our work is an investment in building our community. Please make a 2011 contribution today.

Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely,

 
Jonathan Moscone
Artistic Director

P.S. Click here to make your gift online; or to speak with someone personally, contact Donor Relations Coordinator Ian Larue at 510.548.3422 x107. Gifts can be made in installments.

P.P.S. By giving $100 or more in a 12-month period, you become eligible for benefits as a Cal Shakes Champion. If you’re already a Champion, increasing your gift may make you eligible for additional benefits.

Photo by Kevin Berne.

The enthusiastic reviews have begun to roll in for The Taming of the Shrew, the final production of our 2011 season.

“Without hesitation,” writes Lauren Gunderson in the Huffington Post,  ”I can say that Cal Shakes’ production of Shrew (running now through Oct 16) is a lovely, funny, smartly directed production performed with muscle and wit.” In the San Francisco Chronicle, Robert Hurwitt calls Shana Cooper’s production “a richly inventive, funny and at times provocative Shrew.” On his Theater Dogs blog, Chad Jones asserts that leads Erica Sullivan (Kate) and Slate Holmgren (Petruchio) “have red-hot chemistry from the very first, and they’re so good together you really do want them together.” And Cindy Warner writes on Examiner.com that “Shana Cooper’s shrewd direction of Taming of the Shrew at Cal Shakes brings inspiration, enlightenment, over-the-top joy and abandon… you want to see the show again before you even leave the theater.”

“[The] marriage of witty and warm shines throughout this production,” writes Karen D’Souza in the San Jose Mercury-News, who calls it ”a flashy season closer.” On CultureVulture.net, Suzanne Weiss wrote that “Shana Cooper’s exuberant production of the classic comedy… is as funny as they come; fast moving; a thoroughly enjoyable night of theater.” SFist.com raves that “Cooper’s direction shines through for its cleverness, comic timing, and a desire to make of this play an edgy romantic comedy.” And in the Contra Costa Times, Sally Hogarty declares that ““Cal Shakes’ Shrew no tame adaptation.”

More reviews to come, so watch this space! The Taming of the Shrew runs through Sunday, October 16 at the Bruns Amphitheater. Get your tickets now, before it sells out!

Author and historian Philippa Gregory

We are delighted to announce that our friends at Rakestraw Books will present “An Evening with Philippa Gregory,” a special literary event to benefit both California Shakespeare Theater and Wardrobe for Opportunity.

The evening’s guest of honor, historian and bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory, will be talking about her new books: a novel, The Lady of the Rivers, and a work of nonfiction, The Women of the Cousins’ War. Gregory will also take questions from the audience and sign books for attendees. The evening’s festivities will include a special display of “costumes” lent by both Cal Shakes and Wardrobe, titled “Dressing for Success!”

WHEN: Wednesday, October 26, 7pm

WHERE: Diablo Country Club, 1700 Clubhouse Rd, Diablo

TICKETS: $40 each, including a copy of either The Lady of the Rivers or The Women of the Cousins’ War. To purchase tickets, please call Rakestraw Books at 925.837.7337.

MORE INFO: Click here.

A loyal Cal Shakes supporter recently came to us with a challenge: She told us that if we can attract 250 new donors this season, she will donate an additional $10,000 to Cal Shakes!