We’re proud to announce that we have deepened our commitment to environmental sustainability by becoming one of largest solar-powered outdoor professional theaters in the country.

“Our decision to go solar was more than just economically motivated,” commented Cal Shakes Managing Director Susie Falk. “With our home sitting on a protected watershed, environmental stewardship is in Cal Shakes’ nature. Our recent renovations at the Bruns created native plant habitats, a living roof, bioswales, and other sustainable features. We are also committed to responsible scenic design and building practices that reuse and recycle materials. The addition of solar power was therefore a natural but nonetheless tremendously exciting step in our environmental evolution.”

The Turn Key 37.4 kilowatt DC solar electric system was designed by CC Energy of San Rafael, CA and installed by Pacific Solar Energy of Pleasanton, CA with cooperation from East Bay Municipal Utitilies District (EBMUD). The 144 260-watt panels and four 9000-watt inverters are designed to supply up to 98% of the power needs to the recently-renovated Bruns Amphitheater.

So the next time you’re up at the Bruns, remember that the sun isn’t just making the grass grow on the living roof and hills—it’s powering the sound board and warming the hot chocolate, too.

We are pleased to announce announced that we are one of 42 nonprofit, professional theater companies that will receive a grant of $25,000 to participate in Shakespeare for a New Generation from August 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.  The National Endowment for the Arts, in cooperation with Arts Midwest, presents Shakespeare for a New Generation, bringing the finest productions of Shakespeare to middle- and high-school students in communities across the United States. This is the tenth year of the program, the largest tour of Shakespeare in American history.

“This is the seventh year in a row we have been recipients of a Shakespeare for a New Generation grant, and we are absolutely thrilled,” says Cal Shakes Managing Director Susie Falk. “This grant provides crucial funding for our Student Discovery program, which introduces thousands of low-income students to Shakespeare each year, both in classrooms and at live performances at our Theater. For many of these students, it is their most significant arts experience in the school year. We are grateful for the continued support from the NEA and Arts Midwest, and honored to have the value and impact of our Student Discovery program recognized in this way.”

We will present Student Discovery matinee productions of Hamlet, directed by Liesl Tommy, attracting at least 3,270 middle and high school students from 46 Bay Area schools. Accompanying pre- and post-performance workshops and residencies will serve up to 500 of those students, primarily from low-income communities. Our annual fall Educator’s Night will combine complimentary tickets to a performance with a two-hour professional development workshop for teachers.

To date, more than 94 of the nation’s theater companies have taken part in the NEA’s Shakespeare program since its inception and participating theater companies have presented 30 of Shakespeare’s works through 7,000 performances and 17,000 educational activities at more than 5,500 schools in 2,800 communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

For more information about Cal Shakes’ education programs, visit calshakes.org/education or contact Director of Artistic Learning Trish Tillman at ttillman@calshakes.org or 510.548.3422 x113. For more information about our 2012 season, contact Marilyn Langbehn, Marketing and PR Manager, at mlangbehn@calshakes.org or 510.809.3290; or visit calshakes.org.

New Cal Shakes Board President Paul L. "Buddy" Warner

California Shakespeare Theater today announced the election of San Francisco attorney Paul “Buddy” L. Warner as President of the Board of Directors. Mr. Warner, who joined the board in 2010, replaces outgoing president David Goldsmith, who served five one-year terms.

“My goal is to build on the important work done by David and his predecessors which has assisted our professional staff in making Cal Shakes a nationally recognized theater company,” said Mr. Warner. “Cal Shakes will continue to present the highest quality performances of both Shakespeare and the classics. We will also continue and expand our Artistic Learning program which provides a valuable theater learning experience to many underserved communities in the Bay Area”

Mr. Warner is a partner with Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP, with a practice specializing in commercial litigation and trials. He is the author of numerous articles on civil procedure, class actions, arbitration, and legal ethics and tactics, and was named one of the Top Attorneys in Business Litigation by Super Lawyers 2004-2011. Mr. Warner lives in Berkeley, and also sits on the board of Tehiyah Day School. He and his wife Jodi are long-time Cal Shakes supporters who, according to Mr. Warner, “have not missed a production since Cal Shakes moved to Orinda in 1991.”

“I am so grateful for the steady and sure guidance that outgoing President David Goldsmith provided over the past few years — a period of national economic turbulence,” commented Managing Director Susie Falk. “Cal Shakes has emerged with a renovated home, and greater organizational and financial stability, We are now poised for our next chapter of growth, and I am thrilled that Buddy will be at the helm with his significant board experience, professional expertise, and irrepressible enthusiasm for the organization. I know our board is in excellent hands.”

The 2012 slate of officers and their cities of residence are as follows:

• President: Buddy Warner, partner with Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (Berkeley)
• Vice-President: Kate Stechschulte, architect (Berkeley)
• Vice-President: Alan E. Schnur, Ph.D., founding partner of Schnur Consulting Group (Orinda)
• Vice-President (ex-officio): Jonathan Moscone, Artistic Director (Oakland)
• Vice-President (ex-officio): Susie Falk, Managing Director (Berkeley)
• Secretary: Jean Simpson, retired educator and civic worker (Piedmont)
• Treasurer: Jay Yamada, civic leader (San Lorenzo)
• Immediate Past President: David Goldsmith, business consultant/health care management, (Orinda)

Newly-elected members of the Cal Shakes’ Board include:

• Ellen Dale is a long-time civic leader whose passion for the arts was instrumental in the creation of Cal Shakes’ permanent home at the Bruns Amphitheater in 1991, and most recently in the 2010 capital campaign to renovate the site. A native San Franciscan, Ms. Dale graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Psychology. She and Joffa, her husband of 45 years, have lived in Orinda since 2000 in a home designed by their daughter. Prior to 2000, they lived in Moraga for 28 years where they raised their three children.

• Erin Jaeb is a commercial photographer with a background in fashion, beauty and architecture, and a current emphasis on fine art photography. She serves as artistic director for the marketing materials of her family-owned business, Emerald Packaging, Inc., one of the largest produce packaging suppliers in the United States. Ms. Jaeb, her husband, and their three children make their home in Oakland, CA. 
• Marshall Kido holds a B.A. in journalism from San Francisco State University, has worked in the banking industry in California since 1977, first with Home Savings of America, followed by eight years as Area Sales Manager for Citibank. He currently serves as the Division Segment Manager at City National Bank in Walnut Creek.

Additional members of the Board are:

• Terry Bush, Director, Q Builders (Walnut Creek)
• Michael Cedars, M.D., Plastic Surgeon, Alta Bates-Summit Medical Center (Orinda)
• Phil Chernin, Certified Public Accountant (Lafayette)
• Joshua Cohen, Attorney, Wendel Rosen Black & Dean LLP (Walnut Creek)
• Ed Del Beccaro, Managing Director, Grub and Ellis (Danville)
• Joseph DiPrisco, Ph.D., author/educator (Berkeley)
• Sonetta Hanson, yoga instructor and clothing designer (Orinda)
• Tony Kallingal, Vice President/Region Manager, Mechanics Bank (San Ramon)
• David Lawrence, retired, Private Client Services Manager, City National Bank (San Ramon)
• Richard E. Norris, Partner, Archer Norris (Walnut Creek)
• James Roethe, Arbitrator/Mediator, J. Roethe ADR Services; former General Counsel of Bank of America, and partner Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman (Orinda)
• Michael Ross, Adjunct Professor, University of California and University of Virginia Schools of Law (Orinda)
• Michelle Runyon, Vice President, Wealth Advisor, Wells Fargo Private Bank (Orinda)
• John Ruskin, Vice President, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. (Lafayette)
• Sharon Simpson, civic leader (Orinda)
• Frank Starn, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Pharmaceutical, McKesson Corporation (Lafayette)

California Shakespeare Theater (Cal Shakes) today announced that it is one of 36 nonprofit, professional theater companies that will receive a grant of $25,000 to participate in Shakespeare for a New Generation from June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012.  The National Endowment for the Arts, in cooperation with Arts Midwest, presents Shakespeare for a New Generation, bringing the finest productions of Shakespeare to middle- and high-school students in communities across the United States. This is the ninth year of the program, the largest tour of Shakespeare in American history.

“We are thrilled and grateful to have been chosen as recipients of this grant for the sixth year in a row,” says Cal Shakes Managing Director Susie Falk. “The NEA’s financial support is in and of itself extremely important to us, as it makes a substantial difference in our ability to bring Shakespeare to thousands of low-income students each year; but we also feel very heartened by the NEA’s repeated support, which we see as an endorsement of the value and impact of our program on children.”

Cal Shakes will present Student Discovery matinee productions of The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Shana Cooper, attracting at least 2,000 middle and high school students from 40 Bay Area schools. Accompanying pre- and post-performance workshops and residencies will serve up to 500 of those students, primarily from low-income communities. Cal Shakes’ annual fall Educator’s Night will combine complimentary tickets to a performance with a two-hour professional development workshop for teachers.

To date, more than 80 of the nation’s theater companies have taken part in the NEA’s Shakespeare program since its inception and participating theater companies have presented performances at 5,500 schools in 2,600 communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Click here for more information about Cal Shakes’ education programs.

For more information about Cal Shakes’ 2011 season, click here.