This collection contains photographic materials, programs, publicity records, documents, periodicals, newspaper clippings, and personal memorabilia of Thomas F. Bradac regarding his involvement with the Grove Shakespeare Festival and GEM Theatre (1979-1991), Shakespeare Orange County at Chapman University (1991-2003), Shakespeare Orange County in Garden Grove (2004-2013), and other theatrical pursuits.

Born in 1947, Thomas Bradac graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor and Master of Arts and he has been a theater professional for 50 years. Bradac founded the Grove Shakespeare Festival (GSF, the Grove) in 1979 and served as its artistic director until 1991. After producing 110 productions in thirteen seasons and directing 36 shows, Bradac stepped down as artistic director. Around this time, he became a theater professor at Chapman University. From 1991 to 2003, he established Shakespeare Orange County (SOC) at Chapman University as a summer-only program with professional staff and student employees.Timeline

1979 – Thomas Bradac founds the Grove Shakespeare Festival (GSF, the Grove)

1979 – The Grove launches the season at the GEM, a newly refurbished 172-seat proscenium theater, with a production of Romeo and Juliet

1980 – Anni Long and Ron Boussum perform as GSF's first Equity Guest Artists (Actors' Equity Association, AEA) for the GSF

1980 – The GEM premieres Ray Bradbury's short story as the play, The Cold Wind and the Warm

1981 – Garden Grove provides $440,000 from California Park Bond fees for a lighting system and stadium seating at the 540-seat outdoor amphitheater opened and referred to as the Festival Amphitheatre

1986 – GEM Theatre enters into a newly developed Small Professional Theatre (SPT) contract and the Festival Amphitheatre operates with a Letter of Agreement with the AEA

1986 – The GSF is recognized as Orange County's second AEA professional theater company

1988-1989 – The City of Garden Grove cuts public funding for the Festival

1990 – Special fundraising event features actress and Bradac's former student Kelly McGillis

1991 – Differences of philosophy regarding the expansion and management of the theater lead to Bradac's resignation at the Grove and founding of Shakespeare Orange County (SOC) at Chapman University's Waltmar Theatre

1991-1992 – Bradac becomes a theater professor at Chapman University

1992 – SOC launches as a summer theater with students working alongside professionals

1993 – Chapman University President, Dr. James Doti, provides $9,000 for students workers through the 2007 season

1993 – Bradac creates "A Shakespearean Christmas" fundraising event

1998 – Bradac returns as an actor in The Merry Wives of Windsor as Falstaff

2002 – Bradac adapts "Venus and Adonis" for the stage and a copy of the script adaptation is housed in the performance collection at the Shakespeare Internet Editions, University of Victoria, British Columbia

2004 – SOC moves from Chapman University and returns to the Festival Amphitheatre

2005 – Arts Orange County recognizes SOC as an "Outstanding Arts Organization" at a ceremony in Newport Beach

2005-2007 – Bradac organizes the "Shakespeare for a New Generation" program for students in the Garden Grove Unified School District

2008 – One More Productions, the organization managing the GEM Theatre, completes a $150,000 building restoration and renovation to make it ADA compliant with a new state-of-the-art sound system, lighting system, stage, curtains, and theater seats

2012 – SOC travels to Prague, Czech Republic to perform Venus and Adonis with Prague Shakespeare Company at the Prague Fringe Festival

2013 – Bradac retires as producing artistic director and announces actor John Walcutt as his successor

2017 – LFA business group receives a 10-year ownership of Garden Grove's Festival Amphitheatre, renovates the venue and rebrands it as a concert venue called Garden Amp

2019 – SOC produces a summer program at Santa Ana College after ending its partnership with the Festival Amphitheater

February 2020 – Producing artistic director John Walcutt announces the end of Shakespeare Orange County and promotes supporting the New Swan Shakespeare Festival at University of California, Irvine

2023 - Bradac retires from Chapman University as Professor Emeritus

5.3 Linear Feet 11 containers total (9 document boxes, 2 custom boxes), and 1 oversized folder

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.

This collection is open for research.