Description
This collection documents the history of the professional theatre repertory company,
Shakespeare Santa Cruz, which was established on the UC Santa Cruz campus in 1981 and ended
in 2013. The collection contains production files for nearly every show produced by the
organization, including the summer festival shows, the holiday shows, and the "Shakespeare
to Go" educational outreach performances at local schools. Administrative files include
planning and financial documentation, correspondence, and reports from the Managing Director
and the Board of Directors, as well as key historical documents from the early
administration of the organization. Publicity clippings, grant applications, fundraising,
and marketing materials document the non-profit organization's significant focus on
fundraising. The organization's commitment to community engagement is shown in the Education
& Outreach series, which includes curriculum planning documents, scripts, and
photographs from the Shakespeare to Go program, as well as materials from various other
outreach events. The Media series contains audiovisual materials and digital files. The
audiovisual materials include production recordings, some soundtracks, and some audio cues
used in performances and rehearsals; production videos; and recordings of interviews with
Shakespeare Santa Cruz staff and company. Digital files include photographs of productions
and staff, stage manangement files, and some administrative and marketing files.
Background
Shakespeare Santa Cruz (SSC) was a professional repertory theater company based in and
supported by UC Santa Cruz (UCSC). The non-profit theater company produced an annual summer
festival that was started by Audrey Stanley and Karen Sinsheimer in 1981 and ran until 2013.
SSC was known for serving the local Santa Cruz community, from incorporating local child
actors into productions to its noted "Shakespeare to Go" high school outreach program. Each
production was staged on the campus of UCSC, often in the wooded Audrey Stanley and Karen
Sinsheimer Festival Glen, which Artistic Director Paul Whitworth described as "an eccentric
fusion of Shakespeare's Globe, Chartres Cathedral, and Middle Earth." Yet, the company
maintained a larger national and global reach by including Actors Equity Association actors
and by fostering a longstanding relationship with performers from the Royal Shakespeare
Company (RSC). Like RSC, Shakespeare Santa Cruz committed itself to studying the theory and
practice of contemporary Shakespeare performance, inviting scholars into the production
process and providing UCSC students with a window into the acting profession. In 2013, after
UCSC was no longer able to provide financial support to the company, Shakespeare Santa Cruz
disbanded. In 2014, Santa Cruz Shakespeare was formed as an independent non-profit
organization that continues the tradition of summer theater festivals in the local
community.
Extent
127.5 Linear Feet
(84 boxes, 9 flat boxes, 4 roll boxes, and 3 flat file
folders)
Restrictions
Copyright for portions of this collection resides with the Regents of the University of
California. The publication or use of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by
fair use for research or educational purposes requires written permission from the copyright
owner. UCSC Special Collections and Archives can grant permission to publish materials to
which it holds the copyright. For permission to reproduce or publish the material, or to
order a reproduction, please visit
guides.library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/reproduction-publication.
Availability
Collection is open for research. Audiovisual media is unavailable until reformatted.
Contact Special Collections and Archives in advance to request access to audiovisual media.
Digital files are available in the UCSC Special Collections and Archives reading room. Some
files require reformatting before they can be accessed. Technical limitations may hinder the
Library's ability to provide access to some digital files. Access to digital files on
original carriers is prohibited; users must request to view access copies. Contact Special
Collections and Archives in advance to request access to digital files.