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Season Your Summer with Shakespeare Santa Cruz
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Season Your Summer with Shakespeare Santa Cruz
Artistic Director Marco Barricelli Debuts on the SSC Stage
By Judith Wellner
After another year of financial struggle, Shakespeare Santa Cruz is ready to put on an extraordinary season. On this year's menu is Shakespeare's Love's Labor's Lost and Othello, matched with James Goldman's The Lion in Winter starring Shakespeare Santa Cruz Artistic Director Marco Barricelli.
"This year is going to be very special," says Kyle Clausen, marketing and PR director for SSC.
Many of us know The Lion in Winter from the 1968 movie starring Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn.
This is the first year we can see the original stage version here, in Santa Cruz.
The play depicts the struggle between Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine as they pit sex and politics against each other to choose which of their three scheming sons will be the next heir to the British throne.
The Lion in Winter is directed by Richard E.T. White, who returns to SSC after having directed A Midsummer Night's Dream in 2009.
"And, to add to all that, our Artistic Director Marco Barricelli is going to star in the production," Clausen added.
Barricelli is a renowned actor, having worked for eight years with the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) in San Francisco, as well as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for also eight years.
He took on the role of artistic director for Shakespeare Santa Cruz in January 2008. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Barricelli is a graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School and has been an actor, director and educator since 1982.
He is thrilled to finally hit the stage in Santa Cruz.
"Years ago I spoke to my predecessor, Paul Whitworth, about he and I playing Becket and Henry [respectively] in Anouilh's Becket at SSC," says Barricelli. "I'm not sure, but I think Paul entertained the idea for a while but it never came to pass. I am happy to be treading the boards with this fine, fine acting company that will be assembled here for this exciting season. I look forward to being 'among the ranks' with them all and to be able to play to this intelligent and curious constituency in the Monterey Bay area."
Most people identify the summer Shakespeare festivities with the festival-like productions in the glen up on the UCSC campus.
And while the glen is going to be the main locale this year as well, the season will again be spiced up with theater on the university's indoor stage.
A Fine Mix of Classic and Modern
"This year, we would like to show how well the indoor production of The Lion in Winter accompanies the Shakespeare plays," continues Clausen.
He points out that it's not only that the language of the Goldman play is just as wonderfully rich as that of Shakespeare, but the stage it's going to be produced at is also reminiscent of the stages of Shakespearean times.
Love's Labor's Lost and Othello will be set in the glen, using the creative set design of Michael Ganio, who has done a lot of work for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. According to Clausen, his set will establish very different tones for the two plays, which will be accompanied by the original music score composed by Rodolfo Ortega, who also wrote the music for last year's glen productions.
"As usual, we selected a comedy and a tragedy," says Clausen. He adds that Love's Labor's Lost is not one of Shakespeare's best-known comedies, but "it has been increasingly recognized as one of his funniest pieces."
The plot introduces four young, noble lords who decide to turn their back to the distraction of women and devote themselves to intellectual studies. Their scholarly pursuits are all but shattered when the princess of France arrives with her entourage of lovely, nubile women, with whom the lovesick men immediately fall in love.
The play is going to be directed by Scott Wentworth, who appeared as an actor in SSC's 2009 season, playing Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Brutus in Julius Caesar.
Othello, the tragic love story of a Moorish general and the daughter of a senator, Desdemona, is going to be the season's last production, opening under the direction of Pam MacKinnon, who is making her SSC debut. She is one of the most sought after directors in the country with credits such as the Manhattan Theatre Club and Playwrights Horizons in New York City and work at the renowned Steppenwolf in Chicago.
The cast, just like in the previous years, will be a group of actors from all over the country.
"Barricelli's dream is to put together a very professional company, with some of the best talent of the American stage," says Clausen.
Both Shakespeare plays will feature the same actors.
"This means that we have to work with actors who are well-equipped to play roles in very different plays," adds Clausen.
The Lion's Share
The Lion in Winter is a play that Barricelli has been carrying in his heart for decades.
"When I was a younger actor I longed to play Henry in Anouilh's Becket," says Barricelli. "The opportunity never arrived and finally I became too old for that role. So the Henry II of Lion In Winter is the older version of that character in Anouilh's play.. ... I think what appeals to me is his brashness and his wit. I find the dialogue that Goldman wrote to be delightful and have always imagined that it would be great fun to play ... especially surrounded by great actors, like Kandis Chapell, who will play Eleanore of Aquitaine."
Back on Track
"The budget crisis hit us pretty hard in the last couple of years," says Clausen. "Now, we are through the worst of economy and can plan long-term again. We can increase our budget and our production value."
Clausen adds that SSC has implemented many changes that led to a more stable financial foundation.
This included trimming expenses, cutting back from four shows per summer to three, restructuring marketing expenses, and leaving the annual holiday show off the season's offerings. "We are now talking about increasing staff positions and bringing back our holiday production," says Clausen.
Tickets Available
Ticket sales have already begun and so far have been more successful than any other year.
According to Clausen, season passes are the best deals.
"Even if you are only planning to see two shows, it's worth getting a pass. It's better value, you can also exchange your tickets free of charge, and you can get into the glen early to secure the best seats," says Clausen.
Tickets are available on the SSC website at: www.shakespearesantacruz.org, or by phone at 831-459-2159.
SSC is also looking for volunteers. You can find further information about volunteering on the SSC website.
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