The summer Shakespeare program has been well received since its inaugural season in 2004 with “Much Ado About Nothing” on the tennis court.
The program expanded the following year with two productions — “Romeo and Juliet” and “All’s Well that Ends Well.” Those productions were followed in 2005 with “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” and “King Lear.”
“Pericles” was so popular last year that the company decided to bring it back a few months later in January, becoming one of the best-attended productions of Shakespeare in Santa Monica history.
“They’re really three different versions of Shakespeare just to show how wonderful an author he is,” — Farmanesh-Bocca said
The plays are performed in a style that is enjoyable to the average person, whether Shakespeare appeals to their palate or not, claims Farmanesh-Bocca. The program has also converted people who were formerly turned off to Shakespeare.
“Nothing says summer like the outdoor tennis court shows,” Farmanesh-Bocca said. “It’s going to be so much fun, so exuberant and exciting.”
The plays are performed by both students of the Shakespeare Santa Monica training program — a graduate-level training course — and professional union-member actors.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 13, 2007. Read the original PDF.