Santa Cruz Shakespeare's Signs 20 Year Contract in The Grove Venue

Santa Cruz Shakespeare announces new lease terms for their theater venue The Grove in DeLaveaga Park. The City of Santa Cruz and SCS worked together to finalize the terms in the fall of 2018. The initial lease agreement in 2016 with the City of Santa Cruz was for a 2-year conditional lease. Santa Cruz Shakespeare is ready to move forward to continue its mission of making The Grove a true cultural gem in Santa Cruz.

"In 2014 the Santa Cruz community came together to preserve and protect the long-standing cultural tradition of Shakespeare in Santa Cruz," said Mike Ryan, Santa Cruz Shakespeare's Artistic Director. "With this new lease in place, the City of Santa Cruz honors that legacy by providing a long-term home for SCS. We are so grateful to everyone on the City Council, as well as City staff, and especially Parks and Recreation, for their hard work, trust, and support."

The terms of lease include the use of the space for the next eight years, and then a lease renewal up to another 10, which grants SCS the use of the space for 20 years (since its inception in 2016). The lease will provide SCS with exclusive use of the DeLaveaga site from June through September of each year for a modest annual rent. The City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department will have the ability to rent out the theater space in SCS's off-season to individuals and community groups, making the space accessible for all in Santa Cruz County.

In addition, SCS is working with the City of Santa Cruz Arborist and Ecology Action to plant redwood trees at The Grove site, eventually providing shade for theater patrons and a fire-resistant and resilient landscape instead of the current eucalyptus trees at the property. Already, over 40 redwood saplings have been planted, and there are plans to plant up to 100 trees over the space in the coming year.

Santa Cruz Shakespeare recently announced their 2019 summer season, with repertory performances beginning July 9 and running through September 1. SCS will captivate audiences for its sixth season with summer performances that offer comedic thrills, mystic revelations, and modern twists. The festival starts with an off-beat and unique adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The second mainstage production is Shakespeare's zany showdown The Comedy of Errors and the festival's final repertory production will be Shakespeare's fairy-tale romance The Winter's Tale.

All productions run in repertory after opening. Santa Cruz Shakespeare will also continue the tradition of showcasing the season's intern acting company with its celebratory Fringe production. Tickets go on sale May 15, 2019 with a Santa Cruz Shakespeare Member pre-sale starting May 1, and can be purchased online at santacruzshakespeare.org.