SHAKESPEARE | SUMMERFEST ORANGE COUNTY
a new beginning
About
SHAKESPARE ORANGE COUNTY
For over 38 years, Shakespeare|Summerfest Orange County (originally the Grove Shakespeare Festival), presented professional Shakespeare for audiences of all ages. Every summer, we invited audiences to our beautiful home under the stars in the Garden Grove Amphitheater in the heart of historic downtown Garden Grove to enjoy the laughter, thrills, and spectacle of outdoor theater. This year we launch a new beginning at Santa Ana College, which brings a team of dedicated artists and educators, as well as three performance venues and technical and production support.
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Over the years, SOC has become a treasured Orange County institution, winner of countless plaudits and honors, and has served as a launching pad for world-class acting talent in Hollywood and on Broadway, while providing opportunities for local students and other aspiring performers to take the stage alongside working professionals.
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Beyond our own productions, SOC plays host to guest productions and artists that showcase dynamic, innovative work in theater, music, and dance. Our diverse calendar led the O.C. Weekly to dub our 2014 season the "Best Theater Programming in Orange County".
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We offer a portfolio of educational opportunities for children of all ages. We serve a diverse audience, and our motto is "One Big Family Under the Stars". SOC believes that the theater is a unifying place in the community, and that the stories of Shakespeare and the other playwrights we present can resonate universally. Our goal is to entertain and inspire everyone from the veteran theater-goer to the first-time visitor.
Shakespeare OC Team
Tess Lina Murphy
Associate Artistic Director
John Walcutt
CEO, Producing Artistic Director
Duck Soon Walcutt
CFO, Dir. of Audience Development
James Berrier
Artistic Associate
Bo Foxworth
Artistic Associate
Dianne Manaster
Artistic Associate
Elyse Mirto
Artistic Associate
Eugene Godwin, Esq.
Artistic Associate