Santa Cruz Shakespeare Education Program

The Santa Cruz Shakespeare Education Program offers Thanksgiving Break: Shakes Scenes, Winter Stage Camp: Carol Magic, Spring Break Workshop, Improv: Foundations, Improv: Scene and Character, Shakespeare and Social Justice Workshop, Sonnet Composition & Competition, and Summer Camp I: Courageous Creatives. Activities include Shakespeare performance, celebrating the season through performance, exploring the drama, comedy, and magic of Shakespeare’s plays, beginning improvisation through Shakespeare’s worlds and characters, building improvisation skills, a sonnet composition and competition, and a week-long theatre camp.

Programs

• Thanksgiving Break: Shakes Scenes — Ages: 6–11 and 11–17 · M/T/W 9:00 AM–3:00 PM · Three Days of Shakespeare Performance. Performance: November 25. Location: Veterans Memorial Building.
• Winter Stage Camp: Carol Magic — Ages: 6–11 and 11–17 · M/T/W 9:00 AM–3:00 PM · Celebrate the Season through Performance. Performance: November 18. Location: Veterans Memorial Building.
• Spring Break Workshop — Ages: 6–11 and 11–17 · M-F 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. · In Shakes Scenes young actors will dive into the drama, comedy, and magic of Shakespeare’s plays.
• Improv: Foundations — Ages 6–11 and Ages 11–17 · M/W 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. · Students will explore beginning improvisation through the lens of Shakespeare’s worlds and characters.
• Improv: Scene and Character — Ages 6–11 and Ages 11–17 · M/W 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. · Students will build on their foundational skills and dive deeper into Shakespearean worlds.
• Shakespeare and Social Justice Workshop — Available on request.
• Sonnet Composition & Competition — April 22, 2026; 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. · Join us for a joyful celebration of Shakespeare’s birthday and National Poetry Month!
• Summer Camp I: Courageous Creatives — Ages 10 – 17 · June 22 – June 26, 2026; M-F 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. · Week-long theatre camp. Pick-up at 5pm for an additional fee.

At a glance

• Ages: 6–17 years old
• Current session: Thanksgiving Break: Shakes Scenes (Nov 23–Nov 25, 2026); Winter Stage Camp: Carol Magic (Dec 21–Dec 23, 2026)

About the provider

Santa Cruz Shakespeare says it is continuing a 40-year tradition of staging bold productions of the plays of Shakespeare and other great playwrights. Its mission is to create and strengthen community by bringing audiences and theatre artists together to celebrate stories about collective humanity. The organization also engages students and community members through education programs, including professional internships, student matinees, free youth tickets, educational newsletters, lesson plans for teachers, symposia, in-school visits, and Shakes on the Move touring productions.

Additional enrollment information is needed after enrolling for some classes. For some offerings, financial aid is available for those who qualify. A 25% scholarship is offered for the Spring Break Workshop to families who demonstrate financial need. The Youth program page does not state a general facility hours schedule.

Last updated October 9, 2026.