San Francisco Shakespeare Festival’s mission is to make the words and themes of Shakespeare accessible to everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, financial status or level of education. By lowering practical and perceptual barriers, we encourage broad participation in the arts and make these activities a part of community life.
The Festival serves as a catalyst for audience development by reaching thousands of people who otherwise do not attend live theater or may have never experienced it at all. Our programming represents the plays in their finest light, demonstrates their relevance to today’s society, and inspires our students and audiences to seek out additional theatrical experiences.
We are dedicated to arts education, using our programs to foster a life-long appreciation of learning and the arts. We offer day camps and classes for children age 7 to 17, as well as in-school residencies and playshops.
The 2024 tour of our one-hour version of As You Like It has now concluded. The show performed at schools and public venues across California. Curriculum materials for educators were included. Optional playshops were also available for students.
Information about the touring show for the upcoming school year will be posted soon!
Experience welcome but not required for our Bay Area Shakespeare Camp programs for ages 7-13. Sign Up Now for the 2024 session at Santa Clara University! (The San Francisco sessions for ages 7-13 are filled to capacity.)
The Advanced Shakespeare Workshop (in San Francisco, ages 12-18, audition required) is currently accepting applications.
Our annual gala fundraiser returns April 20, 2024 with All The World’s A Stage at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club. Celebrating our 42 years of Shakespeare, there will be dining, a live performance of As You Like It, and everyone can participate in the auction to make donations and bid on wine, travel, experiences, and more.
Our 42nd season of Free Shakes returns to the parks in 2024 with our production of The Tempest, directed by Rotimi Agbabiaka. Dates, times, and locations for live performances (July-September 2024) will be announced soon. Meanwhile, check out our photo gallery for images from summer 2023!
Shakespeare’s Heartbeat uses the Hunter Heartbeat Method developed by Kelly Hunter of Flute Theatre, utilizing the iambic pentameter (heartbeat rhythm) of Shakespeare’s words and the physicality of his characters to engage with students on the autism spectrum. Geared towards grades 4-12.
Saturday Upstart Crows classes are physically and mentally engaging weekend sessions where students age 11-18 deepen their skills and knowledge through a comprehensive rehearsal process that explores language, history, voice, movement, text analysis, and play.
Check out ‘Shankantula’ at Foothill College, co-directed by SF Shakes production manager Pratiksha Shah!
This classic, ancient Sanskrit fantasy/romance/drama tells the story of King Dushyanta and his love Shakuntala.
Smitten at their first meeting, Dushyanta and Shakuntala fall in love and marry. Along the way, their love is then tested by fate and karma, nature and the divine, identity and self-realization and all the characters and trappings that serve as both support and obstacles.
foothill.edu/theatre/Shakuntala.html
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SF Shakespeare Festival is hiring a a Prop Designer for this summer's Free Shakespeare in the Park production of 'The Tempest'.! This person works closely with the director team to make the director’s vision come to life. They're encouraged to pull most of the props from SF Shakes’ large prop inventory. More info at sfshakes.org/join/seasonal-staff/ ... See MoreSee Less
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SF Shakespeare Festival is hiring a Wardrobe Supervisor for this summer's Free Shakespeare in the Park production of 'The Tempest'. This person works closely with the Costume Designer and Director team to make the vision of the Costume Designer into reality. July – Sept 2024
More info at sfshakes.org/join/seasonal-staff/
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SAN FRANCISCO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
PO Box 46093
San Francisco, CA 94146-0937
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