About Us

OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE THE WORDS AND THEMES OF SHAKESPEARE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF AGE, ETHNICITY, FINANCIAL  STATUS, OR EDUCATION LEVEL.

The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that began in 1983 with Free Shakespeare in the Park's debut production of The Tempest in Golden Gate Park. Today we are a regional theater company and major arts-education provider.

Our Programs

Free Shakespeare in the Park

Produced every year in San Francisco, Pleasanton, and Cupertino from July to October, Free Shakespeare in the Park provides an opportunity for over 30,000 people to see high quality, professional theater free of charge.

Shakespeare On Tour

In response to the decline of in-school arts programs, in 1998 we created an affordable high-quality school touring program to bring a live hour-long Shakespeare performance to students statewide. We now present about 200 performances yearly to over 30,000 children.

Tailor-Made Residencies

We bring 30 years of educational and theatrical expertise to students for an immersive experience that they’ll never forget! Collaborating with classroom teachers, we create curriculum specifically tailored to their learning objectives and their students.

Bay Area Shakespeare Camps

An opportunity for young students age 7 to 18 to study Shakespeare in a fun, supportive atmosphere and teach them the necessary skills to perform his work. We also offer an Advanced Acting Workshop for those with prior experience in performance.

Midnight Shakespeare

An opportunity for at-risk youth to learn communication skills, performance skills, discipline, and teamwork through Shakespeare. Responding to the problems of violence and gang-related issues, this ten-week program reaches underserved communities throughout the Bay Area.

Shakespeare for All

Shakespeare for All currently takes place in four Central Valley communities, anchored at their local library. The communities of Salida, Madera, Chowchilla and Modesto have performed A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and are now preparing to take on Julius Caesar.