New Swan and Shakespeare Workshop in Santa Cruz partner on programming

Did you know the New Swan Shakespeare Center and the Shakespeare Workshop at UC Santa Cruz have partnered on programming for over a decade? 

It all began when Julia Lupton (UCI) and Sean Keilen (UCSC) launched an intercampus research project called w/Shakespeare. The grant funding is a distant memory, but our collaboration continues strong. This summer, Eli Simon was the featured speaker at Santa Cruz's Weekend with Shakespeare. 

In 2026-27, Julia Lupton will serve as Scholar in Residence for Saturday Shakespeare, a long-standing and intellectually vibrant reading group with both online and inperson participation. And guess what? New Swan's own Beth Lopes is one of the featured speakers.

Here's the full line-up for the fall. SoCal folks are welcome to join by Zoom.

Oct 3: Julia Lupton 
Distinguished Professor Emerita of English at UC Irvine and co-director of the New Swan Shakespeare Center.
Readings: Act I, Scenes 1 & 2, Act II, Scenes 1 & 2.

Oct 10: Beth Lopes
Freelance theater director, educator and an Associate Director of the New Swan Shakespeare Festival, where she directed "The Comedy of Errors" in 2012.
Readings: Act III, Scenes 1 & 2.

Oct 17: Susan Myer Silton
Theater director and dramaturg. She is currently dramaturg for Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s production of August Wilson’s
"Fences." 
Readings: Act IV, Scenes 1, 2, 3 & 4.

Oct 24: Charles Pasternak 
Artistic Director and an actor with Santa Cruz Shakespeare. He will direct SCS's production of "The Comedy of Errors" in the
Summer of 2027. 
Readings: Act V, Scene 1.

Aptos Library on 5 Saturdays: October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 2026
10:15 a.m. Betty Leonard Community Room (in person or join by Zoom)
First hour: Conversation with a guest speaker
Second hour: Volunteer readers read aloud
For more information, Zoom Link, or to volunteer to be a reader, contact saturdayshakespeare@gmail.com.