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.