While Del Shakes couldn’t bring you a full production this summer, we were excited to bring you the {Mostly} Virtual Festival from July 17-August 2! The (M)VF aimed to celebrate all of what you love about the Annual Summer Festival at Rockwood Park – the picnics, the family fun, the t-shirt, Shakespeare, and more!
During the three weekends when we would have been sharing The Tempest, we shared a wide array of original, Shakespeare-related digital programming – most of which was free! Free programming debuted on Facebook, and was later posted to our Youtube channel. You can binge-watch all of the free digital programming from the {Mostly} Virtual Festival below!
We hope the (M)VF reminded you of great summers from the past, while setting the stage for a wondrous 2021 when (fingers crossed) we can all be together again at Rockwood Park.
Past Festival Events:
WEEK #1
Friday 7/17 at 7:30pm
Becoming Prospero
The Tempest director David Stradley and actor Jolie Garrett (Prospero) start their creative process by discussing the first scene of the play.
Saturday 7/18 at 7:30pm
Janssen’s Picnic Contest Launch Party
Stream us into your backyard while you picnic and get a five-course meal of Shakespeare culinary monologues. Over, the next two weeks, post pics (or videos) of your Shakespeare-inspired picnics and tag Del Shakes. We’ll pick our favorite and honor you as the Picnic Contest Champion (with a $50 Janssen’s gift card)!
Sunday 7/19 at 5pm
Family Sunday #1
Cassie Alexander reads a Shakespeare children’s book and leads a drama game.
Check out the activities for this week’s Family Sunday HERE.
WEEK #2
Friday 7/24 at 7:30pm
Two Bald Guys Direct The Tempest
Santa Cruz Shakespeare Artistic Director Mike Ryan and Del Shakes’ David Stradley discuss the visions for their temporarily postponed productions of The Tempest.
Saturday 7/25 at 2pm – Matinee!
Selena and Greg Get Engaged! Much Ado About Something
Founding Managing Director Greg Robleto and Selena Robleto tell the story of Greg’s surprise proposal on the opening night of 2006’s Much Ado About Nothing.
Saturday 7/25 at 7:30pm
Wine and Cheese Party – $15 for video program
(Wine and cheese must be purchased separately)
Buy a curated selection of wine from Swigg and cheese from Janssen’s, then tune in to a private Zoom meeting for Tempest-themed monologues connected to the wine and cheese!
Sunday 7/26 at 5pm
Family Sunday #2
Cassie Alexander reads a Shakespeare children’s book and leads a drama game.
Check out the activities for this week’s Family Sunday HERE.
WEEK #3
Friday 7/31 at 7:30pm
Restorative Justice and The Tempest
Representatives from community restorative justice organizations join David Stradley to chat about restorative justice and its connections to Shakespeare’s magical drama about forgiveness.
Saturday 8/1 from 6pm-7:40pm
Soliloquy Stroll – $40 for a group of up to four people
In-person event at Rockwood – tickets very limited!
A site-specific collection of monologues performed in a physically-distanced manner around Rockwood Park. Buy tickets for a specific time slot and take a 40-minute stroll through the grounds coming in close contact with unforgettable Shakespeare characters. An online recording is also available to purchase. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AUDIENCE/PERFORMER SAFETY PROCEDURES.
Sunday 8/2 at 5pm
Family Sunday #3
Cassie Alexander reads a Shakespeare children’s book and leads a drama game.
Saturday 8/8 from 6pm-7:40pm
Soliloquy Stroll – $40 for a group of up to four people
In-person event at Rockwood – tickets very limited!
A site-specific collection of monologues performed in a physically-distanced manner around Rockwood Park. Buy tickets for a specific time slot and take a 40-minute stroll through the grounds coming in close contact with unforgettable Shakespeare characters. An online recording is also available to purchase. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AUDIENCE/PERFORMER SAFETY PROCEDURES.
The annual Del Shakes t-shirt is a beloved tradition. This year’s t-shirt features a quote themed to a 2020 that has been like no year in recent memory!
Throughout the {Mostly} Virtual Festival
From 7/20-7/31, the Sonnet of the Day project featured cast members from The Tempest sharing a sonnet and reflecting on what the poem might mean to their character in the play.
Fun Facts (those lovely signs at Rockwood that line the hill from the parking area to the box office) from past productions are posted on our Facebook and Instagram pages!
Look for some interactive Shakespeare games shared on Facebook. While our Wandering Bards can’t entertain you, you can entertain yourself with some Shakespeare fun!
