One of the best things to do on a California summer night is to watch great theater in beautiful surroundings, snuggling up to your partner as evening chill sets in. These are some of the best places to enjoy summer outdoor theater in California.
They stage four plays per season, two by The Bard and two other classic pieces, such as Uncle Vanya or Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband. The location is a natural amphitheater in the hills. They've got plenty of things to explore and places to picnic, it's a good idea to arrive early.
A San Francisco Bay Area favorite held in a natural amphitheater, they produce one play per year, typically a musical performed on Sundays, May through July. Show time is in the afternoon, but it's an all-day experience.
In 1984, the Old Globe won a Tony Award for excellence in regional theatre. Their summer season includes outdoor performances in a replica of London's Old Globe.
We do realize that Ashland isn't in California, but it's close to the border and such an outstanding company that we wanted to be sure you knew about it. Their season runs for months, from spring through fall, with performances outdoors and in on several stages, making it the ideal destination to gorge on great theater.
It sounds simple, but it really isn't: just pick a series of classic paintings and display them using live models. In reality, it takes most of a year to plan and execute, and the results are eye-poppingly realistic.
We were so impressed by our first visit to Shakespeare Santa Cruz that we're already planning to go back every year. This repertory troupe performs four plays every summer, two Shakespeare pieces staged in the middle of a redwood grove and two more contemporary productions done indoors.
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