(May 30 – October 7) Cal Shakes performances are held in the Bruns Amphitheater, located in the Siesta Valley between Berkeley and Orinda, against the backdrop of rolling East Bay hills and the summer sky. In addition to works by the Bard, the company offers acknowledged classics by other great writers; the representative 2010 season was scheduled to include Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing, G.B. Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession, and Octavio Solis’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s The Pastures of Heaven.

The grounds open two hours before each show begins, so patrons can enjoy a picnic and relax among the eucalyptus and oak groves that surround the theater. Food, beer, wine, coffee, and desserts are available for purchase at the Midsummer Night’s Café, but many audience members choose to bring their own picnic baskets full of comestibles. Free 20-minute “Grove Talks” are held on site before each performance, offering insight about the play and the production.

California Shakespeare Theater Information

• Public Transportation: Accessible by BART and Cal Shakes free shuttle
• Handicapped Accessiblity: Yes
• Performance/Programs: The Cal Shakes season features four productions from June to October, with performances playing a Wednesday-Sunday schedule
• Admission: Single tickets cost $34-$65. $5 discount for seniors (65+) and youth (4-16); $20 tickets available for 30-and-unders; half-price Student/Senior Rush tickets sold 30 minutes before show
• Subscriptions/Memberships: Season subscriptions cost $120-$232. Discounts available for seniors, youth, and educators
• Group Discounts: Discounts available for groups of 10 or more
• Educational/Community Outreach: Cal Shakes offers classes, workshops, in-school residencies, student matinees, and a Summer Shakespeare Conservatory.