Shakespeare’s Associates, Inc. Producers of …

Livermore Shakespeare Festival

The Bothwell Series of Contemporary Plays

Theater Workshop & Fundraiser

Livermore Reads Together

Livermore Shakes

LSF 12 is a celebration of 10 years of our Shakespeare in the Vineyard program in the beautiful Livermore Wine Country.

We were saving Hamlet for a special occasion, and realized that 10 years of producing an outdoor Shakespeare festival, in an appreciative community, still growing despite the economy, attracting much sought-after professional artists … we have something special to celebrate!

This summer we look at both tragic and comic results of testing the boundaries of our place in the world. In the playful  The Merry Wives of Windsor, Sir John Falstaff imagines himself the object of every lady’s eye. He also underestimates the intelligence of women and the strength of character that can overcome his romantic assaults. Those of moral character (the wives) are destined to win in the end! In the more thoughtful Hamlet, we see various men reach above their station, moving up in the hierarchy, or exacting revenge in ways that break their own values and the values of the state. Killing a brother to get the crown, spying, using poison instead of engaging in an honorable duel, all cross the line between God’s justice, and what falls within the bounds of mortal men’s earthly justice. Those that learn their place and hold true to accepted values thrive (keep an eye on Fortenbrasse); those that don’t … their entire family lines are wiped out.

We at Livermore Shakes are known in the Greater Bay Area Shakespeare world for making the language clear, for our beautiful costumes and unparalleled vineyard setting.

Come early to relax on the winery grounds, bring a picnic, pick up a bottle of wine at the remodeled tasting room, then sit back for an outdoor evening of professional theater in one of the most unique and beautiful settings in the Greater Bay Area.

There is a huge variety of restaurants in the quaint Livermore Downtown, for easy take-out of casual or fine dining food on your way to Concannon Vineyard from 580.  We provide theater seating, though you may want the picnic blanket to enjoy the lawn area before the show begins.

Bothwell Series

The Bothwell Series is our Spring offering of contemporary plays, indoors, in the intimate “West End Theater” of the Bothwell Arts Center at 8th and G Streets, just off S. Livermore.

Thanks to a generous donation from volunteer Joan Boer in memory of her late husband Garret Boer, we revived the series in 2011 with a production of David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre, a play that Garret himself had acted in many years ago.

Also at the Bothwell, we produced the 2000 Tony Award winner Copenhagen by Michael Frayn, directed by Virginia Reed April 2-26, 2009. An idea-play revolving around nuclear physicists Neils Bohr and Werner Heisenberg, the play sparked much discussion and thought among audience members, and was preceded each night by introductions with local physicists from Lawrence Livermore Labs or Sandia National Lab.
Past productions in the 60-seat black-box style space have been ‘art’ by Yasmina Reza  featuring associate artist Russ Marcel, directed by Lisa Tromovitch and featuring a challenging art exhibition in the lobby with the work of local artists; and Proof by David Auburn featuring associate artists Hannah Knapp and Bill Wolak, directed by Virginia Reed.

In keeping with our artistic sensibility, taking our inspiration from the works of William Shakespeare, scripts chosen for this series are ones noted for their literary merit, usually national and international award winners.

Workshop & Fundraiser

On February 26, 2011, SA professionals offered workshops usually reserved for professional actors. Come into the world of the rehearsal room: do text work with the dramaturg and director, stage combat and dance with the choreographers. The evening included a catered dinner and conversation with SA staff, artists and members of the Board of Directors.

Livermore Reads Together

We have participated in the Livermore Civic Library’s annual event in February for several years.  In 2012 SA volunteers created a piece of readers theater from A Bell for Adano, a 1944 novel by John Hersey, the winner of the 1945 Pulitzer Prize . In 2011 SA volunteers produced a reading from the text of 1906: The Novel by James Dalessandro. The programs are held at Livermore Civic Library. SA director and reading editor is Donna Blevins.