Shakespeare by the Sea (SBTS), Southern California’s premiere outdoor Shakespeare festival performances under the stars and never too far announces its 28th Season of Admission-Free Shakespeare from June 13- July 26 in parks throughout 3 counties of Southern California.

Dates and Locations:

The festival launches at the Bandshell at Recreation Park in Long Beach on June 13 with As You Like It, followed by Julius Caesar opening June 20. In its most expansive tour since the pandemic, performances will take place in 18 different cities in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura Counties from June 25–July 26 welcoming audiences of all ages.

Season Titles: This year’s season features two of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays directed by the SBTS Co-Artistic Directors. Both productions promise compelling performances, fresh perspectives, and the high-caliber theatrical experience that SBTS is known for—completely free of charge.

Julius Caesar- written by William Shakespeare in a modern verse translation by Shishir Kurup, adapted and directed by Stephanie Coltrin *Southern California Premiere*

Loyalties are tested in Shakespeare’s gripping exploration of honor, impossible choices, and the irreversible consequences of a single fateful act.

A New Partnership

SBTS is proud to announce that our production of Julius Caesar is in partnership with Play On Shakespeare, a non-profit company dedicated to promoting and creating contemporary modern English translations of Shakespeare’s plays. The SBTS production will present an adaptation of Shishir Kurup’s modern-verse translation of the play that breathes new life into the Bard’s words—offering clarity without compromise. Play On Shakespeare is dedicated to exploring the world of Shakespeare through modern translation and adaptation and their partnership provides funding to support artists, enhance rehearsal hours and exploration, as well as a donor event.

“Working with Play On is the perfect fit for us, as it builds on what we’ve always done,” says Co-Artistic Director Stephanie Coltrin. “When I adapt Shakespeare, I regularly edit and adapt our scripts for time and clarity, so the use of a modern-verse translation isn’t new for our audiences. What Play On does aligns seamlessly with our mission and process. Together, we’re deepening understanding, broadening reach, and ensuring Shakespeare continues to resonate across generations.”

This partnership fuses SBTS' long-standing commitment to accessible performances with Play On's innovative approach to language- reimagining the text in a way that clarifies meaning while preserving Shakespeare's intent. This partnership with Play On Shakespeare is helping SBTS to continue serving communities all across Southern California.