SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE'S OUTDOOR THEATRE FESTIVAL IS A TREASURED 42-YEAR TRADITION IN THE COUNTY, ATTRACTING MULTI-GENERATIONAL THEATERGOERS TO A SHARED EXPERIENCE OF EXCEPTIONAL THEATRE THAT PROVIDES A CANVAS TO EXPLORE, QUESTION, AND CELEBRATE THE POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND HUMAN CONDITION. IN 2023 SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE RETURNED TO A FULL SUMMER SEASON, INCLUDING SHAKESPEARE'S "TAMING OF THE SHREW AND "KING LEAR," AS WELL AS "THE BOOK OF WILL" BY LAUREN GUNDERSON. SCS ALSO PRODUCED A FRINGE SERIES CONSISTING OF TWO STAGED READINGS AND A FULLY PRODUCED INTERN SHOW (EXIT PURSUED BY A BEAR). IN ADDITION, SCS CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH UCSC, WHICH INCLUDED THE POPULAR "WEEKEND WITH SHAKESPEARE AND "UNDISCOVERED SHAKESPEARE" PROGRAMS, AND WE CONTINUED OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, PRESENTING STUDENT MATINEE PERFORMANCES AND IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS.