Company History

Innovating, Illuminating, and Inspiring audiences and artists since 1999

Silicon Valley Shakespeare was formed in 1999 by Sara Betts, Dinna Myers, and Jeff Day as Shady Shakespeare Theatre Company. The company was dedicated to providing more opportunities for artists to perform and audiences to experience Shakespeare and other classic works.

The company started with an annual budget of $1,100 and the dedication of our dynamic leaders and core volunteers. Now, it has expanded to include a full season of four theatrical offerings in three venues, and a vibrant education program for youth and teens, with an annual budget of just under $200,000. Learn more about our past productions and landmark moments, below, and about our mission and vision.

Landmark Moments

Measure for Measure, 2005

1999	The Company forms and launches its first production in Palo Alto.
2000	Incorporates and achieves 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
2002	Launches Free Shakespeare in Sanborn Park in Saratoga.
2005	Expands to a two-show repertory season. Awarded Runner Up for Best Local Theatre Company by Metro Readers Best in Arts and Culture.
2006	The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Angie Higgins, wins Wave Magazine‘s Silicon Valley Theatre Award for Standout Classical Production.
2007	Larry Barrott succeeds Sara Betts as Artistic Director.
2010	Expands to offering a third production, in an indoor venue.
2010	Education Program is formed, launching a Shakespeare Camp for Youth and Teens.
2011	The Imaginary Invalid, directed by Shawn Andrei, wins Wave Magazine‘s Silicon Valley Small Venue Theatre Award for Costume Design by Rosie Ricca.
2012	Education Program launches in-school educational outreach program Takin’ It to the Schools.
2012	King Lear, directed by Angie Higgins, wins the Wave Magazine‘s Silicon Valley Small Theatre Award for Standout Classical Production.
2013	Vera Sloan succeeds Larry Barrott as Artistic Director.
2013	Launches Shakespeare San José in Willow Street Park.
2014	Angie Higgins succeeds Vera Sloan as Artistic Director.
2014	Forms a cooperative partnership with the San José State University Department of TV, Film, Radio, and Theatre.
2014	Launches internship program, for high school and college students to gain hands-on acting or technical experience.
2015	Shady Shakespeare Theatre Company becomes Silicon Valley Shakespeare.
2015	Doug Brook succeeds Dinna Myers as Executive Director.
2015	The Comedy of Errors is recognized with four finalists for Theatre Bay Area Awards.
2016	Education Program offers its first recurring, in-school after school program.
2016	Produces its first touring production, remounting the free Shakespeare in the Park production at Central Park, in San Mateo.
2016	Julius Caesar and The Three Musketeers are simultaneously named Theatre Bay Area Awards recommended productions.
2017	San José City Council presents a special commendation to SVS for its years of bringing the arts to the community and, in particular, to its youth.
2018	Much Ado About Nothing and The Hood of Sherwood are simultaneously named Theatre Bay Area Awards recommended productions.
2018	Larry Barrott, resident fight director and artistic director emeritus, is a finalist for a Theatre Bay Area Award for fight choreography, for the world premiere of The Hood of Sherwood.
2019	SVS joins Buck Hill Productions in co-producing ShakesBEERience, bringing several one-night only performances to Café Stritch in San José.
2019	A Midsummer Night’s Dream is named a Theatre Bay Area Awards recommended production.
2019	At Montalvo Arts Center, SVS produces a second SVS summer camp and a one night only encore of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
2019	Macbeth and The White Snake are simultaneously named Theatre Bay Area Awards recommended productions.
2019	Drew Benjamin Jones and Sara Renée Morris (for Macbeth) and Evelyn Huynh (for The White Snake) are finalists for the Theatre Bay Area Awards in the acting categories.