Press + Media Resources
A REIGN OF SHADOWS MEETS COMIC CHAOS IN SILICON VALLEY SHAKESPEARE’S BOLD 2025 REPERTORY SEASON AT SANBORN PARK
This summer, SVS returns to Saratoga’s Sanborn Park with a dynamic repertory season that places two wildly different worlds on the same forest stage.
This summer, SVS returns to Saratoga’s Sanborn Park with a dynamic repertory season that places two wildly different worlds on the same forest stage.
From the smoke-filled shadows of a noir underworld to the witty whirl of Regency-era romance, Silicon Valley Shakespeare presents a double feature that blends bold theatricality with fresh perspective. Performances run select Thursdays through Sundays from July 25 through August 31, 2025.
Set in a crumbling city where the line between politics and crime has all but disappeared, Richard III reimagines Shakespeare’s tale of ruthless ambition inside a 1940s nightclub called The Crown. Richard is no longer just a scheming nobleman but a cold-blooded fixer who uses charm, manipulation, and violence to climb from enforcer to kingpin. With an all-female and nonbinary cast, this version pulses with ambition, danger, and innovation, all while staying true to the raw power of Shakespeare’s language.
Running in repertory is Emma, Kate Hamill’s acclaimed adaptation of the Jane Austen classic. Emma Woodhouse is clever, confident, and bored, so she throws herself into the romantic lives of everyone around her. What begins as a series of matchmaking misadventures spirals into a comic unraveling of social expectations, personal blind spots, and matters of the heart. With its vibrant mischief, feminist bite, and direct audience connection, Emma offers a lively counterpoint to the darkness of Richard III.
The season also features a series of special events that add celebration and community to the summer season. On Sunday, July 27th, audiences are invited to explore and support local entrepreneurs at the Women- and Nonbinary-Owned Businesses Festival. On Sunday, August 3rd, SVS honors Jane Austen’s 250th birthday with themed festivities before the performance, with guests encouraged to dress the part with Regency-era costumes. Patrons attending either of these events are encouraged to take part in a book exchange. Bring a copy of any William Shakespeare or Jane Austen book to either special theme night on July 27th and August 3rd to exchange them for another edition or someone else’s well-loved copy of either author. All guests at the special events will receive a complimentary commemorative bookmark. ASL-interpreted performances will be offered for Richard III on Sunday, August 10th, and for Emma on Sunday, August 17th, expanding access for d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons.
Pack a picnic, enjoy the towering redwoods, and settle in for an evening of drama, laughter, and unforgettable storytelling. With two genre-defying productions running side by side, Silicon Valley Shakespeare’s 2025 season promises to challenge, entertain, and surprise. Tickets will be available soon at svshakespeare.org.
CALENDAR LISTING
WHO
Silicon Valley Shakespeare
WHAT
Richard III
by William Shakespeare
directed by Doll Piccotto
Emma
by Kate Hamill
Based on the Jane Austen novel
directed by Erin Southard
WHEN
July 25–August 31, 2025
Shows run in repertory Thursdays–Sundays at 7 PM
Runtime is approx. 2 hours with a 15-minute intermission
WHERE
Sanborn County Park
16055 Sanborn Rd
Saratoga, CA 95070
TICKETS
$31–$61
Tickets and additional information about both productions are available at svshakespeare.org.
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ABOUT SILICON VALLEY SHAKESPEARE
Silicon Valley Shakespeare is a San José-based theatre arts organization providing theatrical performances and educational programs throughout Silicon Valley. Founded in 1999 as Shady Shakespeare Theatre Company, SVS has performed at Sanborn Park in Saratoga every summer since 2002, and has produced free theatre in Willow Glen, San José at Willow Street Park since 2013.