Written by Melani Morose Edelstein | 2026 | July | Issue 74
For many Southern California families, summer traditions include beach days, backyard barbecues and evenings spent beneath the stars watching Shakespeare by the Sea.
A Summer Tradition Continues
For nearly three decades, the nonprofit theater company has transformed public parks into outdoor stages, bringing free professional theater directly into neighborhoods across Los Angeles and Orange counties. This summer, however, audiences may notice one significant change: instead of its traditional two-play repertory season, Shakespeare by the Sea will present a single production, Macbeth.
“The decision was not artistic. Our choice to do one production rather than two was a financial decision,” says Artistic Director Stephanie Coltrin. “Shakespeare by the Sea, like many arts organizations currently, has very real fundraising struggles. Up until February, we weren’t sure that we’d be able to have a season at all.”
One Play, One Purpose
Like many nonprofit arts organizations, Shakespeare by the Sea continues to navigate rising production costs and shifting donor priorities. When year-end fundraising fell short of expectations, company leadership faced a difficult choice.
“While we could not afford a traditional two-play schedule this year, we realized we could focus our resources on one powerful production rather than pause the season and still offer a great summer program on a reduced scale,” Coltrin says.
The result is the company’s 29th admission-free summer Shakespeare season, featuring Macbeth in a modern verse translation by playwright Migdalia Cruz, adapted and directed by Coltrin. The production opens June 26 at the Recreation Park Bandshell in Long Beach and tours through July 25, bringing free performances to parks throughout the region.
Even with a streamlined season, Shakespeare by the Sea expects to serve more than a dozen communities and reach approximately 10,000 audience members. “This approach allows us to continue serving our audiences while building toward a stronger and more sustainable future,” Coltrin says.
The Cost of Keeping Free Theater Alive
That future remains a work in progress. The organization is still working to close a funding gap of more than $93,000 for the 2026 season.
“While admission-free Shakespeare is free to the community, it is not free to produce,” Coltrin explains. “Each performance costs Shakespeare by the Sea approximately $14,000, so we need donations, and we’d be grateful for any businesses who would like to sponsor.”
Why Macbeth Matters Right Now
If Shakespeare by the Sea was going to produce only one play, Coltrin wanted it to be a work with urgency and relevance. “If we are producing one play, the choice must matter,” she says. “It means intention. It means choosing a story powerful enough to carry the weight of this moment. And Macbeth is that story.”
Written more than 400 years ago, Shakespeare’s tragedy explores the corrosive effects of unchecked ambition, political power and moral compromise. Coltrin believes its themes resonate strongly today.
“Few plays capture the dangers of ambition and power as vividly as Macbeth,” she says. “It demonstrates what happens when grief hardens into ambition, when fear overtakes wisdom, and when those in power silence the voices that speak difficult truths. It is a story about consequence and integrity.”
If Shakespeare by the Sea was going to produce only one play, Coltrin wanted it to be a work with urgency and relevance. “If we are producing one play, the choice must matter,” she says. “It means intention. It means choosing a story powerful enough to carry the weight of this moment. And Macbeth is that story.”
Written more than 400 years ago, Shakespeare’s tragedy explores the corrosive effects of unchecked ambition, political power and moral compromise. Coltrin believes its themes resonate strongly today.
“Few plays capture the dangers of ambition and power as vividly as Macbeth,” she says. “It demonstrates what happens when grief hardens into ambition, when fear overtakes wisdom, and when those in power silence the voices that speak difficult truths. It is a story about consequence and integrity.”
A Vision for the Future of Shakespeare by the Sea
While the immediate focus is on this summer’s production, Coltrin is already thinking about the future. Asked what she hopes Shakespeare by the Sea will become in the decades ahead, her answer is both practical and aspirational.
“I love that you asked that question,” she says. “A patron recently asked us, ‘What’s the dream?’ and it reminded us that ‘we are such stuff as dreams are made on,’ as Shakespeare wrote. The dream is both simple and expansive: for Shakespeare by the Sea to outlive all of us, continuing to activate public spaces, build experiences for multi-generational communities, and to continue to offer productions that delight, inspire and educate for generations to come.”
Community, Storytelling and Summer Magic
For all the challenges facing arts organizations today, Coltrin remains energized by what awaits this summer. “I’m excited at the start of every season,” she says. “I’m excited to work with the artists, and to connect with the communities that we tour to.”
That connection is what keeps audiences returning year after year. Long before the actors take the stage, families arrive with lawn chairs, picnic baskets and blankets. Children play on the grass. Neighbors reconnect. As dusk settles in, a public park becomes a shared cultural experience. For Coltrin, that’s what Shakespeare by the Sea has always been about.
“Bring a blanket, and friends, and gather with us to experience a wonderful story,” she says.
This summer, there may be only one production. But for the thousands of Southern Californians who have made Shakespeare by the Sea part of their seasonal traditions, the experience remains exactly what it has always been: community, storytelling and a little magic under the stars.
Visit Shakespeare by the Sea’s website here and see tour locations and dates for Macbeth.
