Founded in 1981, Shakespeare Santa Cruz is the professional theater company in residence at UC Santa Cruz. Every summer, the group explores the plays of Shakespeare and other, often contemporary, works. The summer 2010 season included the Bard's "Othello" and "Loves Labor Lost" with James Goldman's "The Lion in Winter." The group was named by USA Today "one of the nation's top ten most influential" Shakespeare companies. Shakespeare Santa Cruz also offers a winter show of original works based on holiday fairy tales.
Parking on the UC Santa Cruz campus requires a permit. For the lot near the performing arts center, permits cost $3 and are available in the lot.