Dear Stefanie,

I’m writing to let you know about two exciting events related to New Works/New Communities (NW/NC) projects coming up next week.

First, Cal Shakes will celebrate and support Oakland Technical High School’s student production of our first NW/NC play, Hamlet: Blood in the Brain, through a Community Conversation at Oakland Tech on Monday, March 1. This free public event will feature students performing scenes from their award-winning production, followed by a panel discussion—moderated by Cal Shakes’ Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone—among student actors, Oakland Tech Performing Arts co-chair Jessa Berkner, and artists from our original 2006 production. For more details, please click here.

On Tuesday, March 2, in collaboration with the Western Stage at Hartnell College and the National Steinbeck Center, we would also like to invite you to a reading of selections from our upcoming production of John Steinbeck’s The Pastures of Heaven, developed in collaboration with Word for Word Performing Arts Company and written by nationally renowned playwright Octavio Solis. We are especially excited to invite educators to attend, and I will be on hand to discuss opportunities to integrate arts-based learning into your classroom through Cal Shakes, including:

•    Exciting Student Discovery Matinees at our theater in Orinda
•    Our free, comprehensive Pastures of Heaven Teacher’s Guide, available in early May in preparation for viewing the play
•    Professional Development workshops designed to assist classroom teachers with using theater to teach literature
•    Access to information about upcoming events surrounding our world premiere of John Steinbeck’s The Pastures of Heaven.

Details for both free, public events are below. No reservations are required. We hope you can make it!

Sincerely,

Trish Tillman, Director of Artistic Learning

Oakland Tech Community Conversation
Date: Monday, March 1
Time: 6:30-8pm
Location: Oakland Technical High School, 4351 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94609
Panel discussion and informal reception immediately following the performance.

Reading of John Steinbeck’s The Pastures of Heaven
Date: Tuesday, March 2
Time: 7:30-9pm
Location: Studio Theater at the Western Stage, 411 Central Ave, Salinas, CA 93901
Informal conversation and dessert reception immediately following the performance.

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Pictured above: Sean San Jose and Ryan Nicole Peters in Cal Shakes' 2006 production of Hamlet: Blood in the Brain,
photo by Jay Yamada; Kenya Hall and Marcus Thompson in the Oakland Tech production, photo by Jessa Berkner.