Shakespeare with a twist

“As the U.S. approaches its 250 th anniversary, audiences at UC Irvine’s New Swan Shakespeare Festival will experience the Bard through two uniquely American stories: a Depression-era “Romeo & Juliet” and a 1950s Southern California surf musical inspired by “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” The productions reflect what has become New Swan’s signature approach over the past 14 years – honoring Shakespeare’s language while finding fresh ways to connect classic tales with contemporary audiences. “These stories are so compelling,” says Eli Simon, founding artistic director of the festival. “They can be situated almost anywhere, but you’ve got to have good reasons for it.” This summer, those reasons are rooted in two iconic periods of American history and culture. Reimagining a timeless tragedy Directed by Rachael VanWormer, “Romeo & Juliet” transports Shakespeare’s most famous love story to the American Midwest during the Great Depression. Instead of portraying the Montagues and Capulets as powerful aristocratic families, this staging imagines households struggling through economic hardship and uncertainty. “Rather than having these be wildly rich, opulent families, they’ve hit hard times,” Simon says. “It throws the whole story into a different light and provides justification for how hard these families are scrambling for survival.” The setting offers audiences a new slant on a familiar story while preserving Shakespeare’s original language and emotional power. The production stars graduate student Lourdes Castillo as Juliet and returning New Swan performer Zach Trent as Romeo. Simon says that they connected naturally and poignantly during auditions. “A lot of that is about chemistry,” he notes. “The two of them read really well together.” Simon also credits VanWormer, who previously appeared in leading roles at New Swan, with bringing a fresh perspective to the play. “She had expressed to me time and again that she loved ‘Romeo & Juliet,’” Simon says. “It was time for New Swan to produce this classic, and she was clearly the right director for it.” The 2022 production of “The Comedy of Errrorrs” took on a ’70 look. Paul Kennedy Kendall Montunnas, a pattern maker in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts, exhibits one of the costume shop’s creations for “Romeo & Juliet.” Steve Zylius / UC Irvine “The Merry Wives of Windsor Cove” will feature an octopus costume, courtesy of South Coast Repertory. Steve Zylius / UC Irvine The costume shop created these period-appropriate dresses for “Romeo & Juliet,” which is being set in the Depression-era Midwest. Steve Zylius / UC Irvine Many performers in “The Merry Wives of Windsor Cove” will be adorned in beachwear, such as this festive Hawaiian shirt. Steve Zylius / UC Irvine World War II was the backdrop for this 2015 production of “Much Ado About Nothing.” Paul Kennedy The intimate New Swan theater seats 135 people. Steve Zylius / UC Irvine A musical first for New Swan If “Romeo & Juliet” represents New Swan’s dramatic side, “The Merry Wives of Windsor Cove” showcases the festival’s most ambitious creative experiment to date. The production transforms Shakespeare’s comedy into a rock ‘n’ roll Southern California surf musical inspired by 1950s television sitcoms, beach culture and Elvis Presley-era music. Most notably, it marks the first all-out musical adaptation in New Swan Shakespeare Festival history. “We’re trying something a little different this year,” Simon says. “I’ve always infused my plays with a lot of music, but this is a full-on musical.” He developed the production alongside writer/actor Anna Fitzgerald, who earned an M.F.A. in acting at UC Irvine in 2025, and composer Zach Dietz, UC Irvine associate professor of teaching in musical theater, who created an original score specifically for the show. The idea emerged after Simon began thinking about why audiences have long responded to “Merry Wives.” “It’s very plot-driven, kind of like a sitcom,” he says. “There’s trickery in most of the scenes, and they’re constantly messing with Falstaff.” That realization led to a 1950s setting. “It seemed to land very easily there,” Simon says. “It didn’t feel like we were pushing it into this place.” An early workshop prompted the creative team to compose novel music. After months of revisions, the production evolved into a fully realized musical featuring new songs that capture the spirit of the era. “We have all original music,” Simon says. “And the songs are fantastic. They have a definitive ’50s feel, but they’re their own songs.” Audiences will encounter surf-inspired costumes, a live band and Shakespeare’s language woven into a playful musical format. One company, two productions The two shows highlight another defining characteristic of New Swan: its rotating repertory model. Each season, the same company of actors performs in both productions, often switching dramatically between styles, genres and characters. “Our model is to present two plays – a tragedy and a comedy – with the same company of actors in rotating rep,” Simon says. “And this simple formula has worked beautifully for us.” That approach creates a unique experience for audiences, who can watch performers evolve from Shakespearean tragedians one night to singing comedians the next. “A lot of our patrons attend both shows,” Simon notes. “You get to see our super-talented Swan actors transform from one play and one style to another.” The model also provides valuable experience for UC Irvine students and alumni, who work alongside theater professionals. Performances take place inside New Swan’s custom-built mini-Elizabethan theater, an intimate outdoor venue assembled each summer on the UC Irvine campus. Fifteen 1-ton modular sections of the steel and wood theater are transported, put together and secured before rehearsals move into the space. Seating 135 people, the circular structure places spectators only a few feet from the action, creating an unusually immersive experience. The result combines the spirit of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre with Southern California’s outdoor culture, allowing audiences to enjoy live performances beneath the summer night sky. Building community through Shakespeare Since launching in 2012, New Swan has grown into one of Orange County’s premier summer arts destinations. In addition to its productions, the festival supports educational outreach, research and public engagement through the New Swan Shakespeare Center . It also hosts talkbacks, lectures and special events designed to make Shakespeare more accessible to broader audiences. For Simon, those community connections are just as important as the productions themselves. “We’re interested in getting to know our audience,” he says. “We embrace a ritual of family-building.” That philosophy has helped New Swan cultivate a loyal following while continuing to attract first-time visitors. Now in its second decade, the festival continues to evolve without losing sight of its original mission: bringing students, artists and audiences together through the shared experience of live theater. Under the stars at UC Irvine, Shakespeare remains timeless. This summer, he also feels unmistakably American. “Romeo & Juliet” opens on July 7, while “The Merry Wives of Windsor Cove” starts on July 8. Tickets are available for purchase.

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