Santa Cruz County Actors’ Theatre launches its 30th edition of the “8 Tens @ 8” festival with a lively Night “A” that offers a brisk, entertaining sampler of short plays that range from laugh-out-loud funny to quietly touching. It’s a crowd-pleasing reminder of why this beloved festival has thrived for three decades.
Jana Marcus
A native Santa Cruzan, Jana Marcus has deep roots in the local theatre and arts scene. Daughter of renowned theatre director Wilma Marcus Chandler and famed poet and film critic Morton Marcus, Jana has carved her own creative path as a multi award-winning photographer. She was the premiere South Bay area theatre photographer for over 20 years as well as an award-winning documentary and portrait photographer. Jana has also had a stellar career as an arts marketer, creating acclaimed campaigns and content for Cabrillo College, Cabrillo Stage, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, Tandy Beal and Company, Actors’ Theatre, Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre and more. Jana is the author of three books and the host of the true crime podcast, Line of Blood.
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Minimalism undermines the heart of SC Shakespeare’s ‘A Christmas Carol’
Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s holiday “A Christmas Carol” arrives with a talented cast and good intentions, but its minimalist staging and narration-heavy adaptation never find the emotional spark that makes Scrooge’s journey so enduring, leaving this production feeling surprisingly hollow.
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Downtown after dark: Portraits from Santa Cruz Halloween 2025
For the fourth year, photographer Jana Marcus set up her lights and camera on Halloween to capture portraits from Santa Cruz’s Pacific Avenue in all its chaotic, festive and nocturnal glory.
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Making a splash: Cabrillo’s ‘Metamorphoses’ flows with theatrical magic
The Cabrillo College Theatre Arts Department’s production of “Metamorphoses” is a stunning fusion of myth, movement and water — a sensory feast that transforms the Black Box Theater into a pool of divine storytelling.
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Fandom gone fatal in Actors’ Theatre’s ‘Misery’
Who needs ghosts or gore when human obsession can be even more terrifying? Santa Cruz County Actors’ Theatre delivers a slow-burn psychological thriller with “Misery” – a dark dive into the twisted side of fandom and the monsters we create ourselves.
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The Maestro: How conductor Daniel Stewart left New York’s Metropolitan Opera to reshape the Santa Cruz Symphony
The Santa Cruz Symphony opens its 68th season this weekend, one shaped by the vision of former Metropolitan Opera conductor Daniel Stewart, who has leveraged his international connections and artistic vision to turn the regional symphony into a world-class orchestra.
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MCT’s ‘The Addams Family’ delivers delightful campy charm
With a cast brimming with energy and just the right dose of spooky camp and darkly funny charm, “The Addams Family” delivers a delightfully offbeat night at the theater. From Gomez’s irresistible appeal to Wednesday’s drop-dead performance, Mountain Community Theater brings the mix of gothic gloom and laugh-out-loud comedy to Ben Lomond.
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In Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s brilliant ‘Master Harold,’ superb performances deliver devastating truths
Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s “‘Master Harold’ … and the Boys” is both intimate and explosive. What begins with dancing and banter unravels into a devastating portrait of racism, betrayal and moral choice. With five-star performances, this is a must-see.
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All About Theatre delivers energetic take on provocative teen musical ‘Spring Awakening’
If you think community theater can’t rock, “Spring Awakening” at All About Theatre will prove you wrong. With a driving rock score powered by an impressive orchestra and a cast that builds to explosive energy, “Spring Awakening” is messy, moving and alive — a reminder of why supporting local theater matters.
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Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s ‘Pericles’ navigates love, loss and redemption
Pirates, princesses, brothels and shipwrecks — “Pericles” has all the drama of a soap opera with the poetry of Shakespeare, and Santa Cruz Shakespeare gives this wild ride heart and humor. Think “Shakespearean road trip” with emotional payoff and a superb cast.