11 Enchanting Places to See Outdoor Theater in Southern California

There are few places that can generate as much Southern California bliss as outdoor theater

New Swan Shakespeare Festival

Set on the UC Irvine campus, this open-air, Elizabethan-style portable theater is one of the hidden gems of the SoCal Shakespeare scene. The productions in the festival’s summer repertory season, full of lunar magic, are distinguished as much for their poetic sensitivity as for their interpretive boldness. Founding Artistic Director Eli Simon leads a company composed of professional guest artists, UCI alumni, current graduate and undergraduate drama students, and faculty. The dramaturgical intelligence and deep humanity that characterize the approach to Shakespeare more than make up for any shortfalls of polish or experience. Summer 2026 offers Romeo & Juliet (through Aug. 29) and The Merry Wives of Windsor Cove (through Aug. 30).

11 Enchanting Places to See Outdoor Theater in Southern California — Los Angeles Times