What's In A Name?
In 1999, Sara Betts had an idea to do an outdoor performance of Shakespeare at the amphitheatre at the Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto. She asked friends and colleagues who might be interested in joining her. Dinna Myers and Jeff Day raised their hands; though Dinna said "If we do a show we will need to say we are some kind of company". Sara took Dinna and Jeff over to investigate the performance space she had identified. It was a concrete stage with a big grass lawn in the blazing sun. "See! We can perform right here and we can call it Shakespeare in the Sun," she said. Dinna could envision many hospital trips due to heat stroke and gently lead Sara and Jeff over to a shady courtyard in the same complex. "I see your point, " said Sara. "But then we can't call it Shakespeare in the Sun." "No problem. We'll call it Shady Shakespeare," Dinna said. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Where Are They Now?
Sara, who now resides in Rhode Island, was our founding Artistic Director and continues to be a positive influence on the artistic direction of the company.

Jeff left SSTC shortly after its inception to pursue a professional directing career.

Dinna has served the company as Managing Director since day one and is still at the helm to this day.

Landmark Moments 2000 Achieved 501c3 Non-Profit status 2001 Switched from paid to free performances 2002 Moved to Sanborn–Skyline County Park 2004 Produced our first non-comedy (Hamlet) 2005 First repertory (two-show) season 2007 Larry Barrott succeeds Sara Betts as Artistic Director

Past Productions 1999 Twelfth Night - Directed by Sara Betts 2000 As You Like It - Directed by Dinna Myers 2001 The Two Gentlemen of Verona - Directed by Sara Betts 2002 Much Ado About Nothing - Directed By Dinna Myers 2003 A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Directed by Doll Piccotto 2004 Hamlet - Directed by Dinna Myers 2005 Measure for Measure - Directed by Jeff Bengford The Merry Wives of Windsor - Directed by Dinna Myers 2006 The Taming of the Shrew - Directed by Angie Higgins & Sharon Salazar Romeo and Juliet - Directed by Larry Barrott 2007 Macbeth - Directed By Karen Moore The Tempest - Directed by Dinna Myers