Thomas F. Bradac, founding artistic director of Shakespeare Orange County has announced that he will retire from producing theatre after the 2013 season concludes. Bradac will co-direct Twelfth Night or What You Will & The Tragedie of Macbeth for Shakespeare Orange County’s 22nd season.
Bradac stated, “I’m lucky to have spent 34 years producing, directing and occasionally acting in these great plays in Orange County. A special thank you to the City of Garden Grove for its support and encouragement while in Garden Grove and to Chapman University and Dr. James Doti for nurturing the theatre in its formative years in Orange.” Instrumental in founding the Grove Shakespeare Festival (1979-1991) and guiding it through twelve and a half seasons, Bradac created Shakespeare Orange County in late 1991. Launching its first season in 1992 with productions of The Winter’s Tale and Hamlet at the Waltmar Theatre at Chapman University, Shakespeare Orange County completed twelve seasons in Orange. In 2004, Bradac moved the troupe to the outdoor Festival Amphitheatre in Garden Grove. This summer marks the company’s tenth summer under the stars.
Bradac will continue on as a professor of Theatre at Chapman University in Orange and resides in Garden Grove with his wife Anne and youngest daughter Caitlin. Another daughter, Alyssa Bradac, is completing an MFA in directing from University of Calgary and will be co-directing the season. Bradac concluded, “Finally, a big thank you to all of those artists, volunteers, board members, donors and creative people who made up Shakespeare Orange County during my time as producing director. It has truly been a labor of love.”
Season tickets for 2013 may currently be purchased online at www.shakespeareoc.org or by calling (714) 744-7016. The Festival Amphitheater is located in Village Green Park — 12762 Main St., Garden Grove, CA. 92840. Performances for all SOC productions begin at 8:15 pm. A special green show will be presented nightly at 7:30 p.m. and free pre-performance discussions with Dr. Kent Lehnhoff will be conducted on selected evenings. Picnic areas are available.
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