Written by orange• July 9, 2025• 2:04 am• Dana Point, Dana Point Shakespeare Festival, News, Press Releases, Theater, Uncategorized

Q&A with producer Alicia Erlinger about the 2025 Dana Point Shakespeare Festival

Written by Patrick Chavis

This Q&A is from an email communication.

1. The first Dana Point Shakespeare Festival last year was called Orange County “ShakesBEER” Festival. What were the factors in the name change this year to the Dana Point Shakespeare Festival? Is it even the same event with the name change?

While last year’s OC ShakesBEER festival was a success, the play is the thing! Our Dana Point Arts and Culture Ambassadors made the decision to put focus on the play and make it a Dana Point event, hence the name change to Dana Point Shakespeare Festival. It is a different event in that there will be no beer tasting, though local non-profits will have vendor booths selling beer, wine and cocktails. Another difference this year is more live pre-show entertainment featuring Iris and the Shade and Queen Anne’s Blouse. We will also have strolling performers.

2. Last year, you put on a production of The Tempest. This year, it’s Twelfth Night. With the breadth of material from Shakespeare, how doth one pluck a choice from the garden of options?

Great question! Twelfth Night was chosen for the humorous language and characters as well as for the potential for physical comedy and ensemble opportunities. Our actors are doing a terrific job bringing those elements to their performances.

3. What are some essential things to bring, whether we drop in for the showing on the 11th or the 12th?

Parking is at Salt Creek Beach, which is a paid parking lot. Walk under the tunnel and you will see our stage and festival grounds. Bring your low back chair, there are no chairs, also feel free to bring a picnic dinner. We will have food trucks with local non-profits selling beer, wine and cocktails, as well. As the sun goes down, it gets cold, bring a jacket or blanket. Our play program is digital and can be accessed at https://www.playbillder.com/show/vip/Dana_Point_Arts_Alliance/2025/Dana_Point_Shakespeare_Festival_212669 . Also, our actors are all volunteers, and we would appreciate any donations to our actor fund!

4. Do you have any local food recommendations? We can stop nearby before or after the show.

Other than our food trucks at the park, Gelson’s at Monarch Bay Plaza and Moulin at the corner of Pacific Coast Hwy and Niguel Road have various menu options for a picnic. After the show, Blue Dolphin on PCH is open. Hennesey’s Tavern in La Plaza, Project Social on Niguel Road, and Camino Del Avion, and a local favorite, Turk’s in Dana Point Harbor, are all open late.

5. Any tips on things we could brush up on before to make the Twelfth Night experience that much more splendiferous?

Review the plot! Take a look at our digital program, which introduces the cast & creative team and has a synopsis of the play.

https://www.playbillder.com/show/vip/Dana_Point_Arts_Alliance/2025/Dana_Point_Shakespeare_Festival_212669

6. You could watch Shakespeare these days everywhere on your phone or television set, in the city of Irvine. What makes this show uniquely Dana Point?

Our plays are performed in a maritime concept to reflect the history and culture of Dana Point. This year’s concept is pirates. As with last year’s The Tempest, each performance opens with a greeting from Richard Henry Dana, Jr. I bet you didn’t know there is a connection between Richard Henry Dana Jr and Shakespeare! Richard Henry Dana, Sr., his father, a poet & lawyer with a literary reputation, lectured on Shakespeare. Though a fun fact, it gives a special touch to producing Shakespeare.