11am-2pm Docents available at the Marion Davies Guest House to discuss the site
4:30-6pm Performance

*Please note that the start time of this event is 4:30pm.

Santa Monica Rep's new adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest unites spectacle and storytelling. Giant puppets, physical theater and original songs invigorate this performance at the Beach. Bring layers and sun protection as the show takes place outside the Guest House in the sunken garden area. Latecomers may be seated on the plaza or stand at the boardwalk (obstructed view).

The Tempest tells the story of a banished wizard who lives with his daughter on an enchanted isle. Utilizing his dark obsessions and occult powers, Prospero prepares an elaborate revenge on his enemies...but things don’t go as planned, and with a touch of romance, slapstick, dramatic reversals and a daughter’s love, forgiveness and celebration rule the day.

Santa Monica Rep was founded by Eric Bloom, Jen Bloom, and Sarah Gurfield. Their motto: "Substance. Style. Story." Visit http://santamonicarep.org for more information.

Jen Bloom (director) has been entertaining and educating all kinds of audiences for over a decade. She directs large scale puppet shows based on a cross-disciplinary arts ed curriculum at the LA Natural History Museum, and spent the last year collaborating with the Jim Henson Creature Shop on a commission to build a life sized saber tooth cat puppet, which now snarls at children and their adults every weekend. Bloom has worked with Chalk Rep, Rogue Machine Theatre Company, Theatricum Botanicum and the LA Playwrights Union. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, she worked in Providence and New York on site-specific and street theater projects, and her work as an actor and director has been seen at venues including Trinity Repertory Summer Shakespeare, Perishable Theatre, and Brown University. She has an MFA in Acting and Directing from Trinity Repertory Conservatory, completed Director’s Lab West in 2010, and is a registered yoga teacher from the Nosara Yoga institute of Costa Rica.

Eric Bloom (producer, performer): credits include regional roles at the Olney Theater Center, The Shakespeare Theater, Folger Shakespeare Library, Round House Theater, Rorschach Theater, Washington Shakespeare Company, and The Center Company. Bloom is a graduate of the University of Maryland theater department and the co-Founder of SKETCHUP, the campus’ first all-sketch comedy troupe, now celebrating their 15th year anniversary in 2011. As a producer, he created the BackYard Stage and produced the BYS 10 Minute play festival with members of the LA Playwrights Union. An experienced commedia clown and classical actor, Bloom is currently the Production Associate at the Broad Stage: living, working, and playing in Santa Monica.

Sarah Gurfield’s (producer) theatrical directing credits include the world premiere of Steven Fechter’s The Commission for the New York Fringe Festival, I Do! I Do! for Berkshire Theatre Festival, A Streetcar Named Desire and Bat Boy The Musical for Seacoast Repertory Theatre, and The Tutor for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, among others. She served as the Assistant Director for the Roundabout's recent Broadway revival of Twentieth Century, starring Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche, Carousel at Carnegie Hall, starring Hugh Jackman and Audra McDonald, and The Torch Bearers, starring Faith Prince and Marian Seldes. Film directing credits include the 2007 feature Mr. Blue Sky and several shorts. Gurfield is an SDCF Award winner, and a proud member of both SDC and AEA.

Stop by early for information on the Beach House and Guest House tours by docents from the Santa Monica Conservancy before this Beach=Culture event from 11am-2pm.

Tickets are free but seating is limited and reservations are required. If you would like to attend, please reserve online. Please plan to arrive by 4:15pm to retain your reservation. Late seating, even for reservation-holders, is not guaranteed. To adjust or cancel your reservation for this event, email beachhouse@smgov.net. We appreciate your keeping in touch!

Directions: The Beach House is located at 415 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica, CA 90402 on the west side of Pacific Coast Highway, a half mile north of the California Incline and a half mile south of Chautauqua Blvd. Plenty of public parking is available - enter off PCH at the Beach House Way traffic light. The facility is easily accessible by foot or bike from the beach bike path, although the Beach closes at sunset. There is ample bike parking at racks throughout the site - remember to bring your own lock.

Parking: There is an hourly/daily parking charge at the park and pay machines available in three areas of the ACBH parking lot. Weekday fees are $4/hr and 8/day; plan to pay for two hours and please check the website for details.

Other events: To view & make reservations for future free Beach=Culture events, check http://annenbergbeachhouse.com/beachculture.

General Info: For hours, events and more, visit http://www.annenbergbeachhouse.com, or call 310-458-4904. Back on the Beach Café is open until 8pm daily.