New Swan Theater

The New Swan Theater was, hands down, the coolest theater I’ve ever been in! It’s a small, temporary, ~100-​seat, three-​tiered theater IN THE ROUND! Huzzah! They put on two Shakespearean plays each summer that run concurrently through July & August. They also host Shakespearean seminars and music Mondays! YOU MUST GO TO THIS THEATER!!! It was truly amazing!
On 07÷17÷15, my husband and I went to see «Much Ado About Nothing». It was so intimate that you felt like you were living the play. The acting was phenomenal: the actors play parts in both plays through the summer, and they were fabulous!
I recommend seats in the King or Queen section, if you can swing the prices. The most expense tickets in the King’s section (literally on the stage) were $ 50 each, a bit pricey, but well worth it for the experience. My husband and I sat in the Lords’ section: it was great for viewing, but since it’s raised and you have to put your feet on a bar, it can make your back a bit stiff. I still loved it though, and it was well worth a bit of stiffness. The top section was good and wide open to the elements (some people brought blankets, which was smart), but they watched from above, and I assumed they missed out on some of the facial emoting: it was much better to sit at eye-​level, in my opinion. So if you can afford it, reserve seats in the King or Queen sections.
I am taking my parents at the end of August to see Macbeth, and I’m even more excited now that I know how incredible this experience was. I plan to attend annually, and I recommend that you do the same! It was divine!!!

I have always enjoyed theater and I was honored to be Professor Julia Lupton’s class. Her deep knowledge and unquestionable passion for Shakespeare made her a key role in the productions at the New Swan Theater. Since she is the «Dramatugy» we, as her students, were able to get a first glance as these production before the New Swan Theater built it’s high esteem. I am very proud to witness how much it keeps on improving.
The New Swan Theater is UCI’s unique design of a mini-​Elizabethian theater. It has an intimate atmosphere with each of the seats a great view of the stage. I have noticed improvements such as the chairs from 2012 to be somewhat like recycled donated cushion from old computer chairs to 2014 when the built in chairs are pleasantly more comfortable.
I have seen Merchant of Venice (summer2012), Comedy of Errors (summer2012), As You Like It (spring2014), Romeo and Juliet (summer2014) and most recently Twelfth Night (summer2014).
One of my majors were in English, so I have read this plays. The creativity behind these productions goes beyond the scape of my imagination. These actors incorporate their personal touches to embellish what the text implies. Furthermore some of the plays have a twist on the setting, taking it onto a completely different level. I especially love the Wild West theme in Comedy of Errors and the 1920s Hollywood theme in Twelfth Night.
The main characters are so admirable in the way they have memorized long endless soliloquys. Some of these main characters have roles in multiple productions and they have to work hard every night. That is true dedication!
I feel like minor characters can be dull, but the two Dromios in Comedy of Errors and Feste (the role of a fool) in Twelfth Night were especially admirable. It’s been over two years and I still remember the way the Dromios would *meep*. And Feste was so amazing, his facial expressions are so hilarious! I feel like these talented actors of the New Swan Theater does Shakespeare’s texts proud :) And let’s not forget all of those who did the behind the scene work! Every tiny element contributes to the glory of the New Swan Theater!!!
I will definitely continue my patronage for many many future years to come. When I’m older with financial abundance, this is definitely something I would want to support! For now, I’ll just be their loving seasons ticket holder.

This is a fantastic place to go to the theatre and watch great Shakespeare under the stars. It is a real jewel of a theatre with only 125 seats. ALL of the seats are close to the action so you don’t need to worry about getting a bad seat! You can arrive early and eat a picnic in the park and watch the pre-​show to get into the mood. Last summer I enjoyed Merchant of Venice and this year I am looking forward to KING LEAR and A Midsummer’s Night Dream. They are also doing The Fantasticks, which is a fun musical.

I was oh so lucky to grab the limited and coveted ticket to UCI’s New Swan Shakespeare Fesitval for Merchant of Venice with a modern twist. I was walking around Aldrich Park and came upon the theater and was introduced to it and the festival by one of the members. I quickly got a flyer and checked on-​line a few days later to find out that it was sold out! Fortunately, I emailed uci art tickets and they notified me of a new show, originally to be a preview show. Located right upon the steps across from their main library in the Gateway Common area, this theater was built from scatch and is portable. We sat on the top seats which was intimate (came eye to eye with some of the actors) as there seemed to be no bad seats in small theater. Yes the seats aren’t the most comfortable and it’s narrow but to be in a circular closeness with the stage and actors was amazing especially under the few stars in the Irvine sky. The performance was hands down amazing! The actors consist of UCI’s Drama professors, MFA students, graduates and the performance had so much heart, drama, humor. I left in awe and privileged to be part of this experience. They will be performing King Lear and Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2013 and I can’t wait to get tickets for both! $ 15 if you’re not a student but experience is worth much more. priceless! Added tip: Get some Le diplomate sandwiches at the UCI marketplace and walk over with your Peets coffee beforehand to enjoy Aldrich park prior to the show!

This is a newly constructed theater inside of the Claire Trevor Theater designed after Elizabethan-​style theaters. The audience surrounds the stage in a very tight manner, making it an intimate setting for any production. There are even seats right on the stage floor.
The theater was set up in the last two months and is abled to be disassembled so that it will be set up at various places in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts or around UCI. Pretty freakin neat idea. I definitely would LOVE to see it at Aldrich Park!
I saw Shakespeare’s the Merchant of Venice here on 2÷2÷12, the second time the theater was open to the public. WONDERFUL production, LOVED it! The producer, Eli Simon, also gave a little talk just for my group an hour before about the setting of the play and the theater design. The general price was $ 15, but I got it for $ 10 (maybe because we went in a large group?). Being so close to the stage was a great experience to see the characters in action!
Some definite problems: SEATS!
The seats are nailed right into the metal railing of the theater, so the backrest doesn’t move and it’s squished right up against your butt cushion; basically a very small chair. Except now imagine that it is high above the ground, so you cannot rest your feet to support your body. Consequently, we were all climbing to stay on on seats all night cause we can’t lean back, and we’re slightly leaning forward all the time. Definitely distracting.
Now back to those seats on the stage where you can really admire the actors. …They’re not actually physical seats; you just sit on the ground. Your butt will go numb, so maybe bring a pillow if you want to sit here. But also, you’re in complete view of the audience so ladies, don’t hitch your knees up and show your undies. Also, if you have to pick your nose or scratch an itch anywhere awkward, the audience may see it.
I’d be back because the productions are AMAZING, and I’m 5′ so the seat doesn’t bother me that much. However, my boyfriend did not enjoy those seats…