Articles: Culture and Creativity Flourish in Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County is a magnet for artists of all types and offers an eclectic array of talent, in a variety of creative formats.

Big-name talent at intimate venues is the norm at Santa Cruz area nightclubs. You're likely to hear the sounds of greats like Dave Brubeck, and the alternative tunes of The English Beat around town. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, The Catalyst, and The Attic in Downtown Santa Cruz, are hot spots for live entertainment. Moe's Alley Blues Club and Henfling's Tavern in Ben Lomond are other popular clubs.

Classical performances reign throughout the county. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008, the Santa Cruz County Symphony showcases new and classic works at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium and the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts in Watsonville. The ethereal voices of the Santa Cruz Chorale ring in the holidays as well as offering other types of music and song throughout the season. The masterful, 25-year old Santa Cruz Ballet Theater offers the seasonal The Nutcracker as well as new performances that will dazzle and inspire. And the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival features a musical journey to the Old World. The annual Music in the Garden tour each Memorial Day Weekend is a wonderful way to tour five of the area's finest gardens, and enjoy music performed by diverse ensembles.

Each August, the highly acclaimed Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music premieres new work by some of the world's most celebrated modern composers. Conducted by Marin Alsop, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's first female conductor, the Cabrillo Festival provides a voice to new symphonic works, and has featured music by Aaron Copland, Philip Glass, and many others.

Other seasonal music events include the free summertime concert series at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Friday nights and Capitola's Wednesday Night Twilight Concerts in Esplanade Park. April through September, UCSC's Arboretum Music Series features a variety of options, from American folk music to gospel to traditional Irish bagpipes. Stroll through a eucalyptus grove until you reach the outdoor stage where you can relax on a picnic blanket under the stars.

Summertime is also the season for the renowned Shakespeare Santa Cruz. A redwood glen provides the enchanting setting for the Bard's masterpieces--cleverly interpreted and performed by an exuberant, talented company of players. These popular productions have included transplanted time periods, pop culture references, and non-traditional casting. Many regular attendees pack a picnic supper and a bottle of wine and enjoy dining al fresco prior to the performance. Wintertime brings holiday "pantos". In keeping with the tradition of Shakespeare Santa Cruz's fresh takes on the classics, the holiday play is based on a traditional fairy tale and children's literature.

For over 20 years, Actors' Theatre has provided a venue for many new plays on the Central Coast. Cabrillo Stage, recognized as one of the three major annual performing arts events in Santa Cruz County, is a professional theater company presenting full-scale Broadway musicals to the greater Monterey Bay area. U.C. Santa Cruz's Arts & Lectures presents a year-round line-up of concerts, performances, and events including distinguished speakers, string quartets, folklorico and other diverse samplings. Ben Lomond's Mountain Community Theater and others host excellent productions throughout the year. From dramatic performances to poetry events, an array of choices await when it comes to theater.

Founded by the local film community, the Santa Cruz Film Festival features independently-produced movies each spring. What began as a few days of new cinematic works has evolved into a week of non-stop events, featuring hundreds of films from around the globe with special appearances by film directors, producers and stars. Santa Cruz's imaginative spirit is the perfect backdrop for this cinematic celebration.

Fine arts and crafts also figure prominently into the creative scene. The works of painters, sculptors, glass artisans and other artists is evident at countless festivals and galleries. Each October, the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County's Open Studios Art Tour invites the public for a "sneak peek" into the studios of hundreds of local artists. This self-guided countywide tour offers a glimpse into the work space of hundreds of painters, sculptors, potters, metal workers, glass artists and others. Santa Cruz area galleries open their doors to the public the first weekend of the month, showcasing spectacular works of art created locally. Stroll at your leisure or hop aboard an evening shuttle and get on and off at each of the participating galleries and museums.

Annual art, wine and music festivals are held in Capitola, Boulder Creek and Scotts Valley. Artisan shops and galleries also thrive around the county, including Annieglass Studios, the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, the Santa Cruz Art League Gallery and the Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery, among others.

An abundance of live music, theater and fine arts accompanies an assortment of festivals, celebrations and performances, inspired by the county's continuous, artistic energy.