“Macbeth” was performed for the first time hundreds of years ago — but it still captivates theatergoers.
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“Shakespeare by the Sea” will produce “Macbeth” for the third time in its 29 seasons when it opens for free performances in Long Beach on Friday, June 26, and closes in Redondo Beach on Saturday, July 25.
The 17 shows during the 29th season will also take place in Rossmoor, Encino, Hermosa Beach, San Pedro, Rancho Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach, South Pasadena, Beverly Hills and Aliso Viejo.
Co-artistic Director Stephanie Coltrin last directed “Macbeth” in 2017 for SBTS.
As they prepare for its 30th season next year, Coltrin said, she and co-artistic Director Suzanne Dean had to “rethink what we were doing.”
“Rather than canceling this summer tradition that would make everybody sad, us and everybody else,” Coltrin said, “we decided to just focus the resources on creating one production so that we could still bring the show into communities.”
Actors practice their parts for the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth”, at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Actors practice their parts for the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth”, at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Actors practice their parts for the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth”, at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Actors practice their parts for the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth”, at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Actors practice their parts for the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth”, at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Actors practice their parts for the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth”, at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Actors practice their parts for the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth”, at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Actors practice their parts for the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth”, at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Actors practice their parts for the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth”, at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Actors practice their parts for the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth”, at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Actors practice their parts for the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth”, at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Actors practice their parts for the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth”, at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
For years, SBTS would produce one drama and comedy each season, but budget constraints will not allow them to go to “every location that we would love to go to,” Coltrin said. Last year, SBTS had 24 performances in 17 locations. This year, there will be 17 performances in 12 locations.
“We’re just trying to do a tactical retreat,” Coltrin said, “so we can build it back up, working toward our 30th next year.”
But this season, Coltrin said, the theater company is more than $76,000 short of what it needs to cover costs for the summer.
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“I think sometimes people go to theater and they think, ‘Oh, it’s on the stage, so it must be paid for,’ and it’s not,” Coltrin said. “We’re continuously fundraising through the season.”
Fundraising across the nonprofit theater sector is difficult, Coltrin said, but SBTS is hoping to get corporate sponsorships.
For the first time, SBTS is raising money through “Bard’s Bites,” with attendees able to purchase boxed picnic meals in advance for select venues.
“Bard’s Bites” will be available in Long Beach on June 26 and 27, San Pedro on July 10 and 11, and Redondo Beach on July 24 and 25.
SBTS will continuously fundraise to reach the 30th season next year and beyond, Coltrin said.
“There are so many companies that do Shakespeare in the park,” Coltrin said, “but what’s super unique about us is we’re coming into your neighborhoods and that is a tradition that should not go away.”
For more information, visit shakespearebythesea.org.
2026 Shakespeare by the Sea
All shows begin at 7 p.m. Here is the schedule:
June 26-27: Festival opening at Recreation Park Bandshell, 4900 E. Seventh St., Long Beach.
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July 2: Rush Park, 3021 Blume Drive, Rossmoor.
July 3: Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino.
July 8-9: Valley Park, 2521 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach.
July 10-11: Point Fermin Park, 807 W. Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro.
July 12: Hesse Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes.
July 16-17: Polliwog Park, 1601 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach.
July 18-19: Garfield Park, 1000 Park Ave., South Pasadena.
July 22: Roxbury Park, 471 S. Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills.
July 23: Soka University, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo.
July 24: Veterans Park, 309 Esplanade, Redondo Beach.
July 25: Festival closing at Dominguez Park, 200 Flagler Lane, Redondo Beach.