Our History

Co-founded in 1994 by educators/actors and Shakespeare aficionados, Kevin Dressler and Randy Messersmith, Southwest Shakespeare ("SSC") has always emphasized education and making Shakespeare understandable to the masses.

In May 2000, a national search brought Jared Sakren to SSC as Artistic Director. He was a member of the first graduating class of the Juilliard Drama Division and a founding member of John Houseman’s The Acting Company, with which he appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway and on national tours. His background includes teaching, performance and directing credits throughout the nation including the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Yale School of Drama, American Conservatory, Denver Center Theater Co., Arizona Theatre Company, and more. He is also founding artistic director of Shakespeare Sedona.

For the first 11 seasons, SSC performed the fall and spring shows in the outdoor Mesa Amphitheatre and the winter show indoors at either Mountain View or Westwood High School. The 2005-06 season opened at the new Mesa Arts Center, a $94.5 million facility located in downtown Mesa. Under Jared Sakren’s leadership, SSC expanded its season and performed a total of five shows in two of its four theaters (the 550-seat Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater and the 99-seat Anita Cox Farnsworth Studio Theater).

SSC mounted a six show season in 2006-07, performing in yet a third theater at the “MAC,” the Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse Theater.

Southwest Shakespeare Company congratulates and thanks its Actors, Designers, Directors, and Artists who, collectively, have received hundreds of award nominations over its 16 year history. Listed below are the winners

AriZoni Theatre Awards

Actress in a Supporting Role – Andi Watson – The Merchant of Venice (2008-09)

Best Production – Contracted Play – The Merry Wives of Windsor (2007-08)

Director, Play – Jared Sakren - The Taming of the Shrew (2007-08)

Actress in a Major Role – Sarah Wolter – The Merry Wives of Windsor (2007-08)

Actor in a Major Role – Richard Baird – The Taming of the Shrew (2007-08)

Hair & Make-up Design – Kelly Turner – The Merry Wives of Windsor (2007-08)

Actress in a Supporting Role – Janae Thomas – The Merry Wives of Windsor (2007-08)

Actor in a Major Role – Richard Baird – Cyrano de Bergerac (2006-07)

Original Music Composition – Lincoln Wright – The Two Gentlemen of Verona (2006-07)

Sound Design – Christian Miller – The Tempest (2006-07)

Lighting Design – Paul Black – The Tempest (2006-07)

Hair & Make-up Design – MaryBeth Ingram & Patsy Johnson – The Tempest (2006-07)

Best Production – Contracted Play – Hamlet (2005-06)

Best Production – Contracted Play – Much Ado About Nothing (2005-06)

Actor in a Supporting Role – Sandy Elias – Arms and The Man (2005-06)

Actor in a Supporting Role – Cale Epps – Much Ado About Nothing (2005-06)

Actress in a Supporting Role – Andi Watson – Arms and The Man (2005-06)

Costume Design – Lois Myers - Arms and The Man (2005-06)

Actor in a Major Role – Bob Sorenson – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2005-06)

Actor in a Major Role – Ken Ruta – King Lear (2004-05)

Best Production – Contracted Play – Richard III (2003-04)

Director, Play – Jared Sakren - Richard III (2003-04)

Actor in a Major Role – James Kiberd – The Taming of the Shrew (2003-04)

Actor in a Supporting Role - James Ward - Love's Labour's Lost (2002-03)

Actor in a Supporting Role - Richard Trujillo - Comedy of Errors (2002-03)

Actress in a Major Role - Patti Davis Suarez - All's Well That Ends Well (2001-02)

Best Production, Play - A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1995-96)

Director, Play -Leslie Brott - A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1995-96)

Actor in a Major Role, Play - John King - A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1995-96)

Actor in a Supporting Role, Play - Steve Muterspaugh - Midsummer (1995-96)

Actor in a Supporting Role, Play - Billy Gunn - Midsummer (1995-96)

Lighting Design - Lee Geller - A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1995-96)

Actress in a Major Role, Musical - Katherine Stewart - West Side Story (1995-96)

Music Director - Marcus Denton - West Side Story (1995-96)

Sound Design - Gene Ganssle - Oedipus Rex (1995-96)

Lighting Design - Michael Eddy - Oedipus Rex (1995-96)

Best Fight Choreography, Play - Brent Gibbs - Henry V (1994-95)

Arizona Republic: Best Actor in the Valley in 2007-08

Richard Baird – Southwest Shakespeare Company

Get Out: Applauding the Best of Valley Theater in 2005-06

Best Theater Company – Southwest Shakespeare Company

“Jared Sakren and his troupe had a banner year, both financially and artistically, in their debut at the $98 million Mesa Arts Center. The company found a darker edge in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and embraced the lighter side of the Bard with a silly “The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged),” earning new audiences all the while.”

Most Valuable Player, Director – (tie) Jared Sakren

Best Comedy – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Southwest Shakespeare Company

“Sakren left no comedy gag untapped – purple nurple, crotch hits – in this slapsticky staging, even as it took darker turns in the forest. Southwest Shakespeare’s most accessible, wonderful staging to date.”

Maxie Awards

Awarded by Max McQueen, Tribune Newspapers

Best Costume Design - Lois Myers, Much Ado About Nothing

Best Performance, Actor, in a comedy, Honorable Mention -

Nicolas Glaeser, Much Ado About Nothing

Best Performance, Actor, in a drama, Honorable Mention -

Randy Messersmith, Hamlet

Best Costume Design - Lois Myers, Hamlet

Best Sound Design - Robert Lafler, Hamlet

Best Scenic Design, Honorable Mention - Dennis Hassan, Hamlet

Board President
Aleta Gunn - Community Activist

Vice President
Robin Manke-Cassidy - Arizona State University

Secretary
Karen Ford - Episcopal Church of the Epiphany

Treasurer

Steve Pierson- Retired Educator

Board Members:

Jim Cassidy - Informative Graphics Corporation

Debby Elliott - Community Activist

Diana Francis - The Boeing Company

Peg Lauver - Community Activist

Judi Missel - Mesa Unified School District

Leslie Pearson - Community Activist

Lincoln Wright - Udall, Shumway & Lyons, Attorneys at Law

Lynette Stewart- Finger, Kaplan, & Matson, PC