Alum Janis Hashe's Midsummer Night's Memories

SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL -- In this very Shakespearean year — the 400th anniversary of the great English playwright’s death has internationally raised his profile this year, and locally, Santa Cruz Shakespeare opens a new chapter in its history with a new venue at DeLaveaga Park — Janis Hashe has arrived in town as a living, breathing reminder of Santa Cruz’s Shakespearean heritage. The veteran theater producer, director and teacher grew up in tiny La Selva Beach, and after more than 30 years living in various cities in the U.S. and elsewhere, she returned to Santa Cruz County less than six months ago, and is already offering a class at Cabrillo College to start later this month called “Shakespeare for the Elizabethan Impaired.” Hashe left home to attend San Francisco State, where she earned a degree in theatre. Then it was on to London, where she studied and worked in theatre, most notably as one of the witches in a production of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.”