After directing success in Atlanta, Sam Ross and his wife Elizabeth moved cross country to  La Cañada Flintridge.  Since moving from Atlanta about 10 years ago, Ross has been working to bring his Shakespeare company, the La Cañada Flintridge Shakespeare Festival and Conservatory program to life.

Arriving in La Cañada Flintridge, Ross discovered the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy amphitheater and involved “himself in local theater and during a production of “Saint Joan” in Hollywood, he began talking with his then-director, Matthew Burgos about the possibility of starting a Shakespeare company at the school’s amphitheater.” (LCVS)

Elizabeth Ross told the La Cañada Valley Sun (Stratford-Upon-La Cañada), “I was amazed when we moved out here and I came down [to the amphitheater] and saw how this space was here and not being utilized…” (LCVS)

Ross’ ultimate goal is to build a community theater hub serving and promoting the arts that would become a year-round program with classes and offerings throughout artistic disciplines and age groups.

“Classes, taught by guest artists within the festival, would be open, for a fee, to students at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, as well as youths in other area schools.” (LCVS)

Right now, fundraising is the focus in order to get things up and running.

Photo credit: La Cañada Flintridge Shakespeare Festival and Conservatory