Santa Cruz Shakespeare the new company changed its name to Santa Cruz Shakespeare. "The New York Times" referred to the company's rebirth as an "underdog success story." For its inaugural season under its new arrangement, Santa Cruz Shakespeare presented "As You Like It", "The Merry Wives of Windsor", and "The Beard of Avon" in July and August 2014. All three shows were performed in the Sinsheimer-Stanley Festival Glen on UCSC's campus. For the 2015 season Mike Ryan took over sole Artistic Director duties and the company announced productions of "Much Ado About Nothing", "Macbeth", and David Ives's adaptation of Pierre Corneille's "The Liar".
Much Ado About Nothing (1993 film) of the humor, the performances, and Branagh's lively direction, of which he wrote, "This film cements Branagh's status as a great director of Shakespeare, and perhaps of film in general, as well." Conversely, Peter Travers of "Rolling Stone" wrote the film a negative review, praising some moments as "invigorating fun", but ultimately calling it "overripe." Most of the negative criticisms focused on particular casting choices, notably Keanu Reeves as Don John, and Michael Keaton as Dogberry. For his performance in the film, Reeves was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor, where he lost to Woody Harrelson