THE BARD FILLS SUMMER STOCKINGS

America’s favorite hot-weather playwright is William Shakespeare. Southern Californians know about San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, where “The Comedy of Errors” joins the repertory this weekend. (Information at (619) 239-2255.)

But Shakespeare also thrives in, among other places:

BERKELEY: The Berkeley Shakespeare Festival is concentrating on the history plays this year--”Richard II,” “Henry IV” Part I, and “Henry V.” (415) 525-8844.

SANTA CRUZ: Shakespeare/ Santa Cruz uses a combination of UC Santa Cruz actors and guest professionals, often British. This year’s schedule: “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Henry V,” also Stephen Sondheim’s “Company.” (408) 429-4168.

ASHLAND, Ore.: There’s something soothing about hearing Shakespeare’s plays under the quiet Oregon stars. This year’s outdoor plays are “Macbeth” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” also Dekker’s “Shoemaker’s Holiday.” The festival’s two hardtop theaters will offer “Richard II,” also “She Stoops to Conquer,” “The Curse of the Starving Class” and more. (503) 482-2111.

CEDAR CITY, Utah: A mostly-outdoor festival, with an indoor facility for matinees and rainy nights. The season includes “The Comedy of Errors,” “Richard III” and “Much Ado About Nothing.” There’s dancing on the green and other pseudo-Elizabethan hoopla. (801) 586-7880.

STRATFORD, Canada: The Big Daddy of North American Shakespeare festivals, although it also does all manner of other things--even “Cabaret” this year. This year’s Shakespeare titles are “Othello,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Troilus and Cressida” and “As You Like It.” (519) 273-1600.

SPRING GREEN, Wis.: Another fresh-air festival, 40 miles from Madison. “Comedy of Errors” also turns up here, as well as “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and “Hamlet,” starring the festival’s artistic director, Randal Duk Kim. Also “School for Scandal” and Chekhov’s “Ivanov.” (608) 588-7401.

NEW YORK, N.Y.: It’s the first all-Shakespeare summer in Central Park since 1971. Peter MacNicol closes in Joe Papp’s staging of “Richard II” on Sunday. “Two Gentlemen of Verona” plays Friday to Aug. 16. “Henry IV, Part 1” plays Aug. 21-Sept. 13. Tickets here are free, but you have to line up for them early. (212) 598-7100.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.: Here it’s Shakespeare-by-the sea, at the Virginia Beach Pavilion. The repertory: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Julius Caesar” and “The Taming of the Shrew.” (804) 471-4884.

MADISON, N.J.: The New Jersey Shakespeare Festival at Drew University celebrates its 25th season with “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Coriolanus” and “The Winter’s Tale.” (201) 377-4487.

MONTGOMERY, Ala.: The Alabama Shakespeare Festival is doing “Othello,” “The Tempest” and “The Taming of the Shrew,” as well as “Hedda Gabler,” “The Royal Family” and a one-person show about a Montgomery native, Mrs. Scott Fitzgerald--better known as “Zelda.” (205) 272-1640.

CREDIT LINE OF THE WEEK: “ ‘Forbidden Broadway’ would also like to thank the Royal Shakespeare Company for allowing us to use the English language.”