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Oregon Shakespeare Festival
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39 reviews for Oregon Shakespeare Festival
We're just getting ready to leave after seeing the final two plays of our season. Saturday night we saw "Equivocation", by all accounts the best play of the season. We have at least one set of friends who made a return trip to Ashland to see it a second time. It's a world premiere, written by Bill Cain and directed by Festival Artistic Director Bill Rauch, a reimagining of the Gunpowder Plot of 1604/5. There are allusions to "King Lear", "MacBeth", "Richard III" and "Hamlet" as well as "Henry VIII", the most obvious, annoying bit of propaganda Shakespeare wrote. Themes are honesty/dishonesty, corruption, power, loyalty, parents and children, just to name a few. There are 6 actors in the play, 5 of them men who play multiple parts. It was beautifully acted, gathering power as it progressed. I'm only sorry we didn't see it sooner in the season so we could have seen it the second time.
Last night we saw "Much Ado About Nothing". It's my favorite of the comedies and they did a fine job. It was set in Sicily in the 1940s, shortly after Italy left WWII. One of the highlights was a little girl, maybe 9 or 10, sitting behind us w/ her parents, who laughed w/ delight at the dialogue. It was a joy to hear her. This was the play that closes the outdoor theatre. At the end of the play everyone who has worked in the outdoor theatre all season comes out dressed in black and bearing candles. Someone sings or plays "Greensleeves" and everyone hums along. Then one of the actors, who is chosen by the company, recites Prospero's Speech from "The Tempest". "Our revels now are ended..." We speculate each year who will be chosen. Last night it was Sarah Rutan, who has been w/ the festival 7 years and will be moving on next year. She played Desdemona last season and Hero last night, as well as a strong role in "Paradise Lost". After she concluded, the candles were all blown out and sniffles could be heard throughout the theatre. I can't describe it w/o crying. It was another fine season.
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9/3/2009
This year's festival has been a good one. This trip we saw six plays and we will see two more when… Read more »
OSF is phenomenal. It brings thousands of tourists from around the world to see their shows, and is acclaimed around the world. Those of us lucky enough to live in the Rogue Valley have a world-class theatre at our fingertips, but it's easy to forget this.
Last night I saw Don Quijote, amazing show, brilliant props, and another great show at OSF.
As my traveling companion said, "it looks like Ashland Community Theater".
We got burned on Don Quixote in the summer of 2009. In this economic climate, we wasted precious entertainment funds on this, a terrible modern adaptation which made the Don look like a bumbling fool, which he is not. And it looked like they borrowed the costumes and set pieces from a local high school or something.
I'm stunned that they put this horrible thing on the mainstage, so for now when traveling through the area I'll stick to Britt Fest and other performances to get my live show fix.
Perhaps another visit to OSF in 2010, in the hopes of getting this rating up? Hope so.
This is one of the country's greatest theater experiences. World class actors and world class directors gather in southern Oregon to do eleven shows a year in repertory with an emphasis on Shakespeare's plays. We have been here five times in the last six years, seeing 5-7 shows a year, and we plan to keep coming back. This is heaven on Earth for theater-lovers.
The first thing that strikes you about their productions is the consistently high quality of the performers and direction. They do favorites incredibly well (the 2004 Comedy of Errors was one of the best things I've ever seen on the stage), they bring life to some of Shakespeare's less loved works (I've seen Coriolanus, Love's Labor's Lost, and Henry VIII here), and they do a variety of other new and old works (Cyrano de Bergerac was magical, and the 2009 world premiere of Equivocation was the best thing this season).
I have been privileged to see over 30 productions at OSF. Anyone who knows and loves the theater will not regret a week(end) spent in Ashland.
2009 show reviews:
- 5 STARS PERFECT: Equivocation, All's Well That Ends Well
- 4.5 STARS ALSO OUTSTANDING: Paradise Lost, Don Quixote, Henry VIII
- 4 STARS VERY GOOD: Music Man, Much Ado About Nothing
Gayle and I just returned from our annual trip to Ashland. We always come in April, when the crowds are down, the weather's usually nice, and unfortunately the outdoor Elizabethan Theatre is not yet open. It's also great to revisit some of your favourite actors in new roles and sometimes in different plays in present time.
It looks like a strong season for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and their world class theatre company. We very much enjoyed our time in Ashland and all 4 plays we saw:
MUSIC MAN - OK, I'm from Iowa and I have a soft spot for this musical that definitely "knows the territory". And with my Captain Billy's Whiz Bang in hand, what a "hen party" it was! Michael Elich's interpretation of Professor Harold Hill was amazing and the characters in the play weren't the only ones made more colourful as the afternoon progressed. I also enjoyed the barbershop quartet gag that ran through the production and the non-traditional use of sign language by Harold Hill's friend who has gone straight, Marcellus Washburn. I did however, have to warm up to this particular casting of Marian the Librarian. The play was fun and uplifting, and with a nice 2-way redemption theme to seal the deal. I left the play happy and humming. It can't get much better than that.
Except for maybe...
EQUIVOCATION - Wow! And we were so lucky to have seem Macbeth the night before as that really puts the icing on the cake of this "Scottish Play". It was great fun to watch all 5 of the male actors switch parts throughout this multi-layered and thoroughly enjoyable production. It was also great to see the Artistic Director of the OSF one row in front of us in the audience. This new and highly original play was a real treat and I highly recommend it.
MACBETH - An excellent production, with a great Macbeth and Lady Macbeth leading the way. And as a friend said, if its a Shakespeare tragedy and your name is on the title, there will be blood! And the older witches were very scary! And for those of you who enjoy Shakespeare, but kind of get lost in the verse, the play moves fast, is relatively short and the staging, story, and gore (especially Banquo's ghost and Macbeth's head) holds your attention throughout.
DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE - Even my least favourite of these 4 was a treat to watch, especially when its in the New Theatre. The staging was excellent, the acting was fun to watch and deliciously over-the-top at times. Both Gayle and I enjoyed the paper imagery in the first act and appreciated the theme on how technology both brings people together and disconnects them.
And even though Gayle and I chose not to attend the other 2 plays (Servant of Two Masters and Death and the Kings Horseman), we heard good comments from those who did. And who knows, maybe we'll come back in the Fall for Henry VIII and Paradise Lost.
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4/2/2008
Gayle and I have come up in late March/early April for the last 3 years. The Outdoor Elizabethan… Read more »
2009 Season...
Macbeth - The last time I saw this production was in Scotland, so it was a tough act to follow, but they did a great job. The leads, Peter Macon (played Othello last season) and Robin Goodrin Nordli, were outstanding. Aside from some perplexing costume choices, it is a great bloodthirsty show. Bloodthirsty = decapitations and spurting blood. Cool.
The Music Man - Traditional staging and Michael Elich (an OSF vet) is a wonderful Harold Hill. Something non-traditional was that three of the characters used sign language during portions of the show. I would take young ones to this one... not Macbeth!
The Servant of Two Masters - Can't get enough of the New Theatre. Ensemble of 12 actors in a slapstick farce. Two notes... (1) bring candy and (2) if you sit in the front row, prepare to join the show. Dialogue and costumes pay homage to other shows and it is good fun.
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2/8/2008
One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to see more live shows, whether music or plays. There… Read more »
Went back again this year, successfully.
Wonderful production of The Music Man, just don't be thinking of Shirley Jones while you are watching this Marian.
A new slant for me on MacBeth -- my sons contend that Banquo is not a ghost, but a zombie. They might be onto something. I bet A.C. Bradley never thought of that.
Equivocation is a good new play. I suggest before seing it you read Antonia Frasers history of the Gunpowder plot.
I am now a fan of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. So long as you do not go there expecting a production of London or New York caliber, you will probably be happy. In fact, low expectations are the key to happiness in life, generally.
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6/19/2008
Attended this year for the first time, overall a good experience. Saw four plays and took the… Read more »
My whole family went this year and saw Alls Well and Macbeth both were great, also we took the kids on a back stage tour which was better then I had remembered. Green show the week we went was very good. The acting and staging were both top notch
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The music man was wonderful and fun! Two Deaf actors made the play exciting and interesting to watch. OSF always knows how to keep things unique! Ashland is the perfect backdrop for such an outstanding festival!
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--This is not an actual update, I just couldn't fit my entire review in the 5,000 character limit initial review...
//
Paradise Lost: 5 Yelp stars. This was a matinee performed in the Angus Bowmer (indoor) theatre. Ms. K. and I were particularly looking forward to this one since it was announced last summer. At first I thought it had to do with Milton's work, but after doing some research I found out that it was, in fact, Clifford Odets' play. Ms. K. was familiar with Odets' work, but I was not. However, we were both VERY excited about this play as it was directed by (the former Artistic Director of OSF, now Artistic Director Emerita), Libby Appel. She directed The Tempest (my favorite play) in 2006 and I've always loved her work. This play is definitely NOT a feel-good work. It is three hours (and Acts) of Great Depression living. And things deteriorate as the play progresses. There is some little hope at the end of the play, but the hope is words only--the actual situation is quite dire. Michael Hume as Leo Gordon was very impressive. The whole cast was markedly good, but Hume and Linda Alper (playing Clara, his wife) were particularly good. Very, very good stuff.
Much Ado About Nothing: 3 Yelp stars. Believe it or not, I had never (in all the time I've been coming to OSF, all the Shakespeare classes I took in undergrad, etc.) read or seen Much Ado. Ms. K. and I were discussing it after the play and there very well may be an inherent problem for me with Shakespearian comedies. Much Ado is no exception. Now, I know and understand all the arguments that often the dissatisfaction a person might feel after watching one of Shakespeare's comedies is intentional on his part. That he was writing tongue-in-cheek about the typical Elizabethan comedy structure (boy meets girl, some drama/difficulty, boy loses girl, boy finds girl again, boy marries girl). I've always had difficulty with how usually the girl gets totally screwed (often by the boy) and then miraculously (and usually unbelievably) at the end forgives and forgets and agrees to marry boy. Anyways, the play itself was perfectly well done--direction, acting, costuming, staging. So maybe 3 stars isn't fair, since it's more the play itself I have an issue with, but that's what I'm sticking with for now.
Macbeth: 5 yelp stars. This was a matinee in the Angus Bowmer (indoor) theatre. It stars Peter Macon (also playing Don Pedro in Much Ado and played Othello (brilliantly) last year in the title role. This was a great production. The costuming and particularly the lighting were amazing. Everything was black with blood red highlights and accents. For those that care, it *is* a particularly violent production. I counted nine deaths including two by decapitation and one by pouring gasoline on a woman--heavy stuff. Peter Macon (as per usual) was awesome. Also, this was a short production (the play itself is quite short, so it makes sense).
Henry VIII: 3 yelp stars. Probably tied with Much Ado for my least favorite play I saw this year. It was at the (outdoor) Elizabethan theater. This is another play that I have not actually read. There were two things about this that stuck out in my mind: first, the costuming was ridiculously good--at least as good as The Tudors and probably better--well done; second, this play really could/should have been called Catherine of Aragon instead of Henry VIII. She is the star and the Bard definitely gives her the best scenes and lines. A particularly great, strong female character, along the lines of Cordelia in Lear, but with a lot more face time. If you're into aesthetics, this might suit you just fine, but the content left me wanting a bit.
And that does it for my reviews of the 2009 Season (plays I saw at least). I hope I'm able to go again next year, but wedding plans may get in the way. We shall see.
If you've never been to OSF or if it's been a while, go! Soon! And often! It is such an unique location, setting and experience. I could not recommend it any more highly.
And that's what gets my 100th review.
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8/4/2009
I understand you're supposed to leave your 100th review for a special place--something that is… Read more »
The OSF rocks!! I can't believe I have lived in Oregon for 10 years and not been to a single play until this year.
Macbeth was amazingly tragic and the actors were Shakespearing the hell out of it. Good job.
The theaters are so unique and wonderful. I absolutely love this experience and can't wait to do it again.
Pure high quality theater. From a classic production of Hamlet on the open air Elizabethan Stage to the swingy 70s production of a Midsummer Night's dream the quality of the productions and performers was impeccable. This festival offers so much for adults and children. There were even choirs and musicians playing outside in the courtyard before each show.
The coolest part was that the Director & AD of Hamlet were sitting right next to us during the show. The AD took meticulous notes throughout the show on her laptop (using Nocturne, so she wouldn't disturb us). My friend and I are theater junkies so we loved it!! If you choose to see a show in that theater at night, remember to bring a jacket because it was freezing!
This festival is the essence of Ashland, bringing life and tourists to the quaint streets. On my road trip this past summer, this town and these shows were a must-see.
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This year is my eleventh time visiting Ashland -- have been coming up on and off since seventh grade. The repertory is amazing and it's great fun to follow a favorite actor over the course of multiple years -- it was a little sad that this year I didn't manage to see Dan Donohue or Michael Hume or Richard Howard in anything. But there's talent everywhere in the company -- even the dude who's only got three lines is going to deliver those lines well.
So other than the obvious "plays good theater good culture good," here are some tips for making the most of the festival:
* Go early or late in the season and you can often score last-minute tickets, and they're often quite good. I picked up a seventh-row ticket to "A View from the Bridge" three hours before the performance and that show was the best one I saw. Sometimes last-minute rush tickets are also available at a discount, especially on certain Tuesdays -- tickets for The Clay Cart were $12!
* But check the availability calendar ahead of time on their website, and if something is looking close to selling out, it's probably worth buying tickets ahead of time at full price. I decided to get tickets for A Midsummer Night's Dream ahead of time and I'm glad I did because that one did sell out, even though this is very near the end of the season and town was pretty deserted.
* Build at least one day into your itinerary where you *aren't* seeing two plays. The plays are great but seeing two a day can be exhausting -- matinee at 1:30 with approximately three hours of play means you've only got a few hours to rest and get dinner before the next play at 8. It's really nice to have an evening to yourself where you aren't constantly checking your watch to make sure you're not late for something. Bonus: Dinner reservations around play time are probably a lot easier to score.
* I like to drive in on a Monday when there are no plays -- you pay for an extra night of hotel, but you're not rushing to get into town and get fed before you have to be in the theater. Helps with the whole leisure thing that vacations are supposed to be about.
* Take the backstage tour *after* you see a play or two. The people leading the tour will often be an actor or two you'll recognize from the play you saw last night.
* Don't talk smack about an actor's performance while having lunch at Louie's because he'll probably be sitting at the table behind yours. Oops.
Ashland's a bit of a trek for me, but it's a great little town and the theater is excellent. Worth the time.
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Does the festival make Ashland or does Ashland make the festival? In the theater season in can be hard to distinguish, the city and theater are so intertwined. Restaurants, shops, everything is the city center flows with the schedule of curtain times. Leading actors pass you on the street and you try to remember what role you just saw them in. The effect is to let a visitor live in the world of the play and become a part of it.
Although we have plenty of great theater to choose from in Portland, something about making the trek to Ashland is like signing up for an immersion program. The Green Show -- where local performers entertain the playgoers loitering outside the theaters before we go in to find our seats -- the Backstage Tour, the post-matinee discussions, it's all brilliant.
Some visitors come to Ashland and only want to see Shakespeare. Sure there's plenty of it, but that would be a serious mistake. Some of this company's best performances have been other classics or modern plays. Last year we were thrilled and devastated by a staging of August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean and laughed our asses off at Moliere's Tartuffe. This year we found that, in the hands of OSF the American classic Our Town could be incredibly funny, provocative and moving.
Now we make two or three trips a year - in the Fall we'll get back to the Bard with Othello and a controversial staging of Midsummer Night's Dream. OSF rocks!
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Only went to one play "Our Town" - lots of fun! Would definitely like to go again.
The play was very well choreographed - I was so impressed! These guys are professionals... The theater (Elizabethian) is well kept, clean, and the stage is visible even from the side balcony.
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This was my second time going to Ashland for the Shakespeare Festival. The first time I went was in 2003 for a high school trip. I saw a number of shows (including Romeo and Juliet, and others), and went on a backstage tour.
I had such a pleasant experience, that I knew I had to come back again when given the chance... and I was not disappointed! This time I saw Othello and Midsummer Night's Dream.
Othello, playing in the outdoor Elizabethan Theatre, was a new experience for me. Seated outdoors reminded me of going to baseball stadium, but of course without the cheering, hot dogs, and doing the wave. Such a serious play, but it was very enjoyable. The sound system was stellar, and acoustics top notch. It was pretty special watching the sun go down, while getting captivated by Iago's insane-in-the-membrane monologues... and Othello's rage just take over the stage. Great acting!
It gets chilly in the evening, even in the summer... so I'd recommend bringing a jacket and a nice comfy throw with you to keep warm. The Theatre provides blankets and pillows, but I wasn't sure if they were complimentary, or if they were comfy at all.
Midsummer Night's Dream was indoors in the Angus Bowmer Theatre. The modern interpretation was pretty fun and exciting. The actors and actresses did a great job... I loved the quirky li'l person who played the character who played Thisbe. I think guy who played Nick Bottom went a li'l over the top sometimes, and the girl who played Hermia enunciated the words in too much a very Valley-girl like fashion... but overall the play was enjoyable... very visually stimulating. The fairies were definitely... interesting. =)
I love Shakespeare's couplets in MND and heard some play on words that I never caught the other times when reading or watching the MND movie (with Kevin Klein, Christian Bale, Michelle Pfeiffer, etc.). They say Shakespeare is meant to be *heard* and not *read.* There be truth in that!
Go to OSF, even if you're not a Shakespeare hardcore fan. You'll be a fan, after you watch a show or two! =)
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Had a great time at the festival...but first I needed tickets. I tried to do the purchase online and ran into a snag, so called and the lady in the office was very helpful. I ended up seeing two plays in two days: The Comedy of Errors and Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
The Comedy...think the Old West meets the Keystone Cops as a musical. I was disappointed they didn't have the music available as a CD, as I loved it. BLD was more modern, and less concrete, exploring the issue of obesity.
The big drawback for me was the fact that Ashland is so HOT in August. Fortunately, it is possible to attend the festival later in the year, and that is what I would recommend. The outdoor theater did not cool down too much in the evening, but if it is cool, be sure to bring a wrap. They have cushions for rent, but I didn't think the seating was uncomfortable without it.
The almost six hour drive to Ashland was well worth the trip. I saw excellent productions of "A View From the Bridge", "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Coriolanus". The backstage tour, with actors from both Shakespeare plays, was fun and informative. I definitely plan to go back next summer.
P.S. Going to Ashland can be a little like joining a cult. There are lots of folks who have been going for years who know all the actors and all the company history. I went at the very end of the season and attended programming with folks who had seen things several times. It was a little daunting, but also cool. You don't do something over and over unless you really love it.
This is my favorite trip that doesn't involve buy shoes and/or getting a facial. Just to die for so different.
Over this previous summer I went on a road trip to Canada with a friend. We drove from San Jose, CA to Whistler, BC. Through out our trip we stopped at many places and saw many things, but one thing we both agreed we had to do for sure was stop in Ashland and see a Shakespearian play! The tickets were a little pricey, but they were worth every penny! We saw Othello on the Elizabethan Stage! It was to put it simply, amazing! I highly recommend this to anyone who loves theater or something interesting and different.
I died and went to theatre heaven.
Not just Shakespeare plays, either --- some truly extraordinary new productions are here for the bold sampler in all of us. But whether Shakespeare or contemporary, the Festival seems to be making a clear effort to beef up the productions so that they appeal to traditional enthusiasts as well as younger audiences.
Very well run organization, and the theatres themselves are top notch. they employ hundreds of actors year round, and pay them great money. This organization has transformed a sleepy college town into THE place to see Shakespeare in the west.
why only three stars then? because the productions are just so so.
We've been twice and seen three plays - a decent sampling I'd say - and none were better than "ehh." Hackneyed interpetations, hamfisted readings, and overwrought oh-so cutesy productions.
the audiences up there love this stuff. give me shakespeare santa cruz anyday
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I just came back from Ashland. We saw On the Razzle (vibrant & funny) and As You Like It (pretty good too). I went with a high school group and OSF faciltated multple workshops for our school group. I think they did an excellent job helping students understand what would be going on in each of the productions.
Funny story: We had a discussions w/ one of the actresses from As yIu Like It this morning. When asked about ethnic diversity, she told us OSF is one of the most diverse companies in the nation and raved about how close and supportive everyone is of each other.. One of this students asked, "Is the actress who plays Rosalind Latina?" She responded, "You know,... I have no idea.... I do know that she once played an Indian in another play." hahahhahahahhaa.
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I think I've gone at least 5 years over the past decade, starting from back when i lived in portland...meeting up with a big group of people. Last weekend we saw Tracy's Tiger, As You Like It, and Romeo and Juliet. The weather was great, the restaurants pretty good, and the plays were great. We really enjoyed seeing some of the same actors in different plays cos it showed their amazing range.
R+J was the most entertaining (cos i didnt have to think too hard about the dialogue), and getting front row seats was an incredible treat.
The three venues are all great: the new theater is intimate and in-the-round, the bowmer theater has great acoustics and very comfortable seats, not a bad seat in the house, and the elizabethan theater is great in the evenings when it is warm and comfy.
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Only been once. Saw a play on the Elizabethan Stage. Very professional, clean, and enjoyable. It can get a little pricey depending on the seat you pick and the night of the performance. I recommend the balcony.
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I absolutely loved the OSF. Drove down to Ashland from Sheridan in a yellow school bus on a weekend trip. I'd never seen a Shakespearean play before and rather than boring, like I had expected, I really enjoyed the shows. Saw one in the Elizabethan stage (outdoor) modeled after the Globe Theatre, and one at the Angus Bowmer Theatre.
Was a really great weekend trip to Ashland. Even if you don't catch a play, Ashland is a great place to walk around or stop for lunch. Lots of little shops. The one thing I miss most is the yam fries from that one jazz club- restaurant. Mmm.
When I was in high school my English classes took trips to OSF every year and my boyfriend's family included me in their season ticket buying, so I've been to the Festival a number of times. I've seen one or two shows that were, in my opinion, just okay (both contemporary pieces), but their take on Shakespeare is always wonderful. Midsummer ' Dream at the OSF fabulous (I've seen it twice) and the Elizabethan outdoor theater is beautiful and a great experience on a warm summer night.
EDIT 2/08: Just went and saw the new Midsummer Night's Dream opening night of the festival. This rendition is interesting, to say the least. They get a bit jumbled in their eras (70s disco mixed with 90s fairies), but all and all an interesting, high energy take on the play.
It's true, I first went as a HS English student, but I did love about 4 or the 5 plays we saw. They were all quite good (I quible with some of the more "artistic" choices) even the more modern ones that were chosen to compliment the Shakespearean repertoire.
However, I just can't stay awake through King Lear. I know, I'm a philistine, but arghness. That play aside, The Shakespeare festival is sheer delight.
OSF or bust. The Tempest. 7-22-2007. I'm not going to lie to you, the show was great I will make it there again.
I saw it in the Elizabethan Theater, that is built in the style of an old Shakespearian playhouse, save the modern lighting and sound equipment. We sat in the cheapest seats, 30 bucks, and it didn't feel the least bit cheap. In fact, the "nosebleed" seats afford a really nice panoramic view of the entire stage, where one doesn't feel like they're missing anything.
The must mention highlight was the very well casted Prospero. Weeden played him exceptionally well. He has such a commanding voice and presence. I felt he worked really well for the role of the exiled Duke, and main character. He was a pleasure to see on stage.
Note: They did strictly enforce the no flash photography rule. Neither at intermission nor after the show was an exception. We tired both...
Nonetheless, it's a great experience. Highly endorsed. I wish I could have seen another show.
We attended the back stage tour. It was fun and we learnt a lot about back stage's look and work. The visit to three theatres was guided by an actor in the A Midsummer Night's Dream. He was friendly, knowledgeable and funny. But the tour seemed to be filled up with attendants' questions for actors' professionalism (such as, will bad relationship among actors affect their performance?) and personal life (salary and house-buying). Didn't seem to be relevant but funny.
fabulous! exciting! entertaining!
My nearly annual trip to The Oregon Shakespeare Festival has been one the highlights of my young adult, to now, adult years. My friends and I starting going in high school and continued the tradition way into our college years. We have been on a hiatus since 2004, but I'm thrilled to be making it back for this season, and hopefully many more.
OSF is a top notch theatre experience. a theatre lovers dream! it runs from February thru October every year, and there are 3 venues at which to take in all the live theatre you can handle. There is The new theatre, which is cozy and intimate, The Bowmer, which is a traditional reperetory theatre, and the crowning jewel, the elizabethan, which is outdoors, and really what makes OSF stand out.
Ashland Oregon, the town that houses OSF, is a quaint little mountain berg, with plenty of shops and restaurants to keep you busy in between shows. Ashland is a tourist town, and knows that all too well, so things tend to be overpriced, but it's all part of the experience. Also, just because it's called THE OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, it doesn't mean it's all Bard, all the time. They produce a wide variety of theatre, so check it out!!!!
After 2008 almost didn't come back but glad I did. Equivication is outstanding. They clearly picked the best of the performers for this one and we had seen Macbeth(Good but not great) the night before so it was perfect. Dead Mans Cell Phone was very entertaining and very different. A must see. Music Man was OK. Very difficult to stage this in their limited stage setting and the female lead was awful. Nonetheless the music will have you smiling regardless of the failings.
Have been coming here annually since I was a child -- that's about 20+ seasons. We always come for a week and see all 9 plays. Sometimes we even come back in the Fall or Spring and "pick up" the few plays that we missed. I am now an adult and a working theatre professional (my parents blame OSF). I have lived 8 years in NYC and another 8 in LA, and seen more theatre than I care to fess up to -- anywhere from 25 - 60+ productions a year. Broadway, off-Broadway, Regional, you name it. But, hands down, the best American productions of Shakespeare I've seen have been at good old OSF. Not to say that every single production is the best, but there's usually a couple killer productions every year and the rest range from good to excellent. Only very occasionally have I completely disliked something. But, that's the risk one takes in seeing the entire season every year, and it's also part of the fun of attending the whole festival: you take in a ton of plays, eat wonderful food and argue about theatre for a few days or a week in gorgeous Lithia Park. It's not summer without it :)
p.s. I introduced an utter theatre snob from NYC to OSF a couple of seasons ago; I had tried to talk him into coming for years, but he'd always sort of sneered at the idea. The first show I took him to was Libby Appel's RICHARD III. By intermission he was white as a sheet and pronounced it the best production of Shakespeare he'd seen anywhere. We followed that with a heart-wrenching production of MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM and a hysterical production of ROOM SERVICE. He's now hooked, and is part of our OSF gang. We're headed back next week for the 2008 OSF theatre bacchanalia.
This place is truly a treasure of Ashland OR. Time after time they produce some of the highest quality theatre you will find in the country. Their theaters are beautiful and the area that the theatre is in is pleasant.
As an Ashland native, I'm probably biased but...I love the Festival! Well run, great productions, brings great business to the community, employs lots of wonderful local people, and is a standard field trip for school classes up and down the west coast. I'm proud to be from the home of OSF!
It definitely worth driving 8 hours to spend several days down there watching excellent plays. I highly recommend their backstage tour. They have the nation's oldest and largest repertory theatre, and you get to see how the OSF manage to offer so many different shows in one season. It's amazing to see the amount of work that has to be done behind the scene, literally. It's only like $10 per person. This 2 hour tour is led by several actors. So, you get to hear their perspectives in participating the festival. I appreciate the plays more that I know how much effort is going into the production.
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Best theatre in the country. Make a weekend out of it, plenty of good restaurants, bars, etc. Try and see one show in each of the three theatre's. You will not be disapointed. There's so much to do in Ashland. Don't miss the outdoor shows though, just ask any local what the buzz is about the season and they can tell you what to get tickets for.
I've been gong here since I was wee. The new artistic director is sure not to disappoint...I hope he does something about the awful modernized Shakespeare plays they've been doing. ugh. But Rabbit Hole last season was stunning
I saw Taming of the Shrew this past Friday. The cost was $37, I sat in one of the back rows, I bought the ticket at the box office 3 hours before the show and went to have dinner and site see before heading in. Since I was going solo, it worked to by advantage to buy my ticket at the last minute, there was 3 singles available. I would suggest buying earlier if you are going as a couple or group. Even though I was in the back, I could easily see the stage, The show started at 8:30pm and ended at 11:15pm (there was a 5 min intermission). I was very glad I went, the show was interesting and the Shakespearian prose was easy to understand. If you are in Ashland, you definately want to see a show in the Elizabethian Theatre. I also went on the backstage tour the following day. The cost was $10 and it was very interesting and educational. I got to see all the theatres and the backstage of the Elizabethian Theatre.
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