American Shakespeare Center Reviews

First, let me establish some credentials. My wife and I had season tickets to the Shakespeare Theater Company in DC for many years; we have seen Shakespeare performed at the Folger, at Spoleto in Charleston, as well as in England. We are not scholars, but are experienced viewers. Bottom line, we loved ASC! We attended a performance of Midsummers Night Dream one night and Julius Caesar the next afternoon, The Blackfriars Theater is very functional and intimate and the small troupe of actors is very talented and enthusiastic. We especially loved the musical performances leading into each show and after intermission.

We reserved seats right on the stage and discovered this to be an interesting location to view a performance from. Our problem was with the stools we were sitting on. We are older folks and found the stools to be quite uncomfortable for 2,5 hours. We talked to the support staff before the afternoon performance and they were very helpful and switched us to more comfortable chairs.

The only negative I can think of is that Julius Caesar is a demanding task for a small troupe, with more than 30 speaking parts. This means most actors have numerous roles. In this case, by the final act I was having difficulty determining which actor was filling which role. That by no means subtracted from the overall enjoyability. We will be back for more!

Went to see Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. It was my first trip to this venue and it is just lovely!! The cast was fabulous! And they did such a wonderful job with one of my favorite plays. I look forward to going back in the future!

Saw two shows: Julius Caesar and Antony & Cleopatra. Both shows well done. Superbly talented and dedicated cast. Most performed both shows.

Good pure entertainment, comfortable small theater, very reasonable price.

Glad we stayed next door at Stonewall Jackson hotel. Very convenient and comfortable.

We go to plays here at least a couple of times a year, it is almost a requirement if you speak English and have the slightest bit of intellectual curiousity. We owe a lot to Shakespeare in our language and dramatic contructions and if you want to see a play in a pretty authentic setting this is one of the few places to do it. They do a wonderful job. It is Shakespeare at its intimate best!

I will qualify this review by stating that I am far from expert on the works of Shakespeare or acting. I attended as an enthusiastic amateur and loved every minute. Great setting, wonderful acting, the first half took a little to get into but once the plot was set the second half became much easier to follow. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

If you like Shakespeare this theater is a must. We saw Pericles. The actors put on a really great performance!

This renowned Shakespearean theater and company -- next door to a quality, historic small town hotel and conference center -- is the realized dream of a handful of cultural visionaries who saw the potential of creating a worthy theater home for these skilled players. Our city council and city-wide leadership came on board early, and it has been a marriage made in heaven. The quality of the performance is exceptional, and it draws patrons from all over the mid-Atlantic and beyond.

Me and my family were there in December to see the Christmas carol by Charles Dickens and it was definitely an amazing experience. We were able to sit on stage so we were used as props during the play. The staff was delightful and they allowed us to stay afterwards to take pictures on the stage to take pictures of the playhouse. The play itself was funny and entertaining the pre-show consisted of singing and comedy and it was amazing how they can incorporate modern stuff into the play. Hoping to go back soon to see another play Stephanie worth the price of admission and when you're spending a night on the town it's definitely is somewhere you should stop by!!

I’m actually not a big theater fan but seeing 3 plays at the ASC has changed that! The theater itself is beautiful and very historic looking. The actors are professional and the productions are very entertaining. I love the music intro and during intermission!

Incredible performance and brilliant covid precautions. I am so happy they are once again performing indoors, albeit at a very reduced capacity. Please support the center... I’m sure they are in dire need of monetary donations and it is such a gem.

Get your best at home experience of theatre! Then come back when they open to see how brilliant the plays are in person. You will be entertained. And feel like you FINALLY get Shakespeare and why he was popular entertainment back in the day.

Just give me Shakespeare, please!

I saw Macbeth outdoors at the Mary Baldwin University Rose Garden and Henry V inside the Blackfriar’s Playhouse. I drove close to four hours to see these shows, as I had wanted to check out the ASC for many years. I was disappointed.

As for Macbeth, the play was difficult to follow because character parts seemed, at least to me, assigned arbitrarily male/female, younger/older, etc. and several actors played two or more parts, sometimes alternating between male and female. Lines were well-memorized, but often spoken “at” other actors, very quickly, with exaggerated emotions in chatty, contemporary conversational tones. Many characters lacked depth and did not relate to others; some actors were simply not “in character.” The actors may in fact be very good, but the way the show was presented, their talents were wasted. In addition, some costumes were frontier American, others were sort-of-pseudo-Elizabethan, some made no sense at all and, also, as there was as tradition no scenery; this all added to the confusing, farcical, and less-than-respectful-to-Shakespeare vibe for this very serious play.

Henry V was presented in the Blackfriar’s Playhouse, which is a wonderful experience to see. I found my bench well-padded and comfortable, and I could view the stage very well from my side orchestra seat. Acoustics were good, without microphones. Incidentally, an actor announced to the audience at the beginning of Henry V that there is no current director. It was, performance-wise, a more extreme version of my Macbeth experience, obliterating the serious elements of this play and presenting only the comedic, and again, becoming farcical. In addition, two actors within the first half hour or so, playing soldiers, I think, spoke only in Spanish for a considerable number of lines: one sounded fluent, the other, phonetic. If one was not a Spanish speaker some possibly important dialogue was missed. Why was this done, as this play deals with a conflict between England and France?

I believe that Shakespeare is timeless, and performances can be contemporized effectively. I have seen such a production in the past. This was just not the way to do it. I am not a Shakespeare expert, nor a former English/Literature major, etc. I just wanted a fun, enriching, enjoyable theater experience. I saw, instead, arrogance at best, more likely hubris.

Before the shows, the actors sang a few songs and played instruments. Selections were oldie pop songs, show/other tunes, and some folk/rock typical to this area. At the Henry V show, two of the songs’ lyrics were politics/social/generationally motivated and could have potentially offended many in the audience. I was more disappointed in that they just weren’t very good; the very diverse local theater in my city has far better singers and more accomplished instrumentalists, from my experience.

Also, to note: The ASC currently has a “Safe Start, “universal masking” policy which is possibly not safe and quite hypocritical. The actors announced at the beginning of both shows that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We, the audience, had to always be masked inside and masked outdoors unless sitting in our seats. There were at least four mask observer/volunteers at the outdoor Rose Garden show, one calling out an audience member, who stood up at his seat at intermission, but did not immediately put his mask on. Right outside the Rose Garden almost all unmasked and congregated during intermission and after the show. Inside the somewhat stuffy Blackfriar’s Playhouse, there were at least two observer/usher/volunteers scanning the audience of about 100, presumably to enforce masking. All faithfully, perhaps fearfully complied. The actors, of course unmasked for both shows, sometimes came up very close, less than six feet to the audience. This could have easily been avoided but was not. So, if ASC established their policy because they don’t trust their audiences to be vaccinated or wear a mask per state regulations, why should the audience trust the actors just because “they say” they are vaccinated? Note this reviewer is fully vaccinated. Arrogance and lack of respect for their audience, observed again.

Incidentally, the digital programs contained only a very abbreviated description of the main points of the plots of each play and no historical background. More in-depth information would have been helpful, at least to me. Of note, the actors’ bios in the programs did include their pronouns.

So, if you live close to the theater and want a unique experience, do go, if you think this will interest you and that it’s worth your hard-earned money. Or, if you can, just tour the theater when they offer tours. As for me, I will not return anytime soon, if ever.

This is a beautiful indoor theater, full of wood and light. The Company was friendly and energetic. We watched "A Comedy of Errors" and were totally amazed at the skill, athletics, excitement, and performance as a whole (how do they keep up with the blocking?????). We watched from the seats on the stage, a fantastic and unique view of the play. As if a riot of a show was not enough, the Company played music on stage before the show and during intermission, then 4 of them stayed after for a Q&A!! The only downside was that we couldn't hear music vocals quite as well from our seats on up-stage stage right, but we would gladly do it again.

We enjoyed our evening at the theatre. Live music and singing by the actors before the show and during the intermission show this group is muti talented.
We saw The Two Men of Verona for the first time. The actors were enthusiastic and animated even though it was far from a full house. Very enjoyable.
We are looking forward to coming to other shows in the future here.
******My four star instead of five star rating is based solely on the snack and bar services. They have one bar tender only, the coffee and other hot drinks are from a Keurig and are $2 each and come in tiny styrofoam cups. They sold some snacks (M&M's, etc) which when consumed during the play are distracting when the wrappers are being rattled while the actors are performing which seems kind of disrespectful to them and other patrons.

Saw "The Willard Suitcases" at the center and it was one of the most interesting shows I've ever seen. All of the actors were very talented musically and played multiple instruments. Theater is beautiful and a treasure to see. Only complaints were we had difficulty finding door to go in as address we were originally given was around the block and full gift shop was not available around time of show.

We went here for As You Like It as part of celebrating my wife's birthday. This is my favorite Shakespeare play, but the first time in a while that we've seen it. And this is the place to see your favorite Shakespeare.

The theater itself is a masterpiece... no matter where you sit. We prefer the third row on the first level. You get nice sight lines... you're up close and personal with the actors... and you can hear.

The acting is a bit campy, which really adds to the authentic flavor of the play. It's a hard place to not have a fun evening. And it really helps if you come to a Shakespeare play to have a little background on what it's all about.

Can't wait till we come here again. We like it.

We took our granddaughter to see "As You Like It". We sat in the center seats, great viewing. The intro music and the intermission music is not of Shakespeare's time, but the words in the play are authentic, What Shakespeare did not write into the play are the body language and facial expressions. This cast was most expressive. The play is a fun story with guess what - false identity and a girl dressed as a lad acting as a girl to be wooed. Give it a try. Shakespeare's tragedies are also played here along with Jane Austen this season.

Excellent acting and wonderful staging - true to the Bard and to the time. You can take a very informative tour if the theater with knowledgeable guides.

A friend took us on a tour of the American Shakespeare Center and Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, VA. We have seen and toured the Shakespeare Theatre in London. The tour we took of the Blackfriars Playhouse is every bit as good as what we saw in London. Fortunately, our friend knew to make reservations for the afternoon tour. I'm not sure you can just "show up" and expect to get on a tour.

My wife and I took the tour of the Blackfriars Theater at the American Shakespeare Center and saw two plays, Richard III and The Man of Mode. The tour was very informative. Between the two shows, the troupe proved it was strong in both tragedy and comedy. Their performances are relatively interactive with the audience, and they strive to evoke the experience of the Elizabethan, Jacobean, and Restoration stage. The contemporary incidental music and interludes are very entertaining and demonstrate the popular nature of Shakespearean theater. If you’re more of a traditionalist like myself, don’t let my review warn you off. What the Blackfriars troupe does really works. Go see one of their plays. You’ll be glad you did.

I am an huge fan of Shakespeare. The theater is a replica of the indoor Black Friars theater that was used while the Globe was being built. It is a very beautiful theater with no bad seats. There are even some seats on the stage and the cast interacts with people in those seats.We saw Much Ado About Nothing. It was well performed. We were a little taken back when the music in the play was modern...but it worked. Arrive a 1/2 hour early to hear music and song played by the cast. Modern but well done. Very enjoyable. A must for Shakespeare fans.

We were thrilled it was so good. We plan anther visit in the Spring to attend a Shakespeare play.
The acoustics are excellent too
.

We saw Macbeth a couple of weeks ago and basically had a horrible time, A total ripoff. First, Get rid of all the support posts on the 2nd floor, get rid of the horrible bench seats, even with the cushions they are incredibly uncomfortable, almost everyone in the balcony got up and got more cushions from the lobby, replace them with comfortable seats with backs, have the directors/choreographers of plays center the actors so everyone can see what is happening, we sat in the balcony on the left side facing the stage row KK seats 1,2,3 and most of the play took place on the left side of the stage, between the support posts, the couple directly in front of us who were constantly squirming because the seats were so uncomfortable and the design of the balcony it's self we basically missed about 1/2 of the play. Even people in the first row of the balcony on the left side had to lean over the railing to see what was happening. It seems the only good seats in this place are on the floor or directly in front of the stage on the balcony. Not allowing or offering food or drinks was ridiculous. If you want something to drink you have to drink from the sink in the bathroom. Overrated and way overpriced for the novelty. We will never go back.

The place is in Staunton, a small, beautiful town. It is an exact replica of the real one. The play was awesome and could easily be well appreciated and heard from any place you sit, the acoustic is perfect, place beautiful, awesome actors!! Must go! I will definitely come back!!!!

This was our first time. The theater is amazing, built to replicate Blackfriers of Shakespeare, it is small, intimate, comfortable and affordable. The actors are first class and plays imaginative. We drove down midweek and stayed for two nights to see different plays. Had a wonderful experience. Will go back.

Went with friends to the Saturday Matinee of Merchant of Venice. Wonderful acting and the Blackfriars Playhouse is beautiful. Highly recommend this venue and group of Actors

Absolutely amazing performance of Hamlet, set in the surrounds of the reconstructed Shakespearean theatre. If you are in the area you really have to check out this troop.

A must do while in Staunton. We saw Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Super fun, the actors we very good and so energetic. We sat in the second to last row-main level (well it was slightly raised). These seats were fabulous-you can see the expressions on the cast.

Peter and the Starcatcher, a rollicking comedy excellently performed. The audience was in stitches. Cast was perfect. Atmosphere perfect.

This is a must see in Staunton. I saw twelfth night. It was a great experience. I did not always get what was being said or able to see all of it from where I was sitting but I got the gist of it. Staff was friendly. Cast was awesome!!

Amazing, beautiful venue--only recreation of Shakespeare's indoor theatre worldwide, and here it is in Staunton, VA. Fine selection of Shakespearean and other works in an intimate setting. Friendly service at the box office--be she to discuss your seating preferences. We prefer seating on the second level for the view... seats on stage (yes, on stage) allow for the most interaction. Many performances across the year with special deals for locals, students. Christmas options annually. Performances include pre-show (be there when doors open). Arrive early for best selection of parking, some of which is free nights and weekends. Safely walkable to a good selection of restaurants and very near Stonewall Jackson Hotel. Has small gift shop with solid selection of goodies, including show T-shirts.

Utterly fantastic gem in the heart of Shenandoah Valley. Acting troupe is wonderfully diverse, multi-talented, and absolutely first-rate. The theater itself is a marvel, with no bad seats. Excellent service: the staff went to some lengths to process a 20% discount eligible to those who stay at our B&B (Berkeley House B&B), AFTER THE FACT!! (We didn't know about it till after we had booked our seats online (for back-to-back nights). Will happily return, over and over.

We saw the play "Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some). The performance was better than I expected. The cast was funny, engaging and very professional. We enjoyed this play immensely. We will return!

Stopped in for a performance of Hamlet. I love the performers ability to get you to not only enjoy the show, but feel the words. For those not familiar with old english, you need to past the utmost attention or you will get lost. The theater itself is gorgeous and well detailed. My only complaint is the seating tends to get uncomfortable after awhile so next time I will have extra cushions.

I have wanted to come here for years. My school teaching wife has brought her students here at least ten times, but you might say COVID did this field trip in, and she has not returned for several years. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] (again) brought me here, and it was 15-sta rating, five for each of the brilliant actresses. I do plan on returning.

You will enjoy the plays even if you are not a Shakespeare freak. It is fun to be entertained by the actors so that the performance is as entertaining as the play itself.

We can't express our appreciation to the staff and satisfaction with the actors after our evening at Blackfriars Theater. It was a very intimate theater experience. The actors, everyone, gave their all to the performance. The staff was congenial and attentive. One of the staff even brought us back cushions to increase our comfort. We are already looking forward to our next play to attend.

Gorgeous theater with really great actors. We went to see Much Ado About Nothing, what hilarious fun! We really look forward to going back when we are in Staunton again.

Buyer Beware! We purchased tickets on the second level, left side, front row and could only see a sliver of the stage. This is by far the worst outing ever for a show. We left at intermission, and I called for a refund but was denied. As far as I am concerned this was a complete waste of nearly $300! The web site indicates a partially blocked view, literally you can't see anything unless you hang over the rail. It is criminal they even sell these seats - ugh. Such a disappointment!

First came here several years ago on the suggestion of a friend. We’ve been here many times since. Being a high school theatre teacher with a wife who runs an elementary school theatre program, we live it. Top notch productions in an intimate recreation of Blackfriars theatre. We’ll be back!

I cannot praise The American Shakespeare Theatre enough. We drive from NY for this and its worth the trip! They are so talented and even if you have never read or heard of or had an interest in Shakespeare then even you will be in for a treat! We love to sit in row c. Make sure you don't miss the music before the play. They all learn to play the instruments! It's just amazing! You laugh, you cry you are enthralled. Do Not miss it! Just go! OMG parking in the garage is a buck or so!

COVID-19 ruined everyone’s summer - I had planned many trips to arts festivals that were canceled. ASC, alone in the entire US, figured out a safe way to present classical theater. God Bless you all - and THANK YOU 👍🏻❤️

My SO and I decided to attend Blackfriars to see TWELTH NIGHT. I had been to another performance of a play by Shakespeare years ago and I really wanted my SO to see just how authentic this reproduction is. This is Blackfriars with electric lighting and climate control. The performance was excellent - with a small cast of six actors - two male and four female, though there may have been a seventh actor (male) on briefly. The play began with several songs, then on with the play. As expected, the play was performed with lighting and without curtains to begin and end a scene. All in all an excellent performance. As a now retired high school English teacher, I can attest that the company knew its Shakespeare. My only concern was the fact that one couple brought some very young children and another an obviously bored out of his mind teen aged boy.

We recently saw a show at ASC. I don't want to give a bad review, however, it was not what we expected.

Lets start with good. The theater is a replica of Shakespeare's indoor theater. It's impressive with good site lines. The actors did a great job of delivering the lines, which is a difficult task given the Old English dialect. This was especially so for those who played multiple roles.

We expected to have some difficulty understanding the dialect. We also expected period costumes. The cast were in contemporary dress, which didn't seem to be consistent with their roles. Since some played multiple roles, it was difficult to determine who they were playing. This was exacerbated by several male roles played by women. There were some contemporary lines and music inserted into the play. This added to our confusion. We're not familiar with Shakespeare's plays so we really didn't understand most of what happened. There were clearly people in the audience who did.

We toured the theater before the play. On the upper level, there was a display that lamented the urban renewal of downtown Staunton....clearly a political statement. When the show started there was a reference to Indian land taken. I overhead a staff member telling a patron that she moved to Staunton and now she's 90 minutes from Richmond and 50 years back in time. My point is that we go to the theater for entertainment, not for politics or ideology. None of this has a place in Shakespeare's theater and is a distraction.

This was my second time seeing a show at the American Shakespeare Center and I thought it would be fun to try the full immersion experience by being one of the small group of people who sit on stools on the sides of the stage. I'm happy to report that it was everything that I imagined and I had a great time. We saw "Peter and the Starcatcher" - a zany prequel to "Peter Pan." Part of the plot made no sense, which was probably intended as the most deliberate McGuffin ever written. But the actors were all amazing and it was a rare treat to be able to enjoy their first-rate talents up close and personal.

“The play’s the thing,” wrote Shakespeare, and while the play itself may still be what’s most important, the right venue can definitely enhance the performance. This is especially true when seeing one of the Bard’s works performed at the American Shakespeare Center [ASC] in Staunton, Virginia. The theater is a faithful re-creation of London’s Blackfriars Playhouse, which operated from circa 1598 to 1642 and where many of the playwright’s works were first performed.
Theatergoers know they’re in for something special as soon as they see the performance area; the stage and galleries look much as they did in the original Blackfriars. Except for a few nods to modern technology (heating and air conditioning, for example), the theater is a faithful recreation of the original. Seats for performances are reserved, but early arrivals have the option of taking one of the limited seats available on stage, or grabbing a chair in the balcony behind the stage; from either vantage point they can both see and be seen. To maintain the conditions of the original performances, house lights are never dimmed; in Shakespeare’s day, actors could see their audience, and so, too, can ASC performers. As a result, there is occasional interaction between actors and audience, just as there was when the plays were first performed. In keeping with other 16th century theatrical conventions, ASC engages in a lot of “doubling,” where one actor plays several roles in the same production; having male actors portraying female characters and vice versa; and offsetting minimal set decoration with lavish, though not necessarily period-appropriate, costuming. Musicians are on hand to provide music during performances when necessary, but mostly they entertain theatergoers before the show begins and during intermission.
Printed programs give patrons a brief synopsis of the events that take place early in each play, helping audience members more easily keep up with the action in the opening scenes while they adjust to 16th century English language and phrasing.
Plays by authors other than Shakespeare are included on each season’s schedule. Ticket prices are extremely modest. One slight drawback might be the seats – they’re not the most comfortable. This is a small concession for the otherwise outstanding theater-going experience.

Backstage tour was absolutely great. Info on history, costume design, rehearsals, stage trap doors, makeup etc. Was all covered. Reasonable price as well.

Went with my daughter's highschool field trip to watch Julius Cesar. This is watching Shakespeare as it was meant to be seen. It is a beautiful setting. Loved that the employees told everyone all phones were to be turned off and could not be used even during intermission in the theater, or they would be taken away. The actors were fantastic. Also enjoyed the singing of modern pop songs that do relate to the theme of the play.

Highly recommend seeing a production in this style theater. All people interested in drama should see how theater was done back then.

My wife and I just saw Romeo and Juliet at the American Blackfriars Center in Staunton Va. we had an amazing time, the actors were amazing, the venue is awesome and the staff were tremendous. We highly recommend this activity to everyone!!

Knowing people that have been and really enjoyed themselves made it an easy choice for me to see the "Taming of The Shrew" with my wife for our 25th anniversary. It is located within easy access off Interstate 81 in the cool little town of Staunton, VA. The Theater is designed similar to how it was during Shakespeare's life which makes it fun and intimate.A downside is that some seats upstairs can make it difficult to see the actors, at times. I am tall and had to stretch numerous times to see. They make good use of the entire theater for the play. The acting and directing are wonderful and they bring a great modern vibe with the cast singing modern songs
prior to the play and at intermission. Most importantly, they offer a good variety of show times. There is some street parking but a parking garage is close by.

This was our first visit to the American Shakespeare Center, where we saw "The Willard Suitcases." This was a thoroughly entertaining performance, based on a very original concept. It kept us thinking and wondering all the way through. It was really fun to learn about the history of the theatre. We do recommend paying for the more expensive seats, if you are able to do so. But honestly, the theatre is so small that you cannot go wrong no matter where you sit. Would definitely come back if we are ever in the area again.

This was our second time to the theatre, driving from SW Virginia for the production of a Christmas Carol. Some of the best theatre productions around, worthy of awards, and will hopefully be returning in the future! Definitely family-oriented and very professional.

This theatre takes itself and Shakespeare seriously and supports several companies during the course of a year, which present 2 or more shows concurrently. The venue is modelled on the original theatre in London and affords unusual proximity to the action. All players are also musicians, entertaining the audience both before the show and between acts. The backstage tour took approx. one hour and was very informative at minimal cost. Whether for a show or the tour (on non-show days), this is a wonderful place to visit when in Staunton.

We were in town for an engagement dinner on Sunday evening. Was staying at the Holiday Inn (nice place too) and woke up with a whole day to explore the area. Got on Travel Advisor and saw this as the #1 thing to do in the area. Check their schedule and they had a 2:00PM show of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. What a beautiful facility!! They performance was wonderful too! This is a "can't miss" if you are in the area.

Funny thing is that we had an understudy for Caesar, and he needed frequent prompting for his lines and didn't perform the opening song that the headline Caesar was supposed to perform, so our show was second-rate, and yet, it was great. The acting is very strong, and the songs are a huge hit. The intimacy of this replica theater is also special. We loved it.

A very pleasant venue in which to see Shakespearean plays performed. Probably not a bad seat in the house, although we attended on a sultry evening and it did get a bit close. Eventually, the A/C got ahead of the humidity. Some of the sitting areas are too straight backed and can be uncomfortable. But, the theater is done up in period décor and is worth seeing in itself. Go if you have an opportunity.

The theater is beautiful, quite unique. It it lit with the equivalent of candlelight and remains so throughout the performance.

The actors are multi-talented, entertaining us with music and song before the performance and during the intermission. In particular, they continually interact with the audience in an unusually intimate way as we can all see each other clearly.

Finally, it was pitch-perfect Shakespeare. A little camp at times, but comedic timing was spot-on. Truly a great performance and difficult to remember we were far from Broadway.

Add to your Bucket List immediately!

If you live in driving distance, get in a car and go to Staunton, Virginia and see a play (or two or three) at the American Shakespeare Center. We just saw Taming of the Shrew and it was hilarious! The actors use physical comedy to make the language accessible to the whole audience including a number of children who laughed as hard as I did. We stayed next door at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel -- beautifully maintained property. Good restaurants and 3 used bookstores within blocks. Go!

I saw opening night of 'As You Like It', and it was wonderful! I had front row seats, and it was so fun, and it's the best rendition of Shakespeare's words mixed with modern clothing and props. It was so funny, and the actors did a wonderful job! I would easily visit Staunton again just to see another Shakespeare performance.

I also took a tour of the playhouse earlier that day, however we weren't able to go downstairs because there was a show in production and the actors were rehearsing on stage. Our tour guide was phenomenal, and very knowledgeable. He even had me and another person on the tour perform a small bit of the Merchant of Venice so we could say we "performed" at the Blackfriars Playhouse!

My husband and I have been here about 4 times so far to see plays. It is a very unique theater and we really enjoy the shows. You can buy some drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and sit back and watch the show, It is nice to watch the Christmas shows because it puts you in the Christmas spirit. I think going with family and friends would be wonderful.

We saw Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The actors were so talented and really brought the story to life. The addition of music before & during intermission was a treat as well.

As we are not up on Shakespeare, so we had to get primed before they show. We found a podcast to listen to on the drive there. That helped. The venue is great and the cast and live music before the show and during the break was a hoot.

Some of us have seen the same play here 5 years ago – enjoyed it back then and invited a large group of people. The new performance was even better. We all loved the music before the show, the performance itself and the music during intermission. Scrooge was played brilliantly – hunched over a lot in the beginning and straitening up more ad more during the play.

We took the tour. I’m not a theater kind of guy. But, now I’d love to see a play here. What we learned from the guide makes it sound really interactive and exciting. Very intimate venue, beautiful and well done. A unique experience I’m sure.

A real gem worth driving to see. Better yet, just plan to see a play. You won’t regret it.

The venue was very nice. The seats are horrible and kill your back after several minutes of sitting. The actors are very hard to understand and aren’t what I expected. We were all told that no photos could be taken of the actors. During intermission, I took a selfie of me and my husband and was jumped on and told I wasn’t allowed to take selfies. Seriously?

My wife and I were visiting Staunton and just happened to walk up the street where the theater is located on a Thursday night. It was "Pay what you want" to see the play "The Fall of Henry VI." The interior is beautiful. We were told it is a reproduction of Shakespeare's only indoor theater. The performance was outstanding and entertaining. Well worth the visit!

I have seen many performances at ASC. I have seen MacBeth, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, as well as comedies like Much Ado About Nothing and Midsummers Night's Dream, and the Taming of the Shrew. I have also seen other plays here as well.

We saw Every Brilliant Thing and Twelfth Night. Every Brilliant Thing was touching and moving. The actress (Ginna Hoben) was very strong, and was really very good at incorporating the audience. I would give this play a 5 star rating. It was moving, thoughtful, and brought tears to my eyes on a couple of occasions.

Twelfth Night is a different story. I would say it only gets a 2 star rating. The quality of the performances was not even close to performances from years past. They did not gel together at all. They weren't a team, an ensemble. I just didn't really get pulled into the play the way that I had in the past. Sorry to say it, but Twelfth Night just isn't worth it, except that it is Shakespeare so even bad delivery makes it worth it.

I'll keep coming back, hoping to see the post-COVID quality back up to the pre-COVID standards!

We saw a production of Coriolanus where Coriolanus simply did not know his lines. Every time the actor forget them (which must have been more than 100 times) he called to a crew member seated off stage who would feed him the line until his memory was sufficiently jogged to pick up the line. The actor knew so few of his lines that he should have simply read from the script instead of reciting the bits he could actually recall (as bad as that would have been). I simply would not have believed this could occur at the American Shakespeare Center if I had not seen it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. Frankly, it would have been completely unacceptable for a middle school play, let alone a purportedly professional theater company. Even worse, the show was toward the end of its run, so ASC has apparently been trotting out this half-finished product for the entire run (while still collecting full price for the tickets). The actor was not the under study. Instead, the "reason" given for the debacle was some vague reference to the federal government not sufficiently supporting the arts, but that is a joke of an excuse. The rest of the cast (for whom I was embarrassed on their behalf) knew their lines, and at the Hamlet show the following day (we had already purchased tickets) the actress playing Hamlet knew all of her lines, even though she had substantially more.

Coriolanus was one of the plays ASC does without a director, but do they have no board of directors either? Does the board not take an interest in the product that ASC put out?

We had the chance to be allowed in on a dress rehearsal night, it was Henry the 6th part 3, fantastic actors, great intimate theatre, unique, a jewel! And it was free.

We were lucky enough to get stage seats for opening night of Much Ado About Nothing. These seats totally enhanced our experience and made us feel like we were part of the performance, although maybe some people might not enjoy that. The actors were great, bringing Shakespeare's characters to life. I would recommend reading the play, or at least the synopsis of each scene, especially in the Folger edition, to fully understand and appreciate the action and relationships. The actors were able to transition from hilarious to tragic seamlessly. We also enjoyed the music of very talented performers. Overall, this was a wonderful night, and this group of actors in this play is my favorite of all the times we've been to Blackfriars.

the American Shakespeare center is the next best. We saw Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" which was superbly performed by a great cast of actors. If you like Shakespeare this is the place to see his plays just as they were performed about 4 centuries ago, except with the comfort of electricity and a few other amenities.

I drove from Chicago specifically to see this theater and to attend Richard III, As You Like It, and to take the tour. I am a Shakespeare geek so this was particular treat. Let me break it down:

Venue - spectacular! This is a one of a kind theater. The only recreation of this famous 1600s stage
Cast - as good as you will see anywhere with the possible exception of the RSC (London) and a few others
Experience - exceptional in every way. From the box office, to the good people that are there to assist you every way they can, to the location.
Special note - the tour is exceptional. No not because the back of stage is so compelling. In fact, it is a bit of a non-event. Rather it is the tour leader. Steeped in Shakespearean knowledge, our tour guide was a passionate and exceptional presenter.

All in all (again, I am a Shakespeare geek) it was a utterly delightful experience in EVERY WAY.

We have been coming here for years to see plays, many are Shakespearian and others include plays like The Importance of Being Earnest as well as recently seeing The Grapes of Wrath. These are professionals and do their work well. Children 7 or older are allowed, some plays are perhaps not suitable for 7 year olds. We always get reservations to guarantee our seats, you can choose to be on the side of the stage, Shakespeare style and may get involved in the play in a small way. No photography is allowed. The lights are always on so, as the actor will say "you can see us and we can see you".

We saw performances of all 3 plays they are currently doing - Love's Labour's Lost, Much Ado about Nothing, and Peter and the Starcatcher. My daughter really enjoyed Peter (I'm not a big fan of Peter Pan stories, so I don't have a real opinion.) We both loved the 2 Shakespeare plays - so well performed in the beautiful replica of the Blackfriars.

This theater is beautiful and unique; just being in the space is a special experience and then the performances and acting are superb. I have only seen traditional Shakespeare performed here, but am excited to sample the full schedule. The actors are funny, and tragic and intense, they do beautiful justice to the plays. If you love theater, it is a must!

Twelfth Night opening tonight was the worst performance I’ve ever seen in my life, by a lot. Having been to ASC over 20 times pre-Covid and having spent 10 years living in big cities, I have spent a lot of time in theaters. ASC was exceptionally bad in almost every way. Performing to a 2/3rds empty theatre, the ENTITE cast was terribly unlikable. To be a good show, don’t we need at least 1 likable person? The character formation was so bad that I still didn’t know who was whom by the intermission. ASC has become just a room with 4 walls and no soul. The amount of negative energy from the cast was astounding. In all 20 of my prior visits there was a fun and lively cast that interacted with the audience making sure they were having fun. This time the cast couldn’t even muster up a genuine smile to end the show. The beauty of ASC is that they tend to make Shakespeare approachable for the masses. This show was more about gender roles than it was about Shakespeare. But everybody was there for the Shakespeare! To make matters worse, the staff was consistently rude to everyone (I didn’t see even 1 hospitable interaction with the exception of the bartender upstairs). One staff member even demanded that an elderly man put his mask over his nose while he was obviously focused on adjusting his hearing aid. I’m embarrassed for recommending ASC to so many people and disappointed that Staunton’s main theatre has completely lost its luster. I hate to say it having grown up in Staunton but I wouldn’t expect this theatre to last another year. And it doesn’t deserve to. It has become a place that stands to serve the actors rather than the community.

Fun company of actors and actresses and they were multi- tasking like mad . Great Romeo and Juliet - so very excellent to have some fun in your theatre , thank you.

We drove to Staunton to visit the Blackfriar's Theater at the American Shakespeare Center. The show presented that night was Henry VI part II. This theater is an exact replica of the Shakespeare's indoor theater in London, and it was beautiful. The cast did an excellent job with this very difficult play. The show was staged as it would have been in Shakespeare's time. The house lights were kept on during the show so the actors could see the audience, and there were the 'gallant' seats on the stage for several audience members whom the actors interacted with at times during the show. We parked in a 24 hour garage just around the corner and had to pay $1.00! No , that's not a misprint, $1.00. If you love Shakespeare, you'll love the American Shakespeare Theatre in Staunton. There are a number of restaurants and coffee shops near the theater for before or after theater refreshment. Staunton is also the home to Woodrow Wilson's birthplace, his presidential museum and library, and the museum of Frontier Culture.

We saw Julius Caesar and the play was amazing. The cast was very versatile, playing different characters. They brought Shakespeare to life! Highly recommend.

This is a great little theater that is beautifully proportioned and furnished. In a classic design, the wooden structure gives a feeling of warmth and welcome. Fully handicap accessible, there is an elevator to the second level. All seats are good and the acoustics are terrific. Some seating is on benches but the cushions are thick and addition back supports are available. The staff is very careful about distancing and Covid protection which was greatly appreciated. Perhaps one of the best features is that there is plenty of inexpensive nearby parking so getting around that part of town is easy.

We have now attended 2 performances at this theater (driving 2.5 hrs each way to do so) and heartily recommend it. The theater itself is awesome and I personally find the cast quite talented. I like the intimacy of the performance and how the lights stay on just as they did in Shakespeare's time. For those who haven't attended before, I do wish they would warn you in advance about the request for "donations" as you exit. I don't make cash donations, ever. Also, as a general rule, I don't carry cash. So, this puts me in the embarrassing position of having to walk past the cast members book-ending the doorway without making a "donation". Thus, I always end of departing on a sour note. Hopefully next time, I'll remember to bring a check and an envelope for privacy!

We really enjoyed the performance of the Willard suitcases. Very nice theater and nice staff! Quaint and cozy. We will visit again.

I wish we had had the time to attend a performance at the American Shakespheare Center. It is beautiful! We took the backstage tour. Our guide was a theatre major at a local university and we very informative. So glad we took the time to visit this location.

Entertainment is never dull here; superior, professional acting; classics become current - real - here.

Many years as a language arts resource teacher I would teach an introduction to plays by reading "A Christmas Carol." in the literature book. The classes had the privilege of watching a matinee performance of this play at the ASASC. They were awestruck by the performance, the theater, and the cast.
I highly recommend this play for everyone and household guest at Christmas time, The matinee is a better time for Seniors.

We enjoyed watching Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. We haven't frequented theatre in the past but we saw this and decided to give it a try. So glad we did. It was very laid back, open bar available, and as they warn with this particular play, there is inappropriate language and situations making this adult content. We had a great time. So glad to see something like this is able to thrive in a town the size of Staunton.

Took our 13 year old grand son to see As you Like It. The 8th grade class at his school had done this show and he was all set to see a real production. Had to get tickets in the front row and were worried this might be too close or that we would be drug into action. Turned out great. Actors sat on the stage right in front of us from time to time. On the way back to find our car we asked directions of two ladies and turned out one of them was a star of the show. They were very helpful and our grand son was thrilled. If you are in the area don't miss going to this theater.

Run, don’t walk...to catch this riveting musical performance based upon real suitcases found in the attic of the Willard Mental Institution and the imagined stories of the people who owned their contents. Superb acting and stunning musical performances make this a true hit!

Come here! Everyone will enjoy the Bard and this world-class group of players. Accessible, thoughtful, current, true to the playwright. Come!

I attended the production of The Tempest in October 2022. It was my first time, but my friend had been previously and knew it would be great. The show was wonderful, the players terrific. We sat in the first row, in the center, on the second level. Great view. The only downside was there was no real back support for those seats. I would definitely come back for another show.

Staunton itself was a great place for our girls getaway long weekend. Amazing meal and service at Zynodoa before the show, is located less than a block away. After the show (on a Saturday night) we stopped into a newly opened wine and chocolate shop called Accordia located across from Zynodoa. They stay open late at night to serve the theater crowd. This is a must stop after a show. Terrific wines, chocolates, light snacks, and wonderful owners. A wide selection of wines from around the world.

All in all I strongly recommend the American Shakespeare Theater and make a weekend of it!!

Julius Ceasar was fantastic. The actors were outstanding and it was well staged. We have seen this at the Globe in London and I truly think this production was better. We have never been disappointed in anything we have seen at the Blackfriars and will continue to return.

Beautiful theater with great acoustics but that’s all what I found positive. Very low quality amateurish acting, low budget no creativity costumes, no decorations, very uncomfortable seats - not worth of a whopping $60 price tag. Unpleasant customer service.
Today’s Shakespeare would have been ashamed and sued this theater for false advertisement and usage of his noble name for something like this.

As a frequent audience member at the American Shakespeare Center, I can say without reservation that it is the best cultural experience in the Shenandoah Valley! My wife and I along with my 14-year-old daughter recently attended the "Taming of the Shrew" and "Sense and Sensibility." Both shows were wonderful. Having attended multiple shows on Broadway and in DC in the past year, there is nothing that compares to the intimacy of the Blackfriars (ASC). My daughter was thrilled to meet two of the lead performers after seeing "Sense and Sensibility" who could not have been kinder. In addition to the shows, the tour is a must if you are at all interested in what goes on behind the scenes of the theatre. Liz Bernardo, our tour guide, was amazing! She answered every question with poise and enthusiasm. I could go on and on about the ASC, but I will finish by saying, you will not be disappointed. It is well worth every penny!

We recently toured the Blackfriars Theatre at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton Virginia. The tour director was very informative as he described how this theatre was designed based on the original Blackfriars in London. Later that evening, we saw a show -- very well done with great costumes, singing, and dancing. We highly recommend ASC for anyone vacationing in Staunton.

We attended an opening night performance, and had the time of our lives! The performances were delivered with heart and soul, and the facility is uniquely lovely. An all around excellent evening. Will 100% return.

Excellent productions by a terrific ensemble repertory company of talented actors. They do everything! Act, dance, sing, play instruments and bring Shakespeare's play to life in the way they were done in the original Blackfriars Theatre. We have been there four times and always put a stop in our journeys south to see this company. The comedies are fabulous - take everyone in the family! All ages. The tragedies are wonderfully performed and even those new to the language of Shakespeare will understand every word and the story.

We wanted to plan a special trip with my daughter and son-in-law, who are both crazy about theater (and playwrites to boot!). So we drove up from Raleigh, NC and spent several nights at the Stonewall Jackson Inn (also recommended). I ordered our tickets online about a month before our trip and we had seats in the 4th row, which were wonderful.

Needless to say, we all loved the experience (this was my 2nd time visiting and the 1st was just as fun and totally entertaining!)

The inside of the theater will make your jaw drop. It is that beautiful! This theater is iconic and is the WORLD’S ONLY RE-CREATION OF SHAKESPEARE’S INDOOR THEATRE. This is not your cushy-velvety-seat experience so don't be disappointed when you get there and sit on the classic wooden benches. Yep. But you can rent a pillow.

Definitely plan a show when you are in Staunton, or plan a special trip there to see a show. The town is a delight, with plenty of wonderful restaurants all within walking distance.

This was my first visit to the ASC. After weeks of excitement and anticipation, my expectations were almost unreasonably high, but the show ("Hamlet") exceeded them. The entire cast was incredible...we left speechless and emotionally exhausted. Even the building itself is fascinating. The atmosphere in the theater is lively, intimate, and fun, and the actors play live music before the show and during intermission. If you're a student, a teacher, or just a Shakespeare nerd - this is a must. I can't wait to go back!

This theater is terrific. Deeply uncomfortable seating, unconventional repertoire, pleasure in watching inexperienced actors trying to get their chops in tune, BUT. BUT BUT BUT!! What is this theater trying to teach its actors? That all Shakespeare is performed as if it were all farce? That the theater is so small it doesn't matter if you haven't learned to project your voice? That your face and body don't matter if you get the lines right? That One dimension of an actor's performance is enough? Sorry. This theater is fun, you get to see Shakespeare you would NOT ordinarily see, the acting troupe provides music at every possible opportunity that has nothing whatsoever to do with the play being staged or the English Renaissance period. They are trying really hard, and it is genuinely a lot of fun, but it is NOT very well performed. If you're not at all fussy, go and have a great time. If you are fussy, go anyway and cheer them on, but sheesh. Oh, and while you're here, have dinner at the Zynodoa Farm to Table restaurant nearby. That is a genuinely five or six star experience. Make reservations months in advance!

In the past few years, I have made it a practice to attend the American Shakespeare Center at least twice a year. If you love live theater and more specifically the works of William Shakespeare this treasure is a must see and the plays are command events. The actors are incredible and the productions are beyond first class. They are able to make a connection with every individual in the audience and you want to go back again and again.

An amazingly enthusiastic and energetic performance of Love's Labours Lost. I was surprised by the energy of the cast who performed musical hits before the performance and during the supposed interval. What stamina and dedication! The fun-loving nature of the cast shone through the performance. The reproduction venue of a Shakespearean theatre works really well..it is sufficiently intimate to ensure that wherever you sit you are engaged in the performance. I was impressed by the helpful staff who loaned a shawl to my wife, who was a tad cold during the play. Top marks all round!

We saw 3 plays the weekend we visited: Twelfth Night, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, and King Lear. What fun! The theater is beautiful, the cast are truly talented, and the staff are ever so friendly. Highly recommend center seats, near row E or I. Front row can be a bit intimidating, so if you don't want to interact do not sit there...but it is tons of fun if you're into that sort of thing! Highly, highly recommend, and I've seen Shakespearean plays in all corners of the world and in some of the most famous venues currently available.

A Christmas Carol - done with some fabulous music and fun dancing, and the occasional wink and nod to the audience. The youngest member of our group was 8, and she was enthralled. The space here is a gem. Well worth the visit!!!

We pulled into town and saw there was a performance at 2 pm on Sunday. So we walked in and purchased tickets and saw a wonderful play. We enjoyed the preshow and intermission entertainment also. The cast was very engaging. One can even elect to sit up onstage if you wish. My daughter used to enjoy attending their plays when she was a student at James Madison University. There is a nice covered parking garage behind the theater.

An amazing theater, beautiful architectural work, gorgeous!! We saw the Shakespeare Comedy and loved it. Very entertaining

I've been there several times and always had an enjoyable experience. The theater is small and intimate which gives the audience a chance to be close to the actors — some even get to sit on the stage! Props are minimal which is good for your imagination. Yes, seats are a bit hard but I think that is in keeping with the Shakespearean atmosphere. Every presentation I have seen was well done. The actors interact with the audience. The level of professionalism is high. I was surprised to note that few of the actors were Equity — based on their level of competency, I would have expected more to be members. I have seen both Shakespearean and non-Shakespearean dramas there and all were well done. There is nearby parking and there are plenty of good places for a meal before or after a performance.

We saw MacBeth on a Saturday afternoon. There was a pretty good crowd for the performance. The theater is designed after Shakespeare's theater.

This was the second time that we've seen a show at the ASC so we know that they don't present the plays in their original form (I think the lines are original). In this play, most of the characters were wearing military fatigue uniforms. For those of us not thoroughly familiar with the plays, this makes it harder to follow. Thankfully, the program had a summary.

Despite the unique format, the actors do an excellent job. Some of them play multiple parts, which must make memorizing the difficult lines even harder.

The ASC is worth attending, just be prepared for the unusual format.

Being a math and science person, I’m always impressed at how actors are able to memorize their lines and deliver lines with purpose. Tonight’s show of Caesar and Cleopatra was an exceptional display of acting talent. The theater is an awesome replica of the old playhouse, the actors were perfect, but I didn’t get the inappropriate wardrobe. As they say, the show must go on.

We saw this theater's adaptation of A Christmas Carol. It was not the traditional version one sees in the movie, but very nice none the less. The actors were very good. The building appears well maintained. My only complaint was with one of the ushers. After being allowed back into take photos after the play, I took some photos. As we were a group of 10, one usher was gracious enough to say she'd be happy to take a photo of our entire group. Within two minutes, the other usher came up and said it was time to leave and pretty much pushed us out the door. I understand she wanted to leave so the playhouse could close, but another five minutes wouldn't have hurt anything.

Show cancelled immediately prior to performance without explanation. Drove 5 hours round trip just to see them. Not again.

My husband surprised me for our 20th anniversary with a trip to Staunton. We went to see "A Christmas Carol" and I loved every minute of the show! The entertainment was fantastic with great talent on the stage! I would come to see this performance again!

Taking in a show with friends, The Importance of Being Earnest. Great acting, great singing. Small, intimate theater….upclose and personal. A bit chilly! Knitted throws available to borrow! Short walk to Hotel 24.

So entertaining and what talent!!! The experience from entering the theater to closing was exceptional. We went on a Thursday and a few actors come out. Such nice people and their talent is amazing. It was a wonderful night!!!!

Everything about this theater is superb.We have been to several plays and back stage presentations and have never been disappointed. A small theater with limited seating,so arrive on time or your seats may be legally taken by other patrons. BUT! The seating is most uncomfortable and the available pillows are of little use. I usually end up in the back row, against the wall,the cheap seats,where I can stretch out and be a little more comfortable.If you have time, the theater is very close to downtown, and this is worth a visit.

I attend a lot of theater performances, and Shakespeare productions in particular, including The Globe, Oregon, Alabama and Colorado Shakespeare theaters; hands down, this is my favorite. The theater itself is a based on Shakespeare’s only indoor theater, The Blackfriars, and staging is done to replicate conditions from that time period. This includes leaving the lights on during the play — a technique I absolutely love. Perhaps because the theater is small, the audience and actors have an interaction not achieveable in larger venues. Those brave enough to sit on the gallant stools on stage are sometime pulled into the performance. What I love most about this company is that they focus on acting over costumes or staging equipment — not that there is anything wrong with those but they emphasize acting quality to carry the plays and not elaborate costumes or staging props as some other companies do. I have seen some of their plays up to three times simply because they are so good. I’ve been to plays where the cast does one curtain call even though the audience is on its feet applauding as if coming back on stage is too much trouble; here, the cast returns with smiles and obvious gratitude for the audience appreciation over and over — another way they make themselves unique and endear themselves. I would rather travel here to see their Shakespeare performances than ANY where else.

We recently attended a performance of Shakespeare's "Taming of a Shrew." Great cast and a good rendering of this classic play. All of the players are young, energetic and were well-rehearsed for this production. Good crowd for a hot weekend afternoon.

We are going to make a habit of attending more performances in the future. The theatre really is a terrific cultural venue in Staunton!

Went to the American Shakespeare Center for a matinee of "A Christmas Carol" and was quite impressed by the facility and staff. Had "will call" reserved seats, and had no trouble getting the tickets and waiting for the theater section to open. Beer, wine, coffee, sodas available at an upstairs bar and also a temporary bar "on stage". Prices were very reasonable. The auditorium is beautiful, with good sight lines. There is actually some seating on the stage. The play today was "A Christmas Carol", but was a somewhat updated and streamlined version. The cast was young but quite talented (acting, musical and dancing abilities). I would like to go back for a more "traditional" play, but today's was a good holiday treat. Recommended.

We visited the American Shakespeare Center for a backstage tour. Our guide, a graduate student at Mary Baldwin, knew the venue inside and out -- he provided insight into the history, present, and future of the theater. We returned the following evening for the production of Macbeth, which was a wonderful show. The players came out afterwards for a candid Q&A session.

We'd been interested in traveling to Staunton for the main purpose of attending a performance at this theater. We did exactly that and what a treat! It is itself a work of art - seating is comfortable, every seat provides a great view, and the acoustics are excellent.

During a recent stay in Staunton, we had the opportunity to enjoy a production hosted by the American Shakespeare Center. It was a fantastic way to experience a play in a setting that so closely replicates the way that Shakespeare himself once produced them.

Unless you wish to travel to England it will be hard to replicate this theater and experience in the US. The actors are as bawdy and loud as one would have expected "back in the day". But Shakespeare is not all that they do well - their 12 Dates of Christmas which I viewed a couple of years ago was very funny. I do not think this an experience for children unless they are going just to experience something different and you are willing to leave if they become bored. Staunton has a number of cozy coffee shops, nice restaurants, the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and the Woodrow Wilson
museum in addition to a number of near-by wineries, and the Frontier Museum so make it an overnight stay if you can. I love the architecture of the city which was somehow saved from the "modernization" phase of the 1970's and 80's.

The theater is small and engages the audience throughout the play. The old English of Shakespeare is hard to understand and I was lost for the first half of the play but the second half I was catching on, it was throughly enjoyable. I would recommend seats on the main level as I sat on the second level on the side and the railing blocked half the stage.

I had been told about this theatre and, as we were passing through Staunton, decided to stop by. The very polite and informative lady on the front desk allowed us to view the interior of the theatre as we had just missed one of the tours. Reminded us of our visit to Stratford-upon-Avon a couple of years ago.

Look forward to returning and attending a production.

On a recent trip to Staunton, the wife and I decided to take in a mid-day play of "King Lear" at this..the world’s only recreation of Shakespeare’s own indoor theatre, the Blackfriars Playhouse. 

The 300-seat Renaissance-style theatre was the perfect setting as it allowed us to feel as if we were physically on the stage..spoiler alert!!!...several patrons were actually invited up by the cast and seated on both flanks of the stage, crazy right?..yeah..crazy good!

The play was fast paced, broken in two only by a brief intermission. The cast was amazing and several of the actors played multiple parts within the play...they even played modern songs with an Elizabethan era twist prior to the play and at the intermission..very cool and unique!

My only negative would be the selling of $1 raffle tickets by one of the stage actors prior to the play..the prize..an all actors signed poster of the play..kinda cheapened the overall experience.

So if your ever in Staunton and in the mood to partake in a one-of-a-kind Shakespearean play, than this is your ticket!

The performers are very talented, the atmosphere is intimate, and this is a great stop for a theater lover! We saw Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and LOVED it. If you enjoy live entertainment, this is worth a shot.

We got a package deal from Stonewall Jackson Hotel next door. At first I told my wife... Huh??? but after attending., I loved it.

We attended the closing night of Twelfth Night and it was just wonderful. My whole family was entertained. The cast performed impeccably and it felt so good to be in a theater again! The theater is very serious about health and safety during this pandemic. Masks, stringent social distancing between seats, hand sanitizing stations-- they didn't miss a beat. The venue is clean and airy, yet cozy, thanks to the wood paneling and warm lighting. Additionally, they unexpectedly upgraded our seats and that was such a treat (not a bad seat in the house, though, so no worries of not being able to see or hear no matter where you sit). I can't wait to go back!

Great opportunity to learn a ton about Shakespeare and see a lovely show. A must do in Staunton.....

The Blackfriar Playhouse is designed to let you experience Shakespeare in its original setting. All the seats are great and close to the stage. The cast is wonderfully talented in acting, music, and connecting with the audience. No matter how familiar you are with Shakespeare, this is an delightful way to encounter his work.

I haven't laughed that hard in a long time! Quality acting, comedic timing was outstanding, and loved the theater. We saw a Mid Summer Night's Dream. This is my third show over the years and it lived up to my expectation.

This is made as a replica of the theater in England and they try to make it authentic. The acting was very good and some of the actors have been with the troupe for awhile. The old english is hard to follow especially if you are not familiar with the play, but there are notes in the program.

We sat on the top level and the seats were made for giants or something. My legs fell asleep dangling there because they could not touch the floor.

The plays are done with the lights on, so if you get bored, just watch the other audience members.

Not enough superlatives to praise the cast and crew of this marvelous theater and the choices of material they put on. This time we enjoyed “The Merry Wives of Windsor” filled with wonderful farce and business, and the world premiere of a modern companion piece, “Ann Page Hates Fun,” a thought-provoking exploration of women’s roles in a small New England town.
We’ll be back again and again!

Decent performance. The staff is incredibly Rude!
A family of five spending roughly $300.00 to attend, which pales in comparison to other theaters but the treatment was nasty! Their mask policing is very targeted and over all unwelcoming in any way. One my sons has severe asthma and would briefly pull his mask away from his nose, it was as though we were under surveillance. While we visibly watched two other patrons make zero attempt to completely cover as required. I am fine with a policy, I am NOT fine with picking and choosing who obeys the rules and I even expressed a health issue but indicated that it, in No way, meant he would not follow the policy. Very disappointing! Will not be returning or making the donation that we intended.
Also, seats from the side have poor visibility. You see about 50%.

This is a replica of the Globe Theatre. They will allow you to switch seats to get closer prior to the start of the play so buy the cheap seats. Although there are only 300 seats, the theatre on the Friday night we were there was not very crowded. They also have "pay what you want" nights. I wish we knew about these because I bought advanced tickets on one of those nights and paid full price for 1st row balcony seats which were incredibly uncomfortable. We moved to the back row so we could lean against the wall for back support. Other than that the acting was great. My teenage daughter was not thrilled by the lack of props and scenery of Our Town. She found it long and hard to follow.

My sister and I came to the playhouse to simply see the theatre and were told that we could come back later for the free dress-rehearsal of "Shakespeare's Sister". I am so glad that we did. Just sitting there would have been enough as the theatre is beautiful, but in addition we were serenaded and entertained for 2 hours. The acting was superb and each actor proved to be also proficient in singing and instrumental music. Highly recommend the experience.

This summer the ASC has featured three plays about Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, and Roman history. "Caesar and Cleopatra" is not Shakespeare though, but George Bernard Shaw, and very, very funny! Now there's a brand new play that's nothing to do with Shakespeare. "The Willard Suitcases" is a brand new, never seen anywhere else, play, a musical, very well worth seeing. Staunton is home to a mental hospital and old asylum buildings, where many people never left....but left behind their baggage. Willard Asylum was a hospital in Upstate NY, closed now, and a discovery of dozens of suitcases with patient belongings years later inspired a book of photos and this play, which is only running through November 2019. It's excellent, and an example of the variety of ways the Blackfriars Playhouse is both Elizabethan and modern. Since the theater is open all year there's always something good to see. Reserved seating, refreshments available. Hearing assist and printed text for those with hearing problems. Wheelchair accessible. Cushioned seats. Free playbooks. Playhouse tours are also given daily. Walk-up seats are usually available. Plays always start promptly.

Cannot express fully how pleasantly surprised I was. I had a GREAT time, as did my whole family, including a teen. The play was funny, had music, interacted with the audience and they had a bar. My teen said she would like to go again (we live 5 hours away). It was that good.

ASC makes Shakespeare completely accessible. However, their commitment to a reproduction of the theatre means the seats are pretty uncomfortable. Bring cushions, especially bleacher cushions.

We were here in September for Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and thought our grand kids would enjoy seeing one of their Christmas shows. A Christmas Carol was booked, so we went with Every Christmas Story Ever Told and Then Some.

The theater itself is an exact replica of Shakespeare's theater. All the seats are up close and personal with some even being on the stage. Our show was a three man performance that ran from subtle humor to side splitting. The acting was superb and our grand kids (10 and 12) loved the show. Although our 12 year old was a little skittish with the thought that she'd be called up on stage to be part of the show, which happen to quite a few folks, who participated good naturedly.

This is a great way to spend an evening or an afternoon for some high quality entertainment. I know I'm already planning our next visit when we come down again for a VT football game.

We have been visiting Staunton for years and attend the Blackfriars on nearly every visit. This is a beautiful venue and it is just plain fun. The actors are extremely talented. They are performing a few different plays concurrently and I marvel at their skill and ability. I prefer the comedies but all of their shows are great. The singing before the show and during intermission is also impressive...many are great musicians as well as actors. I think even people who "don't like Shakespeare" would enjoy the performances. Children seem to really get into it too. Staunton is a great town and a visit is not complete without taking in a show at the Blackfriars. Oh, for any educators, they now offer a substantial discount to teachers. Also, even if you buy the cheapest seats, you are invited to move to vacant seats after the show starts which is quite generous.

We were visiting in the area and had an opportunity to attend a play here. It was in the summer and we saw As You Like It. The theater group did a wonderful job and we totally enjoyed the performance.

Shakespeare's King Lear (200?) was delivered and fashioned in a contemporary concept but holds the language close to the chest, that honors Shakespeare's genuis gift of the pen. The cast is so close to the floor level seating you can almost step into a scene and deliver a few lines and the set is a product of craftmen that showcases their "art and love of the wood".

Discovered ASC in 2011. Since then friends and I meet in Staunton for each of the company's seasonal productions: spring/summer; fall; renaissance. they are TERRIFIC.

I have enjoyed plays at the Blackfriars Theater for many years. However Covid has wreaked havoc on the theater. The wonderful troupe of actors who had been there for many years is no longer there. We saw the opening of Twelfth Night and it was the worst experience I ever had in a theater. It was so poorly presented that by intermission I had given up on figuring out the characters or understanding the dialogue. The rapid speech & poor enunciation of the actors left Shakespeare’s beautiful language lost in the room. To make matters worse, the theater still requires proof of vaccine or a negative Covid test plus masks. It is sad to see what has happened to an institution that I have loved. If there is no improvement, the theater will disappear from the Staunton arts scene.

Loved the play. Actors involving spectators on stage, Very original plot and great presentation. Well worth the expense

This is a great, hidden gem - a wonderful little theatre experience with superb acting, service and overall experience. It is well worth the road trip to experience this authentic and excellent theatre production. Absolutely FIRST CLASS!!

Plays here are not just Shakespeare plays, they are crafted to be more like they were 400 years ago. I took two students to see Julius Caesar, and it was not too violent, and the actors were good enough that they could follow the story, despite the heavy and poetic language. No photos during or before the play, but you can take them afterwards. Great experience!

We watched Much Ado About Nothing as part of a 59 person homeschool group. The play was fantastic and the acting superb. As with most Shakespeare, some of the humor was a bit lewd, but it wasn't excessive. We all enjoyed the performance immensely.

Note: This is held at Blackfriar's Playhouse. I was looking for Shakespeare Center. They are one in the same.

Living in NYC and planing on relocating to Virginia in the Staunton area. Stopped in on a weekday evening to see Much Ado about Nothing .. it was great. Every one from the ticket seller to the ushers and the players were warm and friendly.
The Theatre was simply BEAUTIFUL!
My wife and myself had a Wonderful time.. What a wonderful Evening.
Will get a yearly subscription when we relocate to the area .

Last week we were highly entertained by the American Shakespeare Center's production of "Anthony and Cleopatra". The theatre troop is uniformly excellent year after year. Before the play begins, they come out on stage in costume and perform modern popular songs (mostly rock) with lyrics that relate to the theme of the play being presented. It's a great warmup! The play that follows is always well-acted, with lots of eye contact that draws the audience into the story. In short, if you've never understood or enjoyed Shakespeare, stop trying to read those plays and let the Blackfriars change your perception of his dramas and comedies.

Everything about this theatre company was excellent. We saw two different productions. One Shakespeare, one broadway musical. Both were wonderful. The actors work seamlessly together. They display great art in their work. It was flawless!
And the theater is a remarkable copy of Shakespeare’s Globe!!

This was a fun, unique experience. When I bought the ticket online, I thought it seemed expensive. But they allow you to move to any empty seat.
What made it was the enthusiasm of the cast. They all participated in the music before and during intermission. Plus the acting was great. Don't miss this!
P.s. Parking was only a dollar in the big parking structure at the entrance to town.

Oh, so you claim you’ve seen plays before, and they’re just, “okay”? That live theatre doesn’t do anything special for you? That you’ve never had your mind jollies tickled by professional Shakespearean actors?
(***note: it’s important to understand that this is a replication of the original Blackfriars Theatre and that the actors are trained to follow Shakespearean practices, which is why you’ll notice there is no other lighting besides artificial flames, no microphones, etc.)

I’ve seen a total of six plays performed at this theatre. Tragedies, comedies, musicals. The casts are so unbelievably TALENTED in their crafts that they convince you you’re actually IN the story; you’re not just a spectator.
Example: during Julius Caesar I was made to believe that I had an actual stake in the death of said character. When he died I started uncontrollably worrying about the fate of my livestock and small children. I do not tend livestock nor do I care about my children.

Sometimes when an actor would make eye contact with me during a soliloquy I felt an ineffable urge to keep my mouth shut and look pretty, which is ironic considering I’ve never consciously done that even when my husband tells me to. THAT’S how powerful these actors are.

The SET IS THE BEST PART of this one-of-a-kind experience. The lighting fixtures, the woodwork, the seating, the balconies, the echo, the props, the live music, it’s all beautifully woven for each performance. Audience members are captivated from start to finish. And if you’re anything like my next door neighbors, you will oddly pine for more of the prolonged silence.

If you don’t already, you will develop a love and appreciation for Shakespeare after being here. Just like how I grew to love and appreciate wart-less feet – you never know what you’re missing out on until you experience it for the very first time!

My 2 high school friends and I saw Sense and Sensibility during our visit to the theater. The production was wonderful and the actors were all so talented. The theater is more intimate than any other I have been to, our seats were in the front row and we could almost reach out and touch the performers. If visiting Staunton, this is a must stop place.

We went to see the comedic adaptation of “The Christmas Carol.” Due to traffic we were about 15 minutes late but that didn’t interfere with us having a great time. The actors were great and the play was very funny. We had a great time!

If you are in the vicinity and a fan of theater...then this really is a lovely way to spend an weekend afternoon or an evening. The Theater is beautiful and charming and truly lends itself to the Shakespearean Experience. The acting is excellent and the musical interludes are a treat. Tickets are not unreasonable for the experience however locals will probably want to take advantage of the Wed/Thur discounted rush tickets and students can get a nice discount as well at every show. If I were to offer any advice to those considering a trip...I find the side seats uncomfortable. I find myself sitting at and straining at odd angles to view the stage when seated on the side. The seats face completely forward so side seats towards the mid-back are uncomfortable viewing positions. I find center seats much more comfortable.

I used to live just outside New York City. I went to the theater at least once a month with my girlfriend. We saw some amazing performances by some amazing actors.

I have to say that the actors at Blackfriars are every bit as good as anything I saw on Broadway. You can't go wrong with any play that is presented here.

We just took a brief tour while we were visiting Staunton for the day. The theater is so amazing looking. We look forward to returning to Staunton for a longer visit and attend ing a play. The young lady that gave us a brief tour was very nice and knowledgeable.

We had the great pleasure of attending a performance of "Much Ado About Nothing" recently at the American Shakespeare Center's Black Friars Playhouse. It is a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and plays are performed in the style of Shakespeare's day, very few props, lights on, no sets. I must save we were riveted the entire time! It was that good! I recall few times that I have been so moved by a play from hilarious laughter and tears of sorrow in the same moment. Truly this style of theatre is so keenly focused on the actors circumstances that the feelings and emotions they evoke are so strong, no distracting sets or special effects, just raw emotion. We loved it! We sat on the side on the 2nd row and could see just about everything although next time I will get a seat in the middle so I can see what's going on In the balcony. The wooden bench seats had a cushion. There are about 6 seats on the stage on each side. If you sit there , you will be drawn into the play here and there by the actors, Fun!!The actors entertain with music both the half hour before performing and during intermission. The area in town where the center is located has a nice selection of restaurants for a meal before or after. Park your car and walk to everything in the cute downtown area. Go and enjoy this fantastic group!!! It was well worth the 2 hour drive we made to Staunton! We can't wait to go again!!

We were walking back to our hotel when we happened upon “pay as you will” night at the opening performance of Emma. This great group of young people did a masterful job of portraying their respective characters in the show. We were in Staunton for one night on our trip and were fortunate to catch the performance. We highly recommend.

We were driving to Pennsylvania and saw a sign for the center. On our way home, we stopped and saw a production of Emma. The theater itself is absolutely gorgeous. The production first rate and the crew and everyone we came in contact with just fabulous. A true hidden gem!

We saw The Taming of the Shrew and it was amazing. The actors used facial expressions and movements that brought the humor to a level of today. It assisted with understanding what was going on in the play. They worked with the audience and made you feel a part of what was going on. This is a must visit place!

Once you walk in the Theatre, you go back in time. You are right there with the performers, whether it is the Christmas program or a Shakespeare play-enjoy yourself!
They offer the "pay as you will" feature, also. You can stay at the adjacent Stonewall Jackson Hotel or enjoy Historic downtown Staunton!

There are no microphones, no modern theatrical lighting (just chandeliers), no recordings. The interior of the theatre is built like the original Globe Theatre. The actors provide pre-show instrumental and vocal music. There's not a bad seat in the house and the performances are excellent. Real Shakespeare with creative costuming, not always Elizabethan, but clever, nonetheless. I highly recommend this wonderful venue! We have attended three times over the last 5 years. The date I have chosen was the closest to the time I was actually there.

The Blackfriars Theatre, located at Staunton's American Shakespeare Center, is a destination into itself in a town that is well worth the drive from Washington for a weekend (or more) visit. The theatre, copy of Shakespeare's own indoor theatre, hosts a professional resident and touring company and presents the Bard's plays in a format similar to that he might have done himself. We are frequent theatre goers, supporters, and producers of classical productions in Washington, NY, London, and other venues and consider the Blackfriars Theatre an important stop on our annual pilgrimages to classical venues. Because they play 'in rep' you can enjoy multiple productions in single weekend; come to Staunton, stay at the Stonewall Jackson next door or one of the excellent B&B;s, dine at the Shack and Zynodoa, and see a couple of greatshows. Just 3 hours from ,DC!

This is my second visit to the ASC. Both performances were comedies, and both were wonderfully entertaining. The cast is multi-talented as they perform a variety of roles (just as was true in Shakespeare's time) and they entertain the audience with music and dance prior to the performance and during intermission. There is a great deal of audience and performer interaction and since you are sitting in a replica of the Old Globe Theatre in England well--how could you not have a wonderful time? This is about entertainment, about making Shakespeare accessible to a new generation. This is not the Royal Shakespeare Academy experience, and that is exactly right. One is not better than the other, but if you are expecting Sir John Gielguld you might be disappointed but if you are open to the boisterous, sometimes bawdy, more traditional street theatre interpretation you are in for a fabulous experience. Our audience had little kids and grandparents and everyone in between. I guess four standing ovations tells it all! Great fun, affordable and not to be missed.

We had the misfortune of dealing with the incomprehensibly rude and callous attitude of two staff members at the ASC. When we arrived there, we discovered that our seats did not have any back rests (balcony row JJ). This information is not easily accessible, nor is it indicated on the seat diagram provided on the ticket booking webpage. Not surprisingly, several other spectators from the same row were as unpleasantly surprised as we were. However, since we had been loyal patrons of the ASC for a long time, we were determined to make things work even though my husband had serious neck surgery a couple of months prior to that theater visit. We asked an usher for cushions, and when my husband got his, he slid back on the floor and leaned against the empty bench behind him, for his neck started hurting several minutes into the performance, about which I notified the usher.
We patiently waited until intermission in order not to ruin the other spectators’ experience, but after the first act, my husband approached the usher to express his need to move to the upper row, where all seats were vacant and had back support, to mitigate the increasing neck and back pain. I thought that the issue would be resolved easily based on our past favorable experiences with the ASC staff, so I went to the restroom. Upon my return, I saw my husband sitting in a seat in the upper row, so I asked him if permission to do so was granted, and he confirmed it. However, it was not facilitated by the usher, who got confrontational with him. He had to talk to the House Manager on duty, who was on the first floor, and he had to take several flights of stairs to get there, suffering from a severe pain in his neck and imbalance caused by his neuropathy. I was not aware of all this because I was in the restroom, not expecting the usher to send him down because we had informed her about his recent neck surgery and pain several times.
By the time we were seated in our new seats, we saw another couple move up, who also got permission to do so. While we were chatting with them, the House manager on duty suddenly stormed into our aisle with an angry expression on her face and gave us an ultimatum in a raised tone of voice either to move down to our original seats or to leave the theater. I was shocked by both this statement and the aggressive manner it was delivered in since several minutes prior to this, my husband did get her permission to move to the upper row of seats. As it transpired later, she expected him to confirm our decision about switching our seats by making it back downstairs within 2 minutes, which would have been an unreasonable expectation and an athletic feat even for a young healthy person, let alone an eighty-year-old senior who has had a neck surgery recently and has several physical infirmities, including but not limited to severe neuropathy, high blood pressure, partial numbness in his limbs due to a stroke, and some other health problems. He simply had trouble getting out of his seat and was slightly delayed by the conversation with the young couple seated next to us. The Tragedy of Errors on the part of the two staff members would have been easily avoided had the House manager on duty politely and calmly asked us for our confirmation instead of embarrassing us in front of other people.
To give credit to the new executive director, with whom we requested to meet, she lent a compassionate ear to our explanations and issued a refund for the tickets. However, by the time we met with her, our theater experience was “brutally butchered” just like Julius Caesar on the stage several minutes before, and we decided to leave. It is with deep sadness that we are withdrawing our patronage from the theater, but we hope that the Blackfriars Shakespeare Center will really become an equity theater, not just in word but also in deed (and not just for actors but also for diverse audiences).

Saw Hamlet and was completely blown away by the skill of the cast! From beginning to end we were engrossed in the play. Bravo!

I've been to the ASC at least 5 times over the past 2-3 years and EVERY time I walk away laughing and wanting to go back for another show. They do an AMAZING job! You can't go wrong with this place!!

I take the family a few times each summer while we pass through VA. This past summer we saw Much Ado About Nothing as well as Peter and the Starcatchers. Both were wonderful for the entire family. It was amazing to watch Greg Bostrom as the lead in Peter play a different supporting role in Much Ado - and you could barely tell it was even the same actor. This guy was amazing, as was the entire cast.

I cannot say enough about how amazing my experience was here. We stayed in Staunton for a night so that we could see two plays, one on Friday night and the second on Saturday afternoon. Both plays were amazing! The actors don't just perform the plays they also entertain the crowd with song and dance before the play and at intermission. I can't wait to go back! Already planning our next trip.

We took our grandaughter to see "Taming of the Shrew". We had upstairs seats which I recommend except in the center, the chandelier might obstruct some of the action. Lots of fun. The only thing that was confusing was thet "Kate" performed during the intermission with a whole different persona, dancing and gay. Then she went back to being the shrew in the last scenes. We'd go back for the setting and the troupe. Plenty of restaurants nearby, too.

This version was funny and the mixture with modern music was perfect. Would like to come back and see Sense and Sensibility. A real delight for adults. Older children were present. Hope they enjoyed My sister and I loved it..

The American Shakespeare Center is a beautiful theatre. We'd attended before and the actors' renditions of Shakespeare are generally top-notch. With all the divisiveness and cultural deterioration currently afflicting our nation, we hoped to escape the noise and nonsense and enjoy a Shakespeare comedy (As You Like It) free of political correctness.
As is the ASC's custom, the evening began with some preliminary entertainment. A nice-looking young woman with a big smile entered the stage and, accompanied by other players, cheerfully began to sing a song: "All men are stupid . . ., all men are nincompoops . . ., all men are [TripAdvisor won't let me use the word actually sung - it's the second part of jack-***]" - with the ending phrase "except the *** you love." The song went on for a while, all in the same vein, i.e., intensely disparaging and belittling men. There was laughter in the audience (perhaps most loudly from the high school field-trip attendees that made up a large part of the audience), but the woman sitting next to my wife - a stranger to us - turned to my wife and said "That's not funny. What if the song was instead about how silly, or stupid, or confused women are?" Precisely. It was really a "Shut up and get on with the Shakespeare" moment, though no one did that. Curiously, the program notes explained that the ASC is gender-neutral (so it doesn't hate men?), and that it believes it's in the spirit of Shakespeare that men play women and women play men. In fact, Shakespeare's theatre would've been closed if women played men or women on the stage. In any event, there were no men playing women in the ASC production, only women playing men. Sheesh, it's nearly impossible to escape PC-ism nowadays.

We saw Julius Caesar. The entire production was simply outstanding. The actors were ALL so very talented. We thoroughly enjoyed the music and the play. Will definitely return for another production.

what a wonderful show!Was my first time and the actors snd actresses sang and played music before and during Intermission,truly a treat

My sister and I surprised our mom with tickets to the adapted version of A Christmas Carol. My nephew went with his school group and recommended it. The actors were top-notched performers with beautiful singing voices. Each member of this theatre went above and beyond. The play was funny and has an energy that extended into the audience. The building structure was well maintained and clean. When you step into the building, you are immediately taken back into another time period. There is music before the show and during intermission. They sell drinks, snacks, wine, and drafts for reasonable prices. I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

The theater is beyond words beautiful with the whole vibe of a theater production in the times of Shakespeare. The staff was beyond helpful they deserve an A+:

A much loved school trip. Excellent theatre and staging. Will would be proud. The school takes a party of kids and teacher and parents, who gladly chaperone. So much to see and do, hard to fit it in from Friday through Monday. We stay the Stonewalling Jackson hotel and conference center next door. We eat at Baja Bean, The Cranberry, The Mill and Shenandoah Pizza to name a few. Can't wait to return at the end of this month 😀

Repertoire cast performs Shakespeare in an exact replica the Blackfriar Theater. Staged in almost the same bare manner as they were originally performed. Fun pre play music played my cast before the show and during intermission.

We saw the Theater's adaptation of a Christmas Carol. Well done and the interaction between the players and the audience is a great reason to sit up front! Our first visit was Julies Caesar and we look forward to coming back for Hamlet and Macbeth in 2018. The Shakespeare is wonderful to see here, the actors are true professionals and to hear the words in their original form is mesmerizing. Plus the theater itself is a replica of the original Blackfriar. Stay the night at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel right next door. Park your car and take in Theater at its best then walk to town for a good selection of dining.

What a wonderful theatre! The show was very family friendly and there doesn't seem to be a bad seat anywhere. We look forward to making this show an annual tradition.

After logging on to write this review and seeing some of the negative comments left by others, we decided we needed to modify the tone of our comments.

We attended the "last preview" performance on June 10th of Twelfth Night and were captivated by the quality of the performance by the excellent, young acting troupe.

To coin a phrase previously bespoken by others, we laughed, we cried, we left better people than when we arrived. This is and should be, the only important criteria when reviewing a theatrical performance. Yes, the ASC requires masking by all attendees, and yes, it also requires proof of vaccination and/or negative testing, but what does that have to do with the performance?

And please allow us to state firmly and clearly, the troupe performed their lines well and completely in accordance with the original text. Those who would take issue with the clarity of their speech, or the exactitude of their verbiage, need to keep in mind that Shakespeare himself regularly modified his plays in an ongoing and continuous manner, adjusting the text and especially the humorous extrapolations to meet the expectations and delight of the audiences.

We were especially disappointed to read comments stating that a reviewer didn't know "who was whom"; did they really not comprehend that a play with over 20 speaking parts was performed (amazingly well) by 6 people? Personally, we were astounded by the expertise shown by this amazing troupe that could seamlessly flip between characters so well, and so effortlessly, as required. This by the way, is exactly what occurred on many occasions in plays overseen by the bard himself.

We understand that most audience members don't know a play well before attending, and there is nothing wrong with that. But when the performers have managed to draw us into a script with less than a third of the planned parts being filled by different individuals, and have done so without significant error or distraction, the applause should be all the louder and prolonged. Hear Hear young players...well an d truly done!

We saw Richard III. A beautiful production and wonderful actors! The audience was encouraged to participate at various points of the play. Before the show and at intermission, the cast entertained with music. Very nice!

Although TripAdvisor wants me to rate a particular event that of occurred on a specific date, I want to say that everything I have seen at the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton has been superb! This team of actors understands Shakespeare so well that they make each play immediately accessible. Forget trying to make sense of every word! One leaves the theatre with the guts of the story and having had an enjoyable experience.

We had tickets for Twelfth Night on Saturday and it was incredible. The theater is so beautiful and the production was flawless. I especially loved the music /singing before and during the intermission. The mood was set --the play was so perfectly performed that I simply cant believe i haven't been here before. Our seats were in the front row and we could see everything perfectly. I am a huge Shakespeare fan and i am sold --this is the place to go and go often! I am already planning a return visit for several more on the 2017-2018 schedule.

Staff are friendly and energetic. Lovely theater with comfortable and spacious seating. Interactive experience which added to the fun! Attended A Christmas Carol with my grandson's fourth grade class. Entertaining for his age group. Actors and actresses were well prepared and gave a flawless performance. Loved singing along with them. A bonus was a Q and A with the actors and actresses after the show. It gave the children an excellent opportunity to learn! Can't wait for Romeo and Juliet!

One of the main reasons we go to Staunton, VA is the American Shakespeare Center. Yes we enjoy the Restaurants and the little town feel, but the ASC is our most enjoyable entertainment. I am always amazed at the musical ability and talent before the play even starts! These thespians are well rounded and multi-talented. We sang along to some really good tunes and then we were treated to a wonderful performance of Shakespeare's Coriolanus. it was a stimulating afternoon, with talented folks and a lovely environment. The theater is a replica of the Globe Theater in London and the plays are performed as Shakespeare had designed them, costumes with minimal scenery. If you like the theater you should visit the American Shakespeare Center for a unique and satisfying experience.

We've been a number of times over the years, typically driving up from Norfolk and staying locally to see performances on Saturday (afternoon and evening) and Sunday. Zendoa for dinner between shows on Saturday is a must. Stay at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel or a local BNB, and there's plenty of time for shopping downtown or visiting a local orchard or winery.

We attended a matinee performance over the holiday weekend and enjoyed the theatre very much. First, great theatre space and intimate scale. There isn't a bad seat in the house and one feels very close to the performers. A different dynamic than usual theatre set up. The actors were terrific. Very professional all around. We also enjoyed the clever blend of modern language and costumes into the otherwise Shakespearean experience . The musical interludes were also very very good. Good singing! Will go again.

Joy! A visit to the Blackfriars Playhouse for this holiday added to the joy of the holiday. Amazing performance once again! Next time we’re traveling up interstate 81 we will again spend a night in Staunton to take in a performance. Bravo!

Theater is small - intimate. Quality is fantastic! I would recommend highly. The acting, music and overall experience made you feel like you were part of the performance.

We watched Twelfth Night on the lawn of the Blackburn Inn. We were worried about the weather as they were calling for thunderstorms. But, the rain held off and we were treated to a fantastic performance. The cast was excellent. The sound was excellent for being outdoors. The Shakespeare company had sections of the lawn marked off so we were socially distanced. We had to bring our own chairs but that was not a problem. The cast performed without masks as they have been quarantined since June. The program was digital but my lack of technology prohibited my getting this. It did not impact our enjoyment. The plays are done repertory style just as in Shakespeare's time. We enjoyed the performance very much as it was good to be among people who wore masks and socially distanced. The company even recognized us for our 50th Anniversary.

My wife and I attended the matinee performance of “Peter and the Star Catcher” yesterday. It was terrific. Lovely venue, talented enthusiastic cast. We’ll go back.

We come to Staunton once a year to see two Shakespeare plays. This time they were Taming of the Shrew and Macbeth. Quite a match!! Lots of new cast faces this year, but all excellent as always. A real treat!!

National-class (world class ?) Shakespeare production in a world-class theater. In a charming and beautiful small town with solid amenities.

What a great experience. Watching a play inside this theater is so much different from what we are used to. It is an intimate venue. You are so close to the performers. You can even select a seat on the stage if you want. Sometimes, Shakespeare can be a little hard to understand, but is not the case here. Everything is very clear even though there is no amplified sound. The performers are very competent and come from all parts of the country. Very professional!!
I fully intend to come back.

The beauty of the theater is as much of an attraction as the talented actors and engaging plays. I think the acting at this theater is just as good as The Globe in London.

The American Theater Company in Staunton, Virginia is a terrific company that does first-rate productions of plays by
Shakespeare and other playwrights in a lovely reproduction of the Blackfriars Theater in London where Shakespeare's company performed. This company did a wonderfully entertaining production of Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor", a lesser Shakespeare effort that needs this kind of effort to make it come alive. And come alive it did in the excellent hands of the American Shakespeare Company.

Great theatre, no bad site lines, close to the action. Cast was wonderful, and great at getting the audience involved. Come early for the music before the show.

I've seen about 10 plays here and every single one has been incredible, from Shakespeare originals to more modern plays. The theater itself is beautiful, a full replica of the Globe Theater, and the actors are all incredibly talented.

Early in a show's run, you can catch a show as "Pay What You Will" performances, where you don't pay anything for the ticket up front, then pay on the way out. This is a great deal, I usually leave $20 or $40 per ticket, but even full price tickets are undervalued. A similar quality show in DC or NYC would easily be over $100/$150, so know you're getting a good deal however you end up getting in the seat.

Our family loves going to Staunton to visit the American Shakespeare Theater. We wish we didn't live 350 miles away. When we go, as we did recently, we try to see as many performances as possible. Last weekend it was three (Merchant of Venice, School for Scandal, and Coriolanus). Performed as an "actor-driven and actor-directed" set of five offerings during the "renaissance season" we saw 3/5ths of what the company has mounted in this brief time period. The operative word or mot juste deserved here is "amazing" or perhaps, if our daughters were choosing a word, it would be "awesome"--and not that absurdly promiscuous loose use of this semi-precious word, as in "I went to the bathroom and they had toilet paper...AWESOME!! The performances were truly AWESOME. The company has an electric energy that, while preserving the original but now antique language and phrasing, nonetheless conveys meaning in an almost electrically contemporary way. In our family, we each have our favorite members of the company and we'd love to give you their names, but that would seem unjust because this is truly a company where the members so obviously support one another and act not just individually, but as one. This alone is truly inspirational. What makes ASC's actors' renaissance season so absolutely extraordinary is that the whole company has learned and mounted five new shows just for this short season and performs a different play each day (and two different plays on matinee days!). The feat is almost unimaginable, except for the fact that, much like the magic of Shakespeare, it can be experienced and enjoyed and pondered about for weeks afterwards. Hats off the ASC. May you continue to keep hope alive.

My two teenagers and I saw a matinee of "Julius Caesar" on a recent Saturday afternoon and couldn't have been happier with the experience overall. The acting was first-rate, staging was interesting and immersive, and I appreciate the dedication to "the way Shakespeare would have done it" in many elements of the production. The musical pre-show and intermission were wonderful and fun, as well. The company is amazingly talented and diverse. We will definitely be back.

I had not heard of this theater until I started telling people I was going to Staunton Virginia. On many recommendations my friends and I bought tickets to see an afternoon performance of Emma. It was absolutely charming... from the bartender in the lobby to the singers pre-show/ intermission to the actual performances by the actors and actresses. A visit to this theater is a must do. The benches weren't nearly as uncomfortable as I was expecting. It was quality entertainment in a gorgeous historic city.

This is a must stop if you enjoy live theatre and especially Shakespeare. We went to see The Comedy of Errors and it was outstanding. We went opening night. The facility and performance were exemplary. I do not often list places as much see.

these actors are fantastic. if you haven't gone....you are missing a great experience. wasn't my favorite play, but they are still great actors and really fun. PLUS dinner at Mill Street Grill...very pricey but excellent food and wonderful service.

We made this visit a priority even before we arrived. The story behind the theater I found thrilling and was anxious to enjoy the experience. We bought tickets for Macbeth. The actors were truly talented. They took on the challenge of multiple roles, and before the show and during intermission they performed interesting songs. Many played instruments and sang, showcasing their abilities. I see a lot of shows and this company of actors is incredibly professional.

The theater itself is stunning in its architecture. It's also designed to be intimate so the audience is made to feel a part if the show. The overall atmosphere is comfortable and casual. Visiting this theater is worth the time, even if it's the only event you have the time for when you're passing through.

A fantastic team of players with the best play setting. We saw The Christmas Carol and it was magnificent. We can not wait to go back again and see another play.

What a wonderful treasure this Shakespearean theater is! My husband and I saw Much Ado About Nothing with friends who had never seen a Shakespearean play. The performance exceeded my expectations, and it was wonderful to hear first time theatregoers laughing so hardily. Give yourself a treat and see one of these shows.

THE BEST THEATER EXPERIENCE EVER. Recently watch Pride and Prejudice. This is a must see production. Laughed the entire show. Great acting. Worth every penny. Well done!!

I have seen this great center perform "A Christmas Carol" with students several years ago and decided to take friends last holiday season. The facility is absolutely a wooden work of art. I highly recommend that the ASC be your number one on the Staunton Bucket List

EXCELLENT performers and shows. The past show we saw was Midsummer Night 90 minutes - a wonderful and unique version of the play. The theater brings you back in time and seating surprisingly very comfortable.

Beautiful theater with a true Shakespearean look and feel. We sat front row and was perfect. The beginning act with music and singing was very entertaining. The show itself was funny and kept everyone in stitches throughout. Next time we will look to get balcony seats just for a change of pace.

We live near Philadelphia, but every time we visit the area the American Shakespeare's performances are always a highlight of our trip. In early December, we saw Every Christmas Story Ever Told and Then Some and it was hilarious. Also, they always mix in audience participation which adds to the enjoyment. A must go, now matter what production is playing when you are in the area!

We are frequent theater goers, who are used to polished professional productions. We didn't know what to expect here in Stauton. Although the production of Twelth Night and Henry VI part two, were not polished big productions like you might find in Ashland Oregon or at the Folgers in DC, they were definitely professional and authentic. With the lights on, and the intimate setting, we were quickly pulled into the production. The audience becomes part of the play. It was an amazing experience! One of the fun things we heard were the young children in the audience giggling in reaction to what they were seeing and hearing on stage. This was Shakespeare, folks! They got it! We will be returning!

This theater has a variety of Shakespeare and other plays throughout the year. I love the plays that are humorous. The actors incorporate jokes, puns, and music to make the plays even more enjoyable to watch. They encourage the audience to participate as well. The setting is like the original English Black Friar's Playhouse, although the seating has now been made more comfortable for the audience. For the most fun, sign up to have one of the seats right on stage!

This was our fourth visit to see the Blackfriars performers. Each time we have been totally pleased with the performances. The actors are talented and professional. The cost is very reasonable for this level of experience of the performers. We definitely will be returning for future performances.

The ASC is a destination spot that anyone interested in Shakespeare, early modern history, or is a student of English would do well to visit. It is beautiful inside, the quality of the shows is terrific, and the staff and volunteers are delightful.

If you find yourself in Staunton VA, and want an enjoyable evening, this is it. It is a replica of Shakespeare’s theater back in jolly old England. The evening we went was a non Shakespeare evening. Don’t let that stop you, if it’s the only night you have. It was very enjoyable and inter active. If you’re sitting on the stage, you will participate. It was the highlight of our weekend.

Only recreation of The Globe Theatre the first indoor theatre ever. They do good acting and the audience always participates.

While visiting Charlottesville, we saw that the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton wasn't too far a drive, so we ordered tickets ahead for a Saturday evening play. After reading about the playhouse, we decided to arrive early to take the 11:00 tour of the theater & make a day of it. This unique theater rocks with everything amazing! Madison, an intern with the ASC, gave us an incredible tour of the theater - an opportunity to go behind the stage, downstairs, upstairs, everywhere, all the while learning about this incredible Shakespeare company & building. The play (Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead) was even more fabulous - hilarious & fun & intellectually provocative.
We will never forget the performance & the opportunity to visit the Blackfriars Playhouse. A five-star experience!

Saw Henry IV Part I and enjoyed it tremendously. Truly a highlight in the beautiful historic Virginia community of Staunton. From the staff working the phones, to the ushers, to the incredible actors (who are also great singers and musicians), they all made for a memorable evening that I can't wait till to repeat. Two tips if you have never been to the Center. 1) If enjoying a Shakespeare play, you may want to read up on the plot prior to your visit if not familiar with the story line. I till help you follow, especially if not used to Shakespearean prose. But the actors are incredible and you can follow their expressions if not the lines. These actors could do the play without words and it would still be memorable. And 2) the building is amazing and worth a tour if you can't make a play, but seating does vary in type (benches, backs and armrests) so you may want to check with awesome staff prior to making reservations if this could be a concern.
Whatever you can work into you schedule, you are sure to enjoy!

Great for people of all ages but especially for school groups. College students will appreciate after they read plays. Actors were solid in every part. Love the musical openings and intermissions-a real bonus. Be sure to come early for the pre-show. All the photos you want after the show. Small gift shop inside. Larger gift shop around the corner. Gallant sears are great addition.

Going to Blackfriar’s at Christmas has been a tradition for me since 2008. I have always been pleasantly surprised and incredibly impressed. This is the first time I have seen the Earl adaptation and I have to say- it leaves me unimpressed. The Warren adaptation was always fun and more comical which is what I loved about it. It gave that feel of “I now believe I can survive the rest of the holiday!” The show last night did not leave this viewer feeling uplifted at all. Overall the shows, players, and staff are fantastic so I still rate it a 4.

We enjoyed the performance--quality acting and a great setting! We saw Measure for Measure, which was a new Shakespeare play for us. It takes a few minutes to get into Shakespeare's cadence, but the performers help pull you into it. Support local theater and go if you can!

If you are in the neighborhood of Staunton, VA, be sure to check and see if the American Shakespeare Center is having a performance. If they are, you should go. The interior of the theater is gorgeous, with beautiful wooden walls and structures surrounding you. The actors are a first-rate ensemble, and always entertain. Not to be missed.

Saw three plays here and enjoyed them all. The theater is a replica of the Blackfriar's theater in London England. There the plays were put on with the lights on and they are done so here also. They have stools on the sides of the stage for brave play-goers who often become part of the play. The productions were very good and enjoyable.

Great performances. Fabulous actors. Wonderful facility. Next to The Globe in London, my favorite site to see the Bard's work. If you have an opportunity, don't miss a shoe here!

We attended a production of Julius Caesar with our family at ASC. It was a good company and the play was excellent. The repertoire of ASC is a bit unusual for American Shakespearian theatre. This season Julius Caesar and Anthony and Cleopatra paired with Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra make an excellent choice for viewing. The venue is three sided and uses no external lighting. A portion of the audience can sit on stools onstage. A nice way to spend an evening in Western Virginia.

This place is a must see. The building alone is worthy of a tour. The quality of the performers and their interaction with the audience is extraordinary. This place is world class.

My husband got us tickets to As You Like It for my birthday, so when we were on vacation we stopped here to see the show. The theater was so unique, and the acting was incredible. We really loved the live music and entertainment before the show and at intermission. We even got to sit on the stage which added to the experience. Should we be back in this area again, we would definitely come back.

On a weekend theater trip, from Barter Theater in Abingdon, Virginia, on Friday night to the Blackfriar Stage in Staunton, Virginia, the next night, we can truly say some of the best comedy and drama is not necessarily confined to Broadway -- and hey, folks, the tickets are a lot cheaper and the casts at these two theaters are equal to any anywhere. In Staunton, we enjoyed "The Merry Wives of Windsor" in which the would-be philander Falstaff finds the fairer sex easily outwitting him at every step & empty grasp. There are so many double entendres you might think the Bard had given birth to today's TV afternoon serials. We've enjoyed the the Shakespeare Theater in New England and a couple of more local Shakespeare venues elsewhere and in our considered judgment, American Shakespeare Center wears the crown and wears it well.

We enjoyed a very fun evening at this production of Twelfth Night while staying at the Berkeley house B&B. The price was very good, $40 for two of us with lawn chairs. The seating was well marked, plenty of space for this show at the Blackburn Inn. The only slight drawback was the concessions, if you don't buy the picnic basket you can only buy wine, chips or cookies.

This year we saw Bloody bloody Andrew Jackson which was a raucous and enjoyable show with a little bit of history included. Well put together and staged well, first half was excellant , second half a little slower. But put on by passionate actors who all do a great job. Will be there again on our next trip for sure.

Amazing performance by a very gifted bunch of entertainers. I say entertainers because singing and accompanying with musical instruments by every cast member added to the acting, and put the show over the top for me. The performers seemed to really enjoy themselves and one another (perhaps they were just acting really well? That is their profession after all...) and their enthusiasm was infectious. I was disappointed to not be in Blackfriars, but considering the current situation, I am happy to have been to a live theatrical performance. Per haps next time? And there will be a next time!

Very disappointed in the lack of customer service from staff related using tickets that could not be used for a performance due to COVID. I was told tickets could be used at a later date and there was no information about an expiration date shared. Now - when finally feeling like we could safely attend - tickets are expired and no interest from ASC in offering any compensation. For all the mailings they do - telling people their tickets were expiring by USPS would have been appropriate! BAD POLICY and lack of accommodation doesn't make me want to support or recommend them.

I can't believe I'm doing this. There would have been no way I would have given this place anything less than five stars because of the years of joy the ASC has brought us. This is the place that actually made my kids LIKE Shakespeare, and it has kept us coming to Staunton again and again for about a decade, supporting as many local shops, restaurants and hotels as we can. We have spent a lot of money here, through tickets, raffles, merchandise, the money hat and fundraisers, and I have never been disappointed in a show. Every performance is always STELLAR and the actors immensely talented. This place is a true gem.

BUT. Last weekend's experience with Macbeth was so bad I had to knock off a star because it just wiped out so much goodwill I had toward the ASC. It is absolutely not the actors' fault, as they put on their usual, flawless, actor-directed performance. It is the fact that because of Covid, they are holding outdoor performances at Mary Baldwin College. They will be moving back into the theatre soon, but in the meantime, the actors are under a tent on a terrace, and the audience is on chairs on the lawn in somewhat socially distanced seating.

I do realize the theatre is trying to recover because of Covid and that it has fallen on hard times. However, I do not think that the recovery of this theatre rested on this single performance. The night we went it was pouring rain. I couldn't believe they did not call off the performance for inclement weather, but they didn't. They played it off as a true Scottish experience. That is code for "We are not giving you your money back."

So the audience was herded into chairs which were kindly "wiped down" for us, even though they were soon soaked again as you sat there or stood up for a few seconds. Then the ushers told us we could not use umbrellas unless we were in the back row. This is understandable because of viewing reasons, but what it also basically meant was that you sat in your wet chair and got your clothes completely soaked in 40 degree weather. This is the kind of Scottish experience I did not care to have, much like I do not care to have the experience of fighting at Culloden.

When I asked an usher why the performance was not called off, I was very rudely told, "Well, that's just outdoor theatre!" First, is it? Is it really? Does every outdoor theatre performance go on when God lets loose like this on an uncovered audience and the staff is in no way prepared to handle it? I would think not. Second, I can't believe a representative of the theatre would have the audacity to be that rude when we've paid $38 a ticket to sit in the pouring rain, with no option for a refund or to reschedule. Shouldn't she have been more ... apologetic? Or grateful for an audience again? Like, "I appreciate you and your family making a four-hour round trip and spending a lot of money on our local shops/restaurants/hotels to come to support our local theatre after a pandemic even in such horrible weather from which we are offering you no way to shelter yourselves, but if you find it's really too much for you, you do have the option of rescheduling." It's not so much that they kept our money, it was that they forced us to go to THIS PARTICULAR SHOW without giving us any other option. I have paid $39 for musicals at the Kennedy Center. I realize that's a dollar more, but that was a hell of a dollar's worth.

I pointed out to the usher that Friday's performance had been canceled due to inclement weather and Friday's weather was better than today's. She mumbled something about different circumstances and just walked away. Because she did this, and I don't speak mumble, nor do I speak to people's backs, I have no idea what those circumstances were. Maybe there was thunder or something, I can only guess. Later an actor came on stage and said if there was thunder the performance would be halted for 20 minutes to see what happened. And I was like, really? You're just willing to drag and drag and drag this out? You wanna drench the audience for 20 MORE minutes while you "wait and see?" It was infuriating.

Well, we decided to give it a go and sat in our "wiped-off" chairs while it poured on us. I would say only half of the seats were filled. This was odd for a Saturday night as most tickets online were sold out for Saturday shows. So I guess these might have been lucky season-holder tickets who could reschedule. But for people who drove from out of town to see the show, had NO OTHER CLOTHES to change into, NO OTHER SHOES, NO OTHER SOCKS, and NO DRYER to put those clothes into, and limited time in town, this was just a crap move.

After about a half-hour of the "Scottish experience," I saw some audience members really start to get miserable. They were rubbing their legs from the chill, bouncing around and getting jittery. I shifted my seat to the back so I could have an umbrella. That meant, unfortunately, that I then could not hear the actors because of the tappity-tap-tap on the umbrella. So I ditched the umbrella and moved under a tree to see if that would help, but I got huge drops coming off the leaves and that turned out to be a disastrous plan. My son was completely soaked as he was completely out in the open dressed in just a very light rain jacket with a T-shirt beneath, and I could see his shoes and socks were soaked through like mine. He was just looking down at the ground and shivering. I saw some people leave and come back with blankets, but as we were at a hotel, this was not an option for us, because we needed those blankets to sleep on.

At this point, I wasn't even paying attention to the play because I was so focused on how cold and wet my family was. My daughter was fortunate enough to have brought a heavy jacket, so she was faring better, but wasn't in the best mood. But also, as an actor herself, she said she would feel bad leaving the actors. And she had been studying Macbeth so she was determined to stay come hell or high water. And hell and high water it was. This was not a light sprinkle. My husband was furious at whoever made this ridiculous decision but was not going to abandon our daughter. So my son and I left during intermission, as we did not want to walk out on the actors and have them think it was because we didn't like their acting, which was perfection, along with about another 20 percent of the audience.

The actors surely must have been cold in some of their costumes and bravely pushed on through but they did have the advantage of being dry. I missed a few familiar faces that had entertained us so much over the years. I have never seen Macbeth, so am really sad I missed this play, which I was so excited about seeing, but it just wasn't worth it. My husband and daughter came back from the performance looking like exhausted sled dogs, dried off, hung their clothes over the shower rod and I didn't hear from them till morning. My son was already just a big lump under quilts, I couldn't even see his face. I was in bed as soon as I saw my family was dry and in bed. In the morning our clothes and shoes were still wet, but that's all we had to change into. Yay.

So, to me, this just seemed like a big money grab, and I guess I'm just not used to that attitude from the ASC. I'm quite generous when it's my idea to give, but I despise money grabs. I would definitely recommend not going unless you have zero percent chance of rain or they are back in the indoor theatre. We will all continue to go (THOUGH NEVER AGAIN OUTSIDE) but our opinion of the ASC has really soured because of this. They have shown their true colors in how they feel about their audience. I will only go to indoor performances and I will donate less in the future. All they had to do was give us the option of rescheduling the show to smooth this all over, but unfortunately, they just couldn't bring themselves to do that, and our usher couldn't even be nice about it.

This is supposed to be fun, ASC. We've been locked up all year, too.

This is a very dynamic and creative troupe in a beautiful setting. Well worth seeing and experiencing.

The theatre brings you right into the middle of great art.

We didn't know about this theater until just before our arrival...what a lucky find! This little theater is amazing...not a bad seat in the house. We saw the Merchant of Venice and the actors couldn't have been better. They were obviously having fun...and it was infectious. The music, the acting, the atmosphere...try it and you won't be disappointed.

We didn’t see a play. We took the tour of the playhouse while visiting Staunton. Great tour with so much insight about the playhouse. Got to see the costume area, changing rooms, etc. Its not nearly as big as I expected. If you are a Shakespeare lover do this tour.

We've been to a lot of Shakespeare theatres in Canada, the US, and England, of course, so we were eager to check out BlackFriars in Staunton VA. Unusual amenities offered by the attentive staff: scripts to read while the show was performing; cushions to soften the hard wooden seats; and seats almost on the stage itself. The acting was fine for Love's Labour and Henry VI part 3. We were put off by the music before the plays began. Should have been Baroque instead of off-key modern vocal and guitar playing!

I actually went here a few years ago during my honeymoon. My husband and I watched a Mid Summer's Night. It was an excellent performance and sitting through the Shakespearean style (lights on/audience engagement) was spectacular. I would definently go back.

The box office staff were wonderful we had an emergency come up and they were very understanding and switched our tickets to another night. Everyone that attended A Christmas Carol in our group had a wonderful time. Looking forward to attending more works. A true treasure in the valley.

i've seen three Shakespeare productions at this theater and each one was excellent. The company makes the plays very accessible, even to people who have never seen a Shakespeare play before. i was especially impressed by the music this time. Highly recommended for all.

First time at Blackfriar playhouse. They did an excellent job with Julius Caesar. Top quality actors and a lively environment. Wonderful way to experience the Bard. We will be back!

We went to "A Christmas Carol" last Friday. We sat on stage which was the primo spot to view the play and the audience too! We have been coming here for several years. This place always gives awesome performances. We always leave with a feeling that it was time and money well spent! We also leave feeling a bit more cultured too! Ps.. A Christmas Carol has a different group of actors and is tweaked slightly different each year. So go see it every year because you won't be bored!

Saw Macbeth in the Rose Terrace Theatre. A great outdoor venue for theatre in the summer. Great production although occasionally the dialogue was hard to hear. The actors doubled as the house band before the show and during information. Delightful experience with good theatre.

Attended performance of Sense and Sensibility and had wonderful time. Small intimate theater. Actresses and actors were top notch. Highly recommend.

First time enjoing a play here...historically accurate venue and performance to 300-ish patrons was superb. We lived in England in the 1990s so have attended plays in London, Stratford Upon Avon, and Broadway USA. The acting quality, small venue, and audience involvement make Staunton's Shakespete Theater a MUST SEE !

On our most recent visit, we saw A Christmas Carol. The troupe put their unique spin on this classic story, and it was extremely well executed and a lot of fun to watch! From the pre-show music to the talk-back session afterwards, it was thoroughly entertaining! These are very talented actors and other stage professionals!

Saw Peter and the Starcatcher and I laughed so hard I had tears. I was invited by a friend. I'm now buying tickets to bring two guests of my own and share the great performance. Absolutely a perfect performance.

The ASC really puts on an incredible performance. From playing contemporary music acoustically during the beginning and middle of the show, to the audience interaction, it is quite an experience. The scenery and costumes are so well done and authentic, and the actors truly are incredibly talented. Even for those who think Shakespeare is too hard to understand, they present it in a way (and even provide brief synopses in the program) where you will always know what is going on. I drove over 7 hours to see two plays (Much Ado About Nothing and Love's Labours Lost), and I don't regret it AT ALL.

I went with a small group to see Julius Ceasar. All seats are OK and equally uncomfortable - so go for the cheap seats unless you are on stage or front row. Every other seat has some issues that aren't worth paying the extra $'s. Furthermore, the play spills out into the audience - so being close to the stage is not always an advantage. I sprung for the best tickets available and, in retrospect, I would have preferred to pocket the difference and go with the cheaper seats. The actors play music before the play and during intermission which turned out to be the most creative, interesting part of the performance. In summary, if you are an English major or have a need to feel a bit more educated/worldly than your typical American tourist, you should attend a play here. Otherwise, reconsider how you spend your entertainment dollars - it ain't that great.

Didn't know this place existed until seeing a sign for it while driving up the Shenandoah Valley. Saw a play coming up we wanted to see, Hamlet, and got tickets online. The beautiful Tudor interior feels like the re-created Globe Theatre in London, only inside - and in the middle of Virginia! Excellent troupe of actors who did a wonderful interpretation of this work. We'll go again.

We have been there twice, taking visiting family members both times. We all very much enjoyed the venue, the plays, the cast and the whole experience. The staff and the cast are very friendly. Beverages are available before the performance and at intermission. Parking at a Staunton municipal garage is just around the corner. We will definitely be going again.

This is my first time to watch a Shakespeare play and it was King Lear. It was such a great play with passionate actors and actresses, beautiful theatre and nice custome. Highly recommended if u come to Stauton!

I surprised my husband for our 4th wedding anniversary with tickets to Much Ado About Nothing yesterday. I didn't realize I'd accidentally purchased tickets for seating ON stage, but it was so fun! You get to be right there, next to all the action and the cast involves you as well. This playhouse has a much different feel from any I've been to before. The actors/actresses performed beautifully. Make sure to get there early to listen to the music before the show. There were lovely singers and musicians (loved the trumpet player's talent in particular!). I highly recommend attending a performance here!

I have come to this theater probably about 10 times over the past 8 years or so. I love several hours away but I always found it worth it. The actors are high quality and it is overall a great experience. Unfortunately I probably will not come back anytime soon after the way I was treated in the theater. I tried to take a picture during the curtain call and got a politely berated by the usher. This was during the curtain call, not during the performance. Look up other reviews here and you will see other people were treated the same way in the past.

Never in my life have I ever been to a performance of anything where you can't take pictures during the curtain call. This goes for everything from middle school plays to the great opera houses of Europe. The level of pretention, narcissism, and contempt for the audience is truly astounding. I was literally yelled at and then forced to delete the photo from my phone. Go somewhere where you will be treated respectfully - there are plenty of opportunities to see Shakespeare in DC, New York, Boston, Ashland (Oregon), etc. in all of those places you can *gasp* take a photo of the cast at curtain. Such a silly thing for the company to obsess over.

We enjoyed two different shows from the Gallant stools on stage- saw the action up close and personal. The actors have great energy and skill- performing three different shows, four performances in three days. Amazing! We saw The Winter's Tale for the first time ever and The Comedy of Errors- for the third time in our experience. Both shows were well-done. It is incredible to me that the actors, through their body language and facial expressions can seemingly become different people, even different sexes.
The rapport with the audience is great in the musical acts as well. Kudos all around.

Don't miss the chance to see a show at this theatre! Fabulous space and excellent production quality! We were right next door and really enjoyed the talent and choice offered at the American Shakespeare Center!

We had read the wonderful reviews on trip advisor and had a free evening after spending the day at the natural bridge. We saw Peter and the Starcatcher and could not have been more impressed. The actors were fantastic. It was an interesting way to see a show. Not a typical dark theater with lights on the stage. The audience is very involved. I would highly recommend adding this place to your travel plans. Call ahead and try to get seats on the stage. It's a small theater so all the seats are good but it's a very unique experience to sit on the stage during the show.

Much ado about nothing was a fantastically acted play - so many talented people and so funny! From the singing at the beginning to the standing ovation, it’s a great show. I’ve been here several times and this was first time I sat upstairs. I picked the more expensive upstairs seats - thinking they would be best. Unfortunately, from the back row on the side, almost half the stage is blocked...and the play seemed to have a lot of its action in our blind spot. It was still wonderful - just think they should note this when you are purchasing tickets. $70 a seat is a fair price, but maybe should be less or labeled that you will have obstructed view. I will definitely be back - just will not sit in those seats again.

We stumbled upon the theatre while planning a long weekend in Staunton. It will bring us back here again. Strong acting in an intimate setting. The music before the performance and during intermission is great. The front row balcony seats do not have back rests if you have back issues.

Went to matinee of A Christmas Carol. Great actors, friendly atmosphere. So often the seats in theaters are not comfortable. This theatre has very comfortable bench seats with lots of room and a back. Built with the audience in mind.

This is a must see stop in Staunton. Start by taking one of the tours of the Playhouse to gain a full understanding of the facility. Our guide was excellent and we finished the tour with a much fuller understanding of early theater and particular the Shakespearean era. We returned for an excellent production of "As You Like it." The actors were stunning and it was a wonderful experience, leaving us to wonder what our high school teachers missed when we studied Shakespeare so many years ago!! Take time to visit and immerse yourself in this wonderful Center.

Wonderful theatre company. Whether you see a Shakespeare production or something else, this experience is not to be missed!! We loved "Bloody bloody Andrew Jackson" and we felt a part of the production.

Walked into the Shakespeare Center one late morning in mid April just to see the inside and take some pictures because no showings were on the schedule, but to our surprise, a student matinee performance of Romeo and Juliet had just started. We quickly purchased tickets and were escorted to our seats. Performance was amazing and I don't think there is a terrible seat in the theatre because it's so small and cozy. You get a very good view of the stage - some seats are actually on the stage! The women at the desk were very nice and helpful, too. We had a pleasant experience at the Shakespeare Center - I only wish we lived closer so we can return to see another play.

Not a Shakespeare fan but these actors made Shakespeare very enjoyable. Drive 4 hours to the show. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Building is very nice inside and out. The word quaint comes to mind.

Such multi-talented actors/musicians make forsooth and henceforth understandable. A real value in entertainment in a lovely theatre. Had last seen The Merry Wives of Windsor at Stratford upon Avon in 1984 and this production was delivered with a modern day flair that was quite enjoyable. Hats off to the passion and talent of the team - it showed through during the complete show! Excellent!!!

My family and I have attended “A Christmas Carol” at Blackfriars Playhouse for several years, making it a cherished holiday tradition. However, this year's visit on 12/24/23 turned into a dreadful experience. Unbeknownst to us, our child was deemed too young to attend, and the staff at the door not only refused entry but also displayed extreme rudeness and patronizing behavior. Despite requesting a full refund for our entire party, we were met with dismissive attitudes. Such poor customer service is exceptionally rare, and this unfortunate incident has soured our Christmas spirit. Regrettably, we won't be returning for any future shows at Blackfriars Playhouse. It's a shame that a long-standing tradition ended on such a negative note.

The best description of this brilliant, exquisitely talented troupe is that it is like attending a fantastic Broadway play in the middle of Virginia. The troupe is one of the world's top in their league playing brilliant Shakespeare works as well as other historic plays. They sing, they dance, they seem to play endless amounts of varied instruments. Amazing and most artistic work! They are also very congenial to their audience in this intimate and utterly gorgeous theatre. Please! Do not hesitate to go to a play here and we heard that the Dicken's Christmas Carol here is out of this world and one of the best ever done so that is on our list for the December trip through this area...this is a unique and highly memorable experience.... Hint: You can get padded seating/backs for the benches if you ask.... Most comfortable seating is on the lower floor, center stage...and yes, there are refreshments including beer/wine offered.

Excellent actor troup putting on about 4 different plays during the course of the season. Well worth catching a show and taking a tour of the theater is recommended.

We recently enjoyed Peter and the Starcatchers - how fun is this?!!! My date, who does love theater, was kind of tepid about this one - until we sat down! The doors open 30 minutes before the show, and the entire time we were entertained by the incredibly talented cast performing musical numbers, everything from Kermit the Frog to Metallica - I know, but it's fabulous. Then the play began, and WOW did they do a SENSATIONAL job. Greg Brostrom as Black Stache and Allison Glenzer as Smee stole the show. And the mermaid production - you've just gotta see it. So, so Fun! And the entire production is interactive with the audience, too. We were in the area just the one night, but I will make a point to go back. It's a beautiful theater, and I'd love to see their every offering. Before the show we ate at The Shack, a restaurant we highly recommend for beautiful, flavorful and sincere local food. Really special, really good.

Never had an interest in Shakespeare, and probably still don't, but as an experience this was incredible. We didn't know that there are a few seats on the stage along the sides and that's where we were. Performance starts with contemporary songs and that morphs into the start of the play. The actors were also very good singers and hearing their voices without amplification was memorable. I was able to sort of follow the story and as a night out for non fans it was very enjoyable.

We wet to see Much Ado About Nothing. My friend was disappointed that it wasn't :formal" Shakespeare, but I enjoyed it. The cast performed songs prior to the play and during intermission. The cast was dressed in modern clothing (which disappointed my friend) and some spoke with accents (Southern, Spanish, etc.) However, I was impressed with their ability to learn all the lines and perform it without flaw. I highly suggest it unless you are looking for "formal" Shakespeare.

We had wanted to visit here for a long time so we added it on to our recent DC trip and Monticello. Truly enjoyable, fun, entertaining. Superb actors!! We saw Two Gentlemen of Verona and Romeo and Juliet, both were outstanding productions. Highly recommend!

Went and saw "As You Like It' with my mom and two kids (12 & 14). My mom and I thought the play was great. My kids had trouble following the old English. The second half did get a bit easier, though, after we filled them in on the plot after intermission. We also got a little more used to the language and it became easier to follow. They still did enjoy it, and were glad they went. We'd definitely go again, but will probably stick to comedies until they're older.

Our first visit to the ASC was to see Hamlet -- and we were not disappointed! Yes, almost everyone died, but it had lots of humor too! We're going to return soon to see Macbeth.

I walked in on a Saturday, no performance was scheduled and I was allowed to see theater and learn some facts. Very friendly staff.

Attending the American Shakespeare Center's production of "Love's Labor's Lost" was definitely a highlight of my visit to Staunton and anyone visiting Staunton should make a point of attending a performance in this magnificent theater. The cast of actors make any evening special with their Shakespearean talent and their enthusiastic acting. The theater itself, a reproduction of England's Blackfriars playhouse, is an important attraction on its own. This is a real treasure and is a MUST SEE!

It us not just an interesting visit, for Shakespeare aficionados it is at least an annual pilgrimage. For the rest of of us who aspire to broad cultural exposure, it is a destination at minimum on the Bucket List. Nowhere else in the world (not hype or exaggeration) are you able to experience theatre performed and spectated as it was in a detailed recreation of Shakespeare's London theatre the Blackfriar. The house lights stay on and actors perform nearly in the round. Since a few rows of seats are set on stage they welcome audience interaction, even heckling and thrown objects (soft gooey, mushy or putrid ones but not lethal). On our visit, we were quite restrained since we sat with no one we knew under the balcony. But I vigorously recommend the adventure. Maybe you will catch us tossing peanut shells from the peanut gallery.

This replica of Shakespeare's Globe theater not only has great proformances but the environment sends the guest back in time to how it was originally intented. It's a fun and unique experience.

I just love this theater, and the show was great. Over the years, I have never been disappointed. The actors are superb entertainers who beautifully display their individual talents and Shakespeare's eloquence, passion, and humor.

“As We Like It,” is an accurate title for this skit, with some lines from Shakespeare, but mainly modernized drivel, dumbed down to bring in revenue. Billed “As You Like It,”
It’s bait and switch, with bits of swish.

We went here to see Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing. Based on some earlier TA reviews we knew to get there at 7:00 for the 7:30 show, because they have music... mostly modern. We arrived early and found our seats on the third row (C) on the aisle. Note: this is a replica of the original... and you're up close and personal from any seat in the lower sections. In fact, the gallant seats are actually on stage.

The cast is amazing as they worked professionally through the play... and had fun doing it. The play is a comedy of sorts, but they made it a step better with some added entertainment. You have to be there to understand that they've thrown in some 'original' ideas from Shakespeare's day. Quite enjoyable.

While the main reason we were staying in Staunton was because we were headed to Blacksburg for a Virginia Tech football game on Saturday. This fun evening made it an even better week-end. We'd love to come back for another play... maybe something like Hamlet or MacBeth to see the troop perform a non-comedy... or even a non-Shakespeare play. We seen Shakespeare in London, NYC, etc, but this was as good as any we've ever seen.

BTW, there is plenty of free downtown parking nearby.

The architecture of this Black Friars Theater model is well worth the tour by the very enthusiastic Shakespeare scholars. And the many productions with bare bones staging and well prepared Shakespearean actors is quite impressive.

Visited Monday July 9th, 2018 There are no shows on Monday, but I was hoping to photograph the theater itself. The one hour tour spent 45 minutes on Shakespeare and his friends. If you like that, then your fine. I wanted to take some photos, but none were permitted. I think we might have had three or four minutes inside the beautiful part of the theater, and that's it.

On recommendation from friends of ours, my wife and I bought tickets for the Blackfriars Playhouse whilst on a long weekend in the Charlottesville and Staunton area. So glad we did. The play on offer was Richard III and the American Shakespeare company turned out the best performance of it that we have seen—and we moved here from England. The performance was enhanced by the delightful recreation of the Blackfriars theatre, which places the audience in the thick of the action. As Richard addresses the audience with all his dastardly plans and dark humour, the intimacy of the theatre brings the audience instantly into the action.

It was truly amazing how much talent and energy the company had—playing various instruments and singing both prior to the play and during the interval. And to think they were performing again that evening! In the same way that the Bard had a small repertory company, so too with the American Shakespeare Company. Thus most of the cast will play several parts; but with Shakespeare’s writing and a fine group of actors, it all works. If you love theatre, don’t give this company a miss!

I have been to Blackfriars many times for wonderful shows, but I had the opportunity to go with a business group for an educational session on connecting with audiences. Lia did an incredible job engaging with and teaching our group. It was an incredible experience!

Went to a show here while visiting Charlottesville for a conference. Spent an afternoon in Staunton. This was our favorite activity during our trip. What talent in that group! We saw Our Town, and it was done beautifully. The musical talent is unbelievable too. Do yourself a favor and go to one of these productions if you are in the area. I would love to see another one!

Performance of Romeo and Juliet... The youthful, enthusiastic and prfessional presentation of this classic is an incredible tribute to American theater.

Thank You

Last Saturday evening I had the pleasure to have my first visit to American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA which was built as a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theater. I am sorry we did not get to tour the theater prior to the show. We were fortunate enough to get first row seating for a performance of "As You Like It. " However, no matter where you were seated, you were in for an up close and personal viewing experience. I especially liked how they implemented some of the audience seating on the stage and included them in the performance. I would be hard pressed to single out any one actor as being superior. Everyone had wonderful stage presence and delivery, and offered a great performance. Prior to the show and during intermission, many of the cast members showcased their multi talents by entertaining us with music, song and dance. A much deserved standing ovation was given and I hope to be able to return one day for another fantastic show.

Located in the charming Shenandoah Valley town of Staunton, VA, this stunning reproduction of the Blackfriars Playhouse sets the stage for an amazing Shakespeare performance. Normally a fan of tragedies, we recently saw a comedy at its energetic and campy best, complete with audience participation. Cast members entertain prior to the start of each act, showing off their musical talents. Highly recommend!

We went in December for one of their Christmas specials and loved the place. It has a small, intimate atmosphere. Since it is a Shakespeared theater I expected interaction with the audience and I was disappointed. We loved it so much that we got each other more tickets for Christmas. Late winter and spring. Each show was FABULOUS!!!!

Great venue, unique experience and such talented performers. Worth grabbing some cliff notes on a show prior to watching as the authentic Shakespearean can get confusing at times. If you are in Staunton a must do!

It was really interesting to see a reproduction of the Blackfriars theatre and experience the relationship of audience and performers at close proximity with no "lights out."

The performance was good enough, acting a bit less than top notch--what you might expect from a good college theatre department.

But I'm an east coast/west coast snob. This theatre was well worth a visit.

Celebrating my brother’s birthday, we went for something different & a break from the summer heat. As we entered we were immediately entertained by the music & performers prior to the start of the show. And drinks were offered prior to the show & again at intermission. The play was good; never a dull moment; and there were families with children so good for all ages. A good night was had by all!! Definitely recommend!!

We wanted to see a play here. Unfortunately we hit one of two annual 'dark' weeks. They were refinishing the stage floor so the smell of varnish was everywhere.

Instead we settled for a backstage tour. Our guide was a theater student at the nearby Mary Baldwin College. She was knowledgeable and friendly but talked very fast.

The theater is a copy of the London theater of Shakespeare's time. Lots of wood and an intimate stage setting. The actors react to the audience.

Don’t approach this with a “Shakespeare in Staunton, VA?” bias. My wife and I saw “As You Like It” at this facility and it was outstanding. We’ve seen performances on Broadway and this was every bit as entertaining, with a cast that’s performed here and abroad. We were seated on stage and we were a part of the event, and it great. I recommend you do the same. Just a wonderful experience.

Saw the play and while the interpretation wasn't really to my taste (I prefer my tragedy to be a bit less played for laughs) it was well staged. The theatre itself is excellent and a great experience.