Oregon Shakespeare Festival Reviews

You don't have to go to New York to enjoy great theatre. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is more than just Shakespeare. Although, if that's what you are looking for you won't find better or more creative productions of the Bard's works anywhere in the world-not London, not New York. Eight plays are produced every year. Some are classics, some musicasl, some original productions and of course there are the three Shakespeare productions. The casting is outstanding. Plays are produced in three separate venues including a globe like stage and a theatre in the round. What makes a weekend here so much fun is the tickets are affordable, Ashland has a great food scene (we love the Loft) and the town is a comfortable place to walk around and enjoy the shops and parks., If your are into wine, there are a number of excellent wineries within 10 miles. Treat yourself to a great weekend and enjoy the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. But make sure you have tickets in hand and reservations for a place to stay, this is very popular venue.

Long ago, I completed a masters degree in English and took several courses in Shakespeare and modern drama yet never heard about this festival until we went with friends. We've attended three of the last four years and I became a member so that we could purchase each season's tickets early -- in November. This year we attended two matinees followed by two evening performances: Shakespeare in Love, Off the Rails, Hannah and the Dread Gazebo and the Merry Wives of Windsor. We really enjoyed the modern plays and the creative treatments of Shakespeare's plays and going to each if the three theaters. This year The Merry Wives of Windsor in the outdoor Elizabethan Theatre was an incredible mix of 80s rock music, dancing, over-the-top acting and fantastic costumes. Every actor and actress is fantastic and it's fun to recognize the same one in a completely different role from play to play, and from season-to-season. Last year we took the backstage, led by a young stage manager, tour which was fascinating.

After visiting the Oregon Shakespeare Festival I received an email survey. One question asked me where I live, and I was prepared to search for my state name (Illinois) only to discover that the category covering me was simply "east of the Rockies." That tells you that the main audience for the festival comes from the west--perhaps even from the Northwest. But for us it was a destination as theater buffs; we'd heard about the quality of the productions and the mix of Shakespeare and new work was a draw for us. When I booked the tickets a few months in advance I did think they were expensive, more expensive than comparable tickets in Chicago, which surprised me. I imagine there are many ways to get discounted tickets by being a member, buying far in advance, being part of a group, etc. We were planning to see two shows and I compromised by getting top price tickets for one and lower priced, far side tickets for the other. As it turned out, the cheaper seats were fine in the outdoor Allen theater. The theaters are well designed and comfortable with plenty of leg room. We saw "The Merry Wives of Windsor." As others have noted, the play used songs from the 80s ("I Wanna Dance with Somebody" "Psychokiller") but mostly kept to Elizabethan costuming and ambiance. There was also a modern choice in that a woman was cast as Falstaff. The other play we saw was "Off the Rails," an adaptation of "Measure for Measure" set in the days of Buffalo Bill and the oppression of Native Americans confined to harsh reservation schools. I enjoyed the production but am not sure that the Shakespearean plot held up to the modernization. Nonetheless, it was a very interesting experiment and perfectly placed in a western venue dedicated to Shakespeare. Country music and Native American music were incorporated into this production. In fact, both of the shows we saw ended with rousing "feel good" musical number, in one case literally bringing audience members up onto the stage. I assume not every Shakespeare production at OSF ends that way. We'll have to come back and see more shows to find out. I also want to add, for the benefit of people who have never been to Ashland, that it is very hilly. OSF has worked very hard to make its venues accessible, but there are plenty of inclines to deal with.

Don't come in August. I spent thousands on getting here to see two plays and Ashland. Smoke was thick, masks necessary. Normal for August, past seven years, they say. One play was cancelled! Yes, refunded, but wow, what a disappointment. Understand totally the actors cannot do all their feats out in the dense smoke. I was unlucky, it was the first one they had cancelled, but wow a huge disappointment.

Saw Shakespeare in Love, Comedy, that was really funny, terrific acting, wonderful inside theater. If both plays had been cancelled, I cannot imagine my disappointment. It's NOT cheap to stay here or get here. Not sure why so many fires or why they cannot contain them, but Ashland is a bowl, sunk down surrounded by mountains and the smoke just sits here. I have run from smoke for 3 months, from Canada to Southern Oregon, so all summer! Tons of money spent just trying to protect my asthmatic lungs, very disappointing, then being robbed in Vancouver CA for thousands (the City of Shame = homelessness out of control).

By the way, wear your seat belt or get a ticket in Ashland! Over the shoulder!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is a jewel for Ashland. I have been to plays at all three theaters and every one was a superb production. The acting and production is first rate.

My husband and I came to Ashland for a day at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We saw Othello and Romeo and Juliette. The acting for both plays was superb! Splurging on very good seats is well worth the price. Seating in the outdoor Elizabethean theatre was a special treat! Highly recommend paying to attend a preview discussion of any play you are attending, also for a back stage tour if there is availability. There is a nearby pizza and also a place that serves Sushi for quick bites that are closest to the theatres. Catch the free outdoor performance about 6:45 if you can. It was all wonderful!

Billed as a comedy, but more of a tragic character study. Well acted but a little confusing if you're not Korean or of Korean descent. Next time we'll see something by Shakespeare!

What an amazing vision of one man who wanted a theater center to a whole town who embrace performing arts. Locals volunteer in the theaters in a wide variety of roles which support the professional actors and stagehands. If high quality theater isn't enough, they take it on the road in the off-season to schools around the west coast. Also, not just a great place to go for a Shakespeare experience (each of 4 shows produced differently) but to see new works. Wish we'd started coming sooner and stayed longer. Best to catch at least 2 shows and the backstage tour.

We've seen many plays over the years. Loved most, disappointed in a few, but always worthwhile. "Hairspray" was an enormous hit this year. Wish we could have seen it twice!

Every play we have seen has been outstanding throughout the years, usually with some twists to the story. This play was excellent and have never experienced a play that wasn’t
You can’t go wrong.

You should expect to see well produced innovative productions with Broadway quality acting at the largest Shakespeare festival outside England. You will not be disappointed! There will also be world premieres of new plays. The real exception is Oregon Shakespeare Festival also blends the two. This year we watched a production of La Comedia of Errors. The play was bilingual (this actually made the plot easier to follow!) Like all well produced Shakespeare the play spoke to our times. We were challenged to question our nation’s immigration practice. After seeing a number of the plays this year we will be changing how we view current events. We will be sharing with friends scenes from the plays that will express deep moving ideas.

I've been attending the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for over forty years, and yet it never ceases to amaze me how good it can be. I love the town of Ashland... it has maintained it's small town charm. It's a mix of Television's "Mayberry" and San Francisco's "Haight-Ashbury". This setting is perfect for a world class theater company producing a mix of 400 hundred year old timeless plays and 21st century drama. The theaters them selves are a wonder and no bad seats in any of them. Whether for a week or a weekend this stop is always guaranteed to delight.

Wonderful venue! Classic entertainment year after year. Professional performances with a modern application each year.

I grew up near Ashland and was lucky to have the opportunity to experience live theater as part of high school. Now as an adult, I have returned over the years to enjoy plays. However, during the past 10 years, changes to the artistic direction have negated my interest in spending time and money on this theater. I was thrilled when OSF began producing musicals (my favorite!). We enjoyed The Pirates of Penzance, My Fair Lady and The Music Man among others. Because I know OSF has had some financial struggles, we decided to go back and bought tickets to The Three Musketeers. Despite a gorgeous night and impressive staging, we left at intermission. The interpretation left us shaking our heads and wishing for more traditional theater. It was a rowdy and rap-filled production that was difficult to follow at times. I hope that the Artistic Director will consider plays that appeal to theater lovers of all kinds - mix in the old and the new. In order to survive, OSF needs “butts in every seat!”

We went to sense and sensibility play of the oregon shakespeare festival. A nice olay with good actors. We enjoyed it

I had purchased tickets during the preseason sale period. In over 25 years of attending plays at OSF this is the first one we walked out on. We could not ascertain which character was which, we could understand none of the dialogue of Mercurio except the dying declaration, the enunciation and projection of the actors was terrible, just a bad production all in all. Too bad I had not read the reviews because we would not have gone even if it meant forfeiting the tickets.

I have been a contributing member but will think twice about returning. I realize that some people are not going to like anything modern but we loved “Revenge Song”, loved the new take on “Oklahoma”, have loved the August Wilson plays including the one man show about his life. If this “ fake woke” is the new OSF, count us out.

My wife and I have held season tickets to a number of repertory theaters in the US. We thoroughly enjoy the professionalism on display at OSF. The costumes for Alice in Wonderland, the performance of Danforth Cominsin MacBeth were terrific. Mother Road combined two great leads in Mark Murphey and Tony Sancho with clever staging and provided timely messages. There are times when I feel am watching a professional but soulless performance, but not often. We have been coming to OSF steadily since the 1980s, a 700 mile round-trip. We enjoy the broader choices than was the norm twenty-five years ago. A few years ago, we saw To Kill a Mockingbird at the local armory with no set when a ceiling beam failed in Angus Bowmer. That performance reminded us of the strength of the actors at OSF, it was terrific.

You can always stump Easterners by asking them where is the oldest Elizabethan theater. Inevitably they come up with someplace in New England. Then they go the the OREGON Shakesphere Festival and understand. Yes it is just excellent. The talent is superb. Aside from the outdoor theater there is a Theater in the round and the terrific Agnus Bohmer theater ( whostarted it in the 30’s). Yes they sometimes get carried away with artistic license but the vast majority of live theater is an experience not to be missed.

We went to a show for the first time this month and were so impressed with everything! We were concerned about the smoke from the forest fires but they were very communicative in the weeks and days before about what could happen and all that they would do to accommodate ticket-holders. Thankfully the air quality was decent enough for our showing because the open air Elizabethan theater really made the experience special. It was so easy to get in and around, and our balcony seats offered a great view. Loved seeing the stars above. And it was just such a cool place to be on a warm summer night! Beyond that, the play we saw (The Book of Will) was excellent! I really appreciated the Elizabethan costumes and the various recitations from Shakespeare's plays. The little jokes about some of the more unpopular plays were great. And the actors playing Rebecca, Alice, and Richard were particularly captivating. We will definitely be back!

OSF is incredible. I have been going to OSF for many years, not as many as some unfortunately. The plays - all - are thought provoking and ingenious. You can't go wrong with any choice. Of course, some are more popular than others, easier to digest, and / or make you think more than you really want to. But isn't that the role of life - to open our eyes and see what we don't see.

I've been here four times and each visit is a delight. The depth, variety and high level of professional production is inspiring. The productions are thought-provoking, intelligent, and quite often, ground breaking. I'm inspired by the amount of young people I see attending and know they have great education programs. The downtown area is beautiful (stroll Lithia Park!) with a wide variety of restaurants and several great book stores.

The troupe, the theatre, the script-amazing and a must. What a tribute to Will, and the backstory of the compilation of his works. I found it fascinating about the actual history behind the folio, and the pirated Quattros, the publishing efforts and those who toiled to make it happen. We could have lost it. The Works.

OSF productions are always world class. No exception this trip, despite climate related challenges. The cast and crew are pros.

We stopped in Ashland for one day and caught a fabulous matinee performance of "MacBeth" at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Beautiful theater, excellent acting, but the things that impressed us the most were the technical aspects of the show, especially the lighting. The sound quality wasn't always great - some of the actors weren't wearing mics and it was often difficult to catch the words - but it was a great experience all in all.

The Elizabeth outdoor theater is lovely. Not a bad seat in the house. It makes for a beautiful night outside in the summer months. The concession stands have snacks, drinks, beer, and wine. Diverse group of attendees and plays. The theater is built on a hillside, next to OFS other three indoor theaters. The tickets can be purchased online or at the box office. The OFS is popular and it may be best to plan ahead of time.

I was very disappointed. I don’t mind adaptations but this one was so bizarre it had my mouth open in horror. Why? Where is Shakespeare’s eloquence of message? Why decimate such a wonderful and meaningful play? Why speak so fast, without vivid pronunciation? Why add such lewdness to a timeless love story? It was difficult to bear. If you love Shakespeare don’t go.

The festival is a cultural icon that deserves all of our support and admiration. We were lucky enough to see three shows and each was better then the one preceding it. Find a way to visit the Shakespeare Festival. It is food for the soul!

We liked the downtown shoppes and eateries, plus a lively street fair and July 4th parade. The performances were excellent in both indoor and outdoor venues, albeit pricey at $100..00 each seat. We dont like the 90-100 degree heat in July and August at that elevation so we will chose a different time to visit. The young grunge/homeless or transient factor is a downer as is some of the aging hippies who ever got out of the 60’s. PS we are from San Francisco area.

I have volunteered for my local Shakespeare theater for 40 years. So I have seen good Shakespeare, bad Shakespeare, and everything in between. Ashland is revered among theaters across the nation for producing good Shakespeare.

I attended on my birthday. My grown son had asked me, "Where do you want to be on your birthday this year." Being in the audience here was my answer. Being there meant flying 2000 miles, but it was worth it!

I accompanied a college group for an overnight stay and three plays. "Henry V" was uneven, but always worth watching just to hear the language spoken well, which it was in this production. We also saw "Manahatta," about the Native American experience in America, but while the ideas were intriguing, neither the script nor the acting was very compelling for me, with a few exceptions. The surprise of the trip was "Destiny of Desire," a boisterous, funny musical comedy send-up of telenovas. Great dancing, music, and sharp comic bits kept me (and the rest of the audience) leaning forward in our seats the whole time. One of the best plays I've seen in a long time.

We had a great experience at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival seeing 2 great plays in one day. The updated Oklahoma was fun—great orchestra, singing and dancing. Manahata was a wonderful play brilliantly weaving native american stories together. We are so glad we finally made it to ashland to see some high quality productions. It was hot and smoky in ashland but we still had fun.

The OSF shows we have seen so far in 2025, including Jitney and The Importance of Being Earnest, are great! I came here to write a review of the Green Show. The music is terrific. The seating is painful! The grass part is very sloped leading to pain in the sitz bones. The cement is so hard and most of it does not have room for your legs! I think the design of this area was made to discourage attendance, sadly. It needs to be fixed next year. Have some pity on your audience, please.

I come here every year, and the finest actors appear in OSF's plays. Do not be fooled into thinking it's a Renaissance Festival or all Shakespeare with people dressed in silly garb. The Festival goes on for 8 months of the year, and the adaptations and players are superb. Many of the plays are set in contemporary settings such as the war in Iraq or contemporary Iowa (with gay cheerleaders). Plus, if you don't like Shakespeare, only about half of the plays are Shakespeare, so there's really something for everyone to enjoy.

I have treasured memories of many performances. I witnessed the finest acting in Romeo and Juliet here a few years ago. The setting was a Spanish hacienda, and the actor portraying Romeo was simply riveting. (He is currently playing in Henry the 4th, both parts, but the Henry plays are lesser works, in my opinion, so they don't show off his remarkable talent). In addition, I will always remember a series of three plays, one of which was titled "Water by the Spoonful". The three plays were simply mesmerizing. I can compare the attentiveness of the audience at these three plays to when a gorgeous woman walks into a room and stupefies people. We were all spellbound.

I also highly recommend seeing at least one play in the Elizabethan style outdoor theater. One of my fondest memories at OSF is when it started to rain one fall evening at the outdoor theater, and I was unprepared and without an umbrella. The couple next to me had an extra rain parka they loaned me, and we all sat there together like a community absorbing the fantastic performances as they unfolded before us. (I went and bought some hot mulled wine during intermission for the couple and for myself.)

If you love theater, you cannot miss OSF. Even if you just like or appreciate theater, I believe you will be blown away by at least one performance at OSF!

I’ve been critical of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival of late, and I am still admittedly wary, but having recently seen and enjoyed their latest version of Macbeth, I want to update my OSF review from last year’s. Unlike so many of their productions, this one is pretty traditional without their usual casting alterations and bizarre staging (still suffering nightmares from a ridiculous guitar-smashing Hamlet). The acting was excellent and the set appropriately simple for an outdoor production. The costumes, especially for the witches, were good but I question why so many for Lady Macbeth and why so elaborate. There was an addition at the beginning I definitely didn’t see the need for (was Shakespeare’s version not good enough?) and there was one particularly bloody, grotesque scene toward the end not needed, but overall, I actually enjoyed this Shakespeare production which says a lot given my disappointment with so many of their others. I truly hope this is a sign of what is to come and not an anomaly. For now my only criticism continues to be the outrageous ticket prices. Given that I vowed never to return after last year, I’m glad I did.

We come to watch plays about once every 3 years. The ones we've seen have been professional, well acted, and staged well. The plays presented aren't always a Shakespeare type. The last time we went, there was a production of Oklahoma. It's best to buy tickets online. There is a gift shop nearby if you like Shakespeare magnets and posters.

A wonderful play on a beautiful day with good friends. It doesn’t get much better than that!
The Angus Bowmer Theatre had comfy seats that weren’t crowded and had room for ones knees. The air conditioning was perfect, unlike some venues that freeze a body out just because it’s a tad warm outside. Thank you for that AB Theatre! There wasn’t a bad seat in the place.

If you love Shakespeare, you already know about this festival, but if you like musicals, dramas, comedies, maybe you don't know, and you should. We've come for many years, and haven't loved everything, but always loved most. Check it out.

This was my 4th visit to OSF! The quality of the productions is ALWAYS magnificent!
The blistering heat & smoke from the California Forest Fires has wreaked havoc in monetary ways for the Festival this summer. Plays that were to be performed in the outdoor Elizabethan stage were cancelled or moved to the High School! It didn’t ruin my holiday, though.
The new plays that were produced were powerful & profound !
My ultimate favourite was The Book of Will! Other notables were Manahatta & Snow in Midsummer!
This Festival is one not to be missed in your lifetime! I will continue to patronize this Festival as long as I am physically able to travel!

I have had 2 of the best theatrical experiences of my like at this festival.

The Odyssey and Shakespeare in Love were outstanding. Ashland is a charming town with many fine dining restaurants and a safe small town vibe.

I now am a member and go twice a year in the Spring and the Fall.

It always feels like a mini vacation and I love the New York quality theater so close to my home!

Don’t miss it.

My wife and I and two friends took in three plays last weekend (June 1-3, 2018) in Ashland and thoroughly enjoyed Destiny of Desire and Othello. I was really looking forward to Oklahoma as the grand finale of our three day stay but found it to be disappointing. The acting, dancing and singing were very good. I applaud all of the actors and supporting stage and production people. My problem is that the emphasis on homosexual relations seemed to override the story and traditional period feeling I was hoping to have.

The show seemed mostly about promoting the naturalness of gay and lesbian relations versus celebrating and bringing back to life in a grand way this great work of art. I have no problem with gay and lesbian relationships. But spending three hours of watching this take on what I was hoping would be a top quality production of a traditional Broadway musical was not what I was expecting and it was awkward. I realized going in that Curly would be played by a woman and was prepared to accept that. I did not know that Curly and Laurey’s relationship would be between two lesbians and that almost every other lead would be played as homosexuals. I could have known had I done some research. But I, like many others in the audience I expect, I made some presumptions without doing some research on how this was going to be done and I was not prepared for what was presented. For me and the others in my party, it did not work. In fact, we all felt somewhat betrayed and let down.

It actually got rather ludicrous as Judd (played as an apparent heterosexual) competes against Curly (clearly to all in the community on stage and the audience to be a lesbian) for the love of Laurey (also clearly to all to be a lesbian). All Laurey had to do was to tell Judd, "Judd. I'm sorry. It’s not you. It’s me. But really Judd, it has been made abundantly clear to everyone, including you that I'm just not into men". There; considering the point of the production seemed to be that everyone accepted everyone for who they are, you'd think Judd would have figured out early on that he had no chance with Laurey. Or maybe we were supposed to take our thinking to another level and see that the point of Laurey's apparent dilemma (as expressed in the lyrics "Make up your mind, make up your mind Laurey") was about her questioning her own sexuality? Maybe she was a closet heterosexual? Maybe there was a chance Judd could win her love if she could convince herself that being a lesbian was not her best option? But this illustrates my point. I did not like having to spend energy wrapping my head around these kinds of issues when what I was looking for was a top quality presentation of a classic musical in the (mostly) traditional manner.

OK (lahoma), my mistake.This is Ashland and Oregon and I should have known better. I do eagerly look forward to my next visit to Ashland and the festival. But next time I will be sure to do some research on how future plays are going to be presented. I was sorry I did not get to see Romeo and Juliet in the outdoor theatre. But it had not yet opened when we were there. I will be back later this summer to see it I hope.

Ashland is home to the Shakespearean Festival. Many choices of plays and not all Shakespeare. Great restaurants adjacent to the venues and a good selection of places to stay.

I've been attending OSF for nearly 4 decades, and always look forward to the next season. Cambodian Rock Band earned its place as one of the best performances I've viewed over the many years. Hard to believe that is was even better than Vietgone, another one of my favorites. Mother Road is another solid production, but seemed rushed to close all the sub-plots in the final 15 minutes.
Thank you Bill Rauch for your decades of service to OSF.

So excited to have OSF back after the pandemic. We drove 5 hours up to Ashland to see “Once on This Island”. We went to the Thursday matinee only to discover that it had been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances not related to Covid. No worries. Our tickets could be exchanged for the Friday night performance. Friday night and we arrived at the theater only to find out that it had been canceled again! Pressing to find out why, we were told it may have come down to one actor! What???? No under study? We wouldn’t have minded if someone came out with a script to replace them. We wouldn’t have minded if they did a pre show introduction with some cast members singing one or two numbers from the show. But nothing?????? To add insult to injury, they will not return our money! So now in 2022, buyer beware if you are going to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival!

My wife and I have come annually for 12-15 years. We always enjoy OSF. This year it was 6 plays. Odyssey was absolutely super--a bit long, but creative and accessible to kids and teens. The two Henry IVs were quite solid though played more comedically than I'd like. Julius Caesar was exceptionally well staged, especially for a not-great play; great choreography. A great surprise was Unison--based on August Wilson's poems. It was different, fresh and lively. Most disappointing to us was Hannah and the Dread Gazebo; reviews have been quite positive; we thought it totally disjointed and amateurish.

Yes, fire season is a season on the west coast of the country. Growing up in California, I'm pretty familiar with it, but since we had a wedding in Portland in a few days, we thought we'd take the motorhome up from SoCal and stay in Ashland for a few days. Great idea - but I didn't figure on the various fires STILL going on around the area. UGH.

I'd booked tickets for "Book of Will" which I thought might be an easier evening than a full on Shakespeare play (I've read a lot of the plays but my husband not so much), and was disturbed to learn the day before our performance that they'd had to CANCEL a play.

See, the main theater is a replica (nicer and newer, sure) of The Old Globe in London. So you can get your Olde England on, babe.

But if the performers can't breathe? Uh, yeah.

So I was nervous thinking I'd have to just get vouchers and maybe just give those to the wedding couple since I'd been sluggish in picking up a gift for them and nothing was thrilling me on their registry - we've all been there, right? But I went online and (cue the cornets), they were moving our performance to Ashland High School. Only issue was - a big open air theater versus a small high school auditorium.

We decided to brave downtown Ashland anyway - and ended up having a very early dinner and then got in the car to exchange our tickets at the high school - at 5:30 for an 8 p.m. show. Even so, arriving right on time - there was a big line ahead of us.

We still were able to exchange the tickets and drove around a bit, but the air was thick and nasty, so we came back and waited and people watched in the air conditioning.

So the show was - excellent. I'd never heard of the playwright Lauren Gunderson, but she did a wonderful job - and it's taken from an interesting tidbit of history. Turns out that nobody had "published" the works of Shakespeare while he was alive or even a few years after death . . . and there was a real fear that his original works would be corrupted or edited or just plain mis-used. So a couple of hale and hardy souls who'd been part of Shakespeare's acting troupe decided to gather each version, edit them to what they were sure were the original works, then get them published.

Anyway - the play was great, the actors were wonderful, and I was even impressed with the high school auditorium which had great acoustics and wonderful seats.

Then the next day we headed for a few items at Safeway - and I stopped in the Starbucks, only to be waited upon by a lovely young teenaged girl. I'm telling her this whole story and how my favorite actor was this one guy and she blurts out, "Oh, that's my Dad!"

Only in a small town, right? This guy has played in 22 seasons and raised his family there and I run into his daughter by accident.

I can't wait to come back NOT in fire season, so I can sit in the open air theater and breathe in the good air . . . wait, is that a raindrop I'm feeling?

I want to say a few things about the Amazing Oregon Shakespeare Festival because I am tired of people not knowing this stuff.
Let's go with the name....
Oregon....yes,it is in Oregon

Shakespeare. They do 11 productions, 3 0r 4 are written by Shakespeare. It's not all Shakespeare.Original works, American classics. a musical.

Festival....well,it runs from February to October.

The plays, the Shakespeare especially are often set in different contexts, different times. THEY ARE THE PLAYS....THEY ARE NOT "adaptations". Dont look for elizabethan costumes..they might be there occasionally.

Do a little research on the productions. They just did a same sex couple Oklahoma. Loved it, but what I dont love is people complaining about it, saying they should've been told.....ARRGGGGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK...VENTING...
11 plays...all well acted, they aren't gonna all float your boat. The festival is a National Treasure!!!!!!!!
People have said it's become too slanted to gays,different cultures...Would you ever say plays 20 years ago were too straight...too white?
I absolutely love the festival. Do i love every show? Not always...but do I applaud the inclusive nature of the choices and casting?????? Absolutely

High quality productions, actors and plays. Nice selection of classic and contemporary plays. Small town is filled with high quality restaurants and shops. Beautiful part of Oregon that can be either a destination or way stop on a West Coast road trip. Very hot.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival from Feb-Oct is outstanding. Eleven plays are offered every year with 7-8 of them non-Shakespeare including new plays commissioned by OSF and classic musicals. The plays are performed in 3 theaters: the outdoor Elizabethan theater (~1200 seats), the indoor Bowmer (~600 seats) theater, and intimate indoor Thomas (~300 seats) theater. A "Green Show", i.e., show before the show, provides free entertainment for play goers and others each evening.

Went to see Merry Wives of Windsor. It was a fabulous show with sprinkles of 80's music. The costumes were of the Shakespeareian period. Loved it!

In Ashland for only one night, we got tickets for “Sense and Sensibility.” The staging was creative and the performance was spirited and clever. Every actor was strong in representing the characters I remember from reading this Jane Austen novel many years ago.

Acting superb, choreography and stage management worthy of Broadway (ticket prices certainly reflect that and are on par w/Broadway $135/ticket)... my one complaint was the costumes: an attempt to present the play as contemporary clashed incongruously with some of the written dialogue, i.e. "when Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane"... still, it was a fine performance

Absolutely love the Shakespeare festival, this is our second year in a row. This year we saw The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Elizabethian, very funny and enjoyable. Next was Quixote Nuevo at the Thomas, quite small and intimate, no bad seats. Might have been the best play we've ever seen, the actors and story were incredible--we were blown away. Last was The Importance of Being Earnest at the Bowman, which has always been one of my favorite plays of all time (hilarious, watch the movie with Colin Firth, Rupert Evert and Reese Witherspoon), and the actor that played Algie stole the show he was so funny--great physical comedian. It was wonderful, light and funny, but couldn't hold a candle to Quixote Nuevo's emotion and story. Looking forward to next year!

I was embarrassed for OSF that the understudy needed the script in his hand. I've never seen this practice. Heck not even in community theater. Falstaff in H4 part 2 was a disaster. The whole OSF experience was way too pretentious. OSF caters to wealthy self-aggrandizing Californians.

This was my 1st visit, tho my daughter and wife have made a women-only pilgrimage for 4 prior years. I was blown away - such a nice friendly and clean town in the Rogue River Valley (near the Cascades), with top-tier theater rivaling the Guthrie, Berkeley Rep, etc. I'm not a big Shakespeare fan, but the season includes a great mix of other shows as well including this year a world premiere, a musical, and an absurdist comedy (Tom Stoppard's Shakespeare in Love). The 2 hr backstage tour, offered at 10AM every AM, is not to be missed ... visit the catacombs under the stages, dressing rooms, see one of the daily set changeovers, and hear from an actor or techie about their life at OSF.

With 6 or 7 shows running at once, the lineup is designed so that visitors can see a LOT of plays in just a few days if desired. Hiking, rafting, vineyard tours, etc. are also great ways to spend the day(s). Shows are both matinee and evenings.

There's great food choices in town, and Lithia Park (designed by the same gent who laid out Golden Gate Park) is a fine picnic spot if you don't want to dine indoors. Safeway and local markets also make for affordable alternatives; many motel rooms have kitchenettes.

There are three venues, which I didn't realize. If you want the outdoor experience, you need to look for the Elizabethan. One play was great but the second was pulled down by the lead looking bored at her wedding and finale. I got a ticket for Oklahoma but then found out after I got here that it is a LGBTQ adaptation. I'm not particularly prejudiced or offended, but I really wanted the original. Restrauant seen has gotten much better in the last five years.

We’re enjoying a wonderful trip to see the incredibly talented actors and crew at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We wish them all continued success not only with the high standards of performances they offer, but that they can find better ways to manage performances when smoke conditions due to wildfires make the air unhealthy. It seems all of Ashland so interdependently relies on the Festival’s success that they owe it not only to their patrons, but their community to be well planned and prepared whenever smoke season comes again.

We’ve been members for 4 years now and have seen almost every show—even when the fires in Northern California last year forced OSF to move 4 production from the outdoor theater to the local school theater.we were disappointed but seeing Romeo and Juliet with minimal staging only highlighted the quality of the company’s acting.

We are lovers of Shakespeare from Chicago that will leave disappointed in the quality of the three productions we saw. Very amateurish.
My hope is that, with a new artistic director, things will turn around next year.

I really enjoyed the Festival. We saw Loves Labor's Lost. I opted for the B level seating but I ordered my tickets so early that we got good seats very close to the front, to the side.

We chose three amusing plays and all were wonderful: Shakespeare, with great actors and costumes; A familiar classic (The Importance of Being Earnest) which made us laugh so hard!; and a new view of Hamlet called "Fat Ham" that was full of quotes, thoughts, and laughs.

Been enjoying this national treasure for decades. Some of the best theater work to be found in the U.S. is done on the stages of OSF. I'm totally biased, as I have worked on the stages here for a while... but I can still speak to the work I have seen over my many years here. The town is grear, the theaters comfortable, the artistry is world-class.

We love this festival. They are going through some hard times, post-Covid, but are still a treat. We say 4 plays this year down from 9 in former years. Rumors abound that there may not be a season next year, but we are hoping this is not true

We go to The Oregon Shakespeare Festival In late May and early September. The last time we were there, September 2018, we took the backstage tour. Excellent. I highly recommend the tour to anyone going to the OSF. There are many motels close to the festival so it's an easy walk to the Theatres!

The theaters are wonderful, the plays are wonderful, the actors are more than wonderful, and even the staff are wonderful.
The Festival is a nine month production of both Shakespearean and non-Shakespeare fare.
We spent two days in Ashland, and one day at the festival attending two plays. We thoroughly enjoyed everything during our stay.
We try to attend Shakespeare events in all the cities we visit.

Ashland is a beautiful city that sits among a ring of mountains and only 14 miles from the California boarder. The "Festival" is an amazing collection of both Shakespearean and other straight plays, including musicals. The 2019 season includes Macbeth, Hairspray the musical, Cambodian Rock Band, All's well that ends well, and As You Like It to name just a few. There are many hotels and restaurants in town and many wineries in the Rogue Valley. OSF is an international destination and should be on your bucket list!

Don't let the nay-sayers (read: haters) stop you from taking in a performance of OKLAHOMA! It is modern in the way these re-thinkings of our tried and true (read: tired and blue) classics tend to hope for, at least. I feel it succeeds...admirably. It operates beyond its own intentions. It is so joyous, exuberant, well-staged and well-choreographed (read: well-re-conceived) that the musical is infused with a NEW jubilance that has been missing from the piece for a very long time indeed! I usually come down very soundly on the side of "don't fool with the classics." They are classic for a reason - show us that - show us the reason the thing you are presenting is called "classic." On the (somewhat) recent PORGY AND BESS - on Broadway in 2012 - the one where Stephen Sondheim wrote to the New York Times and said, "Don't Mess With The Classics!" - I was firmly, soundly in Mr. Sondheim's camp. (And their messing with P&G did nothing to "improve" or re-imagine it!) Here, I think even Stephen Sondheim would find much (read: everything) to admire. This production goes well beyond "noble effort" and simply IS. You will find an OKLAHOMA of great merit, style, substance and worth. Go!

When you see a play that you've read and taught for over twenty-five years, and some of the lines sing out and wake you up, you know you're seeing a landmark production. That's what seeing Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Romeo and Juliet was like for me, a long-time English teacher. The actors who played Juliet and Romeo energized Shakespeare's words with subtle shifts and cadences; the setting of an unhoused community in Oakland insisted that we see our world truly. The integrity of this year's casting and choice of plays shows that Oregon Shakespeare Festival will not let drama be limp and rote but asks audiences to learn and grow from what they experience. Bravo, OSF!

After an absence of almost three years because we were living overseas, we made it back to the OSF. Too late in the season for the outdoor Theatre. But we saw Othello in the Bowmer Theatre and Manhattan in the small theatre. Both were outstanding.

This is a great location it has different plays for all tastes.
The open air theater is great, which ever theatre you chose there is not a bad seat.
You better walk to the theater because parking is an issue.

We had one night in Ashland and thoroughly enjoyed this show! We are recommending it to everyone we know. Well staged, superb acting and good music!

I'm on year 3 with my 12yo and 10yo. Always incredible performances with stunning costumes, sound, sets, direction, acting. Worth the 5 hour drive every year!!

We saw Othello, Manahatta, and Romeo & Juliet. We loved all 3 but Othello was our favorite and R&J probably the weakest. It was very smoky when we were there Aug 7-9 but we still managed to walk around downtown & Lithia Park. The Tudor Guild Gift Shop near the theatre sold particulate respirators for the smoke for $5. We chose to skip these. The outdoor Allen Elizabethan Theatre was closed due to the smoke, but we managed to get seats to where our performance was moved to - Ashland High. (You can choose a refund or to exchange tickets if your outdoor performance is moved.) I can't wait to return!

This is a wonderful venue. If you have never gone this should be on your bucket list. Due to the fires they are in need of financial help, if you can please help even if it's only a few dollars. 2019 is full of wonderful shows. If it's your first time schedule the back stage tour you will enjoy that as well.

People in the know, will tell you that Ashland is "very dramatic" - the comment is a little tongue-in-cheek but it refers to the plethora of fine theater available. We saw Oklahoma, with an extremely talented cast, great sets, incredible dancing and a lot of kissing going on. One of the highlights was the terrific orchestra- Multi talented /multi instruments played songs we all loved And adored. Earlier we saw the Tele novella, Date w/ Destiny - again very talented cast- almost vaudevillian act at times. Extremely clever and creative sets especially this seen in the sand. Check it out

I've been attending plays here since the mid-80s. OSF has kept all the good of traditional Shakespeare productions while expanding to modern, diverse taste. I was surprised that Othello was not in the outdoor theater (wanted my new husband to experience that place), but the Angus Bowmer Theater is a spectacular performance space in it's own right. Honestly, it will be hard to find a better treatment of Othello anywhere on this side of the Pond.

Made my 6th visit to OSF this June!
Driving from BC is a long haul but worth every mile. We saw As You Like It , which was enchanting. Also, The Importance of Being Earnest which was clever & cute. Fat Ham was powerful, profound & poignant but had a joyful ending. And Jitney, was a riveting drama.
Everything that Ashland offers is always worth the price & the journey. Do yourselves a favour and make the effort to see some or all of the productions this year! 👍🏻👏🏻🥰

As happens each year the staff at OSF are incredibly helpful.

This year we saw two plays. Sense and Sensibility and Destiny of Desire.

Sense and Sensibility was a solid play emblematic of OSF’s work. The staging was outstanding. The two female leads were a bit of a let down as the didn’t push their characters to become important to the audience.

Destiny of Desire is one of the best plays I’ve seen in awhile. Great energy. Each actor was outstanding giving life and “credibility” to their characters and this hilarious tele novella. If you are going to see multiple plays, I strongly recommend seeing this one last. It is so outstanding that the other plays won’t look quite as good. So save this as your delicious dessert to complete your trip.

NOT for families!
This venue has gone woke.
The plays are vulgar and closer to porn than Shakespeare.
Don’t waste your money.
Shameful what they have done

We saw Off the Rails a very fun, contemporary and engaging play. I can't stop thinking about it. Ashland is famous for it's Shakespeare Festival, great food and outdoor recreation.

Had time over Memorial Day to make a stop in Ashland with my BF who had been to OSF before. She raved about Ashland and OSF and what an incredible theater production it was. So, we bought the 8 p.m. showing of "Between Two Knees" put on by the 1461's all native production team. They share with you up front that it in so many words it will make white people feel uncomfortable, but humor is there to make it feel okay. Real history -- the way it should have been taught. Actors were on spot. The mixture of media, lights and humor brought this serious subject to light. We were so impressed with all the cast, staging and those who worked behind the scenes with light and sound. And the size of the theater makes you feel like you are having a personal conversation with the actors on stage. It can be quite intense in a good way. Hats off to the "Between Two Knees" cast and crew. Job well done.

And if you are looking for something to take home -- there is a nice gift shop to peruse with a helpful staff. We didn't take a tour of the Globe, but the door was open and we did take a peek in. Lovely theater. I can imagine the Bard, himself, sitting in one of those seats watching one of his own plays. Methinks, "Midsummer's Nights Dream"?

We had the best time at the theater. We watched The Merry Wives of Windsor. It was Shakespeare with an 1980's twist. It was so funny and so entertaining. The seats are stadium style seats so you can bring in cushioned seat pads or rent them for $5.00 each. I rented and it helped make a 3 hour show more enjoyable. The snack bar is very reasonably priced. The gift shop has some amazing items to purchase.

First visit...what a great experience! Will be back.
World-class Artists, first-rate production and venues.
Nice restaurants and accommodations. ('Pie and Vine' for great pasta)
and if you're daring...drink from the courtyard Fountain!
The Ashland community is committed to supporting Theater Arts.
Heartwarming to see Actors from different Shows encouraging and cheering each other on. This is what the creative arts is all about.
Hot Tip: get tickets early for the play "Cambodian Rock Band"!

Ashland is a beautiful place to visit. Shakespeare Festival was wonderful but, the fires surrounded Ashland and we were sitting in smoke watching the play.

We have been coming to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for a number of years, and enjoying it immensely. We stay long enough to see every play available, and we do as many extras as we can, like Preface presentations on the plays, panel discussions on theater topics, and lectures on historical background or other related topics. It is such a rich experience. At first we tried to pick and choose what plays to see, but the productions are so unique at OSF that even if you’ve seen a play many times before, what you see there will be different and thought-provoking. As a person with hearing loss, I have to work hard to get as many lines as possible, but this year I learned I can use the hearing assistance devices with my own earbuds, which are much more comfortable than the earphones that come with the devices. This has been a great breakthrough. We are not big theater goers except for this once-a-year experience, but the wealth of information available about the plays through reading material they supply and special events that accompany the plays makes this very special and super enjoyable.

The festival offers at least 3 venues with 2 different plays each, each day of the weekend. The plays offered are Shakespeare as well as other plays. There is a beautiful Elizabethan theater a regular theater and a black box theater. The plays run a very wide gamut and can be conventional to very unconventional and experimental. It’s a fun get away and the town of Ashland is low key with many options for eating. The stores are rather rustic and not particularly trendy but still a nice distraction as one walks about the town. It’s good for a nice relaxing weekend in a low key town nestled in the Oregon green.

We attended the play Shakespeare in Love. The indoor theatre was lovely and play well done. The whole vibe of Ashland is all about the plays which is fun.

Romeo & Juliet is a flop. The actors' voice projection, and much of their diction/annunciation is not easy to follow - you will struggle to hear and understand what they're saying.
If you know the play's dialogue well, you will be able to follow I suppose. This is NOT for a first-time Shakespeare viewing, or for someone who is going along because their partner wants to see it.
The BEST actor in the production, is the one who played Mercutio. After his death comes intermission, and we left.

The 2019 plays at the three theaters at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland will be on for six more weeks. Not to be missed: 'How to Catch Creation', 'Mother Road', and 'Indecent.' 'Macbeth' in the outdoor theatre (which closes in early October) has terrific leads but the staging is odd at times, and we were disappointed in 'As You Like It.' There are 3 or 4 other plays on as well, including audience favorites. Ashland is a pretty town to visit, with the lovely Lithia Park for walks, and fine shopping and restaurants of every sort, and nearby wineries and sights. A highly recommended autumn vacation! The 2020 season begins in February.

The festival seems to want to do all of their productions with a twist.

During a recent visit we saw Othello. It was done with modern military dress and some changes in dialog. Well done unless you were wanting a traditional production.

We also saw Oklahoma. I’m happy to see non-Shakespearean plays being presented and musicals are a great addition. Again they put a twist on the presentation. Two same sex couples played lead roles. They did a nice job but one friend with whom I discussed the production said she would have walked out during the first scene. Maybe a warning could have been included in the advertising. There were a number of families in attendance. May have lead to some interesting conversations.

Lots of fun for the family. We started the day with a Back Stage tour of the Theatres. Came back for an evening performance of Merry Wives of Windsor. Great cast and with a musical twist. We learned that the Oregon Shakespeare is not a one day deal. Plan to stay for extra days to see more than one show.

We had a great time at the festival this year, seeing Rent, 12th Night, and the Three Musketeers. The singing in 12th Night was particularly good (a phrase I never expected to write). The campus tour and the pre-show prefaces were worthwhile too. Be aware that the Allen Elizabethan Theater gets very cold at night in early June, especially on the higher level. Rent a blanket or bring your own--and remember that the blanket/pillow rentals are available before the show only; they are closed at intermission.

Another great season at OSF. Have seen most of the plays. Merry Wives of Windsor was inspired. Loved the 80's music.

Another great season. Every year is different. We have stayed in hotels!VRBO and AIr BnB. There are plenty of places to eat, but does seem to lack bakeries. Downtown is the place to be. See some plays, explore Lithia Park, nearby Jackson and Medford. Have not tried the fly fishing.

I've traveled to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for over 20 years. Took my daughter for the first time when she was in elementary school. The acting and Elizabethan theater were so captivating she and other children were on the edge of their seats for the entire performance. I credit OSF for my daughter's love of Shakespeare, making high school English class easy. This year we had tickets to see Three Musketeers and Romeo and Juliet, made the 1,000 mile drive, paid for a nice hotel... The opening act of Three Musketeers was so filled with profanity we did not even end make it through the first act ( several people were ushering their families out). When we got back to the hotel we checked the website to see if there was a warning or age appropriate warning and there was no hint of one. More over the acting was not what we had come to expect of the OSF. Curious about Romeo and Juliet we went online to read more than just the website's description, but other online reviews to find that much of the setting had been changed and even the sweet romance of young love had been perversely twisted to include pelvic thrusts. This should have been noted on the website. We have seen other performances at OSF that took place in modern day settings and loved them. The change of setting to modern day were disclosed on the website. A homeless encampment setting for Romeo and Juliet was not disclosed on the website's synopsis of the play. The sexualized movements of the actors make it inappropriate for children, which should also be disclosed on the website. Shakespeare is timeless and the layers of themes speak for themselves, they do not need augmentation. We've seen the notices that OSF is in financial trouble, we even contributed during the pandemic, but now it is clear why. We will not be returning or renewing our membership until OSF returns to quality, family appropriate theater.

First time here . Great plays . Great actors . All the seats seem to be good . Reservationists cheerful & helpful . Green Show each evening before the plays is free & the two we saw were fun entertainment!

Unfortunately the three shows we had planned to attend were cancelled due to the COVID-19 quarantine. The box office was closed for several weeks and I sent them an email during that time. On the second day they were back to work I received an email that informed me that they had processed my refund. I can only imagine the volume of work the box office staff had to face as they returned to work! Thanks to the box office staff for their efficiency and professionalism.

At first you might think this play is cheesy but wait as you will be rewarded greatly if you are into a comedy filled with twist and turns and some hard hitting facts and a lot of quirkiness!
My friends and I so thoroughly enjoyed this play that it continued to be the topic of conversation well into the next day. 3 cheers to all involved in this very entertaining show. Even watching them do the set changes was intriguing. This show is so very clever!

I'm finally reviewing after our fourth visit to OSF. We saw Othello and absolutely loved it - as much as we loved Hamlet two years ago. (Kudos to the actor who played Hamlet two years ago and Iago this year.) The costuming, set, acting and modern take were exactly what you expect - very high caliber. I would see this again if given the opportunity.

However, the next day we saw Sense & Sensibility and didn't have the same experience. We didn't care for the acting. The costumes were fine, but nothing special. Because of the "doubling-up" of actors, the story line becomes confusing. One scene an actor has one part and another scene they are someone else completely made it difficult to follow at times. I forgave all of this until the ending and then I just couldn't. The play stuck w/ a more traditional stance - costuming, accents, scenery, but at the very end at the wedding scene, they all broke out in some modern rendition of a dance and it just didn't fit. I walked away disappointed in this one.

Because of Othello, I forgive OSF for Sense and Sensibility, but I would never recommend to anyone to see the play - rent the video w/ Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman.

We have been to The Oregon Shakespeare Festival many times and it is always wonderful. While I cannot say I've enjoyed every single play I've seen, the acting and set are always top level and the venue is amazing. Well worth a visit.

It had been a while since our last visit and I can not understand why. This place is a lovely town and the entertainment here rivals NYC. Great places to stay and eat. Great atmosphere for visitors.

My husband and I came to Ashland from NYC with high expectations for the Shakespeare Festival after hearing so many wonderful things about it. It totally met our expectations and then some. From the moment we arrived in Ashland we felt such a positive energy and sense of community. We loved the Juneteenth Variety Show put on by members of the Company, the Park Talk with a scenic carpenter, the Cornflower Green Show, a production of Love’s Labor’s Lost with original songs in the Elizabethan that was both laugh out loud funny and poignant, a glorious production of Oklahoma! in the Bowmer with same-sex couples as the leads, and a post show discussion with the Associate Director of Oklahoma! Ashland itself is endlessly charming with great shopping, restaurants, and scenic beauty. We will be recommending Ashland and the Shakespeare Festival to everyone we know, even fellow New Yorkers.

Plan to spend a couple of days here and see several shows. Become a member, patron, or benefactor and use the members lounge.

First timers. Though not my favorite play that was being performed, the whole experience was magic.We were in the last row of the theater and still able to see and hear clearly. Hope to go back again.

This is my second visit to OSF: 3 teachers with 30 students. We went to see 4 plays with the OSF; 4 prologues; a design workshop and discussion with an actor. The performances were spectacular!! We thoroughly enjoyed it all, although our favourites were Cambodian Rock Band and Hairspray. Getting to meet and hang out for 40 minutes with the actors of Cambodian RB after the show was the highlight of our trip. Then the next day having an hour discussion with the lead actress, Brooke Ishibashi, was such a treat! She's the nicest, warmest person!! Can't wait to come back again next year!

OSF; As always, good acting. One downside was the horrible air quality. Smoke led to cancellation of Romeo and Juliet. Other downside was the production of Oklahoma. Great music and good acting but we found the blatant and obscene "in-your-face" LGBTQ theme very off-putting.

We were able to see three plays this time, two in the Elizabethan (open air) theater and one in the Bowmar (indoor). We saw Merry Wives and Windsor and The Odyssey in the Elizabethan and Shakespeare in Love in the Bowmar. My family lives in Ashland and are members of the OSF. Merry Wives of Windsor, always funny, was very well done! Loved KT who played Falstaff - laughed our heads off when the two wives got revenge! The Odyssey had lots of humor and the Odysseys was FANTASTIC! He brought the wild-eyed looks of a man who wanted to go home! Shakespeare in Love was my favorite. It was done with the most amazing period costumes. Queen Elizabeth's two costumes were a work art. The humor was so much fun yet it made a point of women's place in that world.

Go see a few plays. Seasonal - early Spring into late Fall only!

1986,1987, 2008, 2014 and 2019. These are the years I have visited OSF. I have loved many performances. I have loathed a couple. This is a risk you run when seeing new (to you) plays and/or re-imaginings of old favorites. This year we saw two real winners: Between Two Knees (which is not for a person who is morally complacent and seeking light entertainment) was superb. Very funny, quite moving and morally disturbing. An excellent performance we were blessed to see by acquiring 3 no-show cancelled tickets. Alls Well that Ends well was great fun and a real pleasure. Like all of the plays that I have ever seen here (including the ones that I disliked) there were superbly rendered, staged and produced. As before, I unhesitatingly recommend coming here.

I’ve always looked forward to going to OSF, however this past 2018 season was not that great. They let go of a lot of their season actors who were fabulous, and many others were relegated to the background of the choir in the plays. I’ve seen all of the plays, but I would recommend checking the reviews before you purchase your tickets, as so many were a disappointment this year, which is so sad. Hopefully things will get better.

We saw 5 plays in 7 days in all three venues. Highly recommend taking the backstage tour first if at all possible. We had not planned to see any performances at the Thomas Theater but after seeing it during the tour, we immediately purchased tickets for 2 plays. While the Thomas was our favorite venue, the Angus Bowmer Theater is exceptional. The Allen Elizabethan Theater was our least favorite but a delightful experience. The plays we saw in order of personal preference were; Othello (Iago was magnificently played and the modern setting was fun), Oklahoma, Manahatta, Romeo and Juliet, and The Way the Mountain Moved.

A short overnight stop on the way back to the Northwest. Hubby decided to get tickets at the last minute to The Book of Will. It was a fun play but we were not prepared for the semi-outdoor venue and I thought I was going to freeze! A warm coat, scarf and hat would have made this fun play more enjoyable.

The box office opens at 7pm, so you can get greatly reduced price tickets for the 8 pm show. Don't try this during graduation week or certain busy holiday times, but we have done it more than once, and got great seats. Last saw "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and not at all what I expected. It's Shakespeare, alright, but they put a twist on it. This time it had an '80's theme and with '80's music, costumes, and a nod to Madonna and Michael Jackson. Wonderful! The festival ends soon in October, but starts up again with a whole new lineup early next year.

For about 15 years, we have always wanted to go to a show in Ashland. We finally decided to take the many hour trek, dining out, hotel rooms, gas, time off work. But Beauty and Beast were cancelled this evening due to smoke in the surrounding area.

Ok, I get it, that the singers and performers don't want to risk damage to their voices/lungs but for petes sake...in todays technology, they can't find a few fans to blow some fresh air around? Very disappointed, likely will not make the journey back. We did get a refund but that is not the point.

We spent four days in Ashland,OR at the Shakespeare Festival in August 2018 and caught four plays. My favorite was "Othello", with a Sudanese-dialect for Othello and outstanding charismatic Iago. I would have liked more tenderness between Othello and Desdemona in the early acts, however. The American? Navy setting provided white dress wear in the final scene that emphasized the black and white motif of the play nicely.

"Snow in Midsummer" was a 13c AD Chinese tragedy re-written for modern audiences with strong female roles. The acting was marvelous, though the actress playing the business-woman seemed a little younger than she should. I loved the strong, completely Asian cast. It was also interesting, as one who has studied Greek (450 BCE) and Shakespearean (17c AD) Tragedy, to observe the characteristics of a Chinese Tragedy from a time between those two traditions.

"Oklahoma!", which is reviewed a few times here on T.A., was the controversial play of the week. Almost all characters in the play were LGBTQ*; the non-specified exceptions probably the older people (who gave birth to the young people, presumably), villain Judd, and one pregnant young family with a little girl (who added great charm to the production). I was not surprised by the gender fluidity (lots of notice in the previews I had read), nor offended by it. However, Curly and Laurie just didn't have any chemistry in my opinion. They both expressed anger at times that seemed more genuine than the affection and sexual chemistry that usually moves this play. The actors' voices were both outstanding, and the actress playing Laurie also danced well. (Loved the dream sequence). Honestly, I felt more attraction when Judd talked about Laurie caring for him when he was sick than I did at any time between Laurie and Curly. (this might be my heterosexual, cis-gender bias). For me, Curly was poorly cast-- for her gorgeous voice probably-- not for her suitability for the role otherwise. Her costume was ill-fitting, and nothing suggested she had the physicality to be a cow wrangler, far less the heroism to defeat Judd. Also, Curly didn't "clean up" for the picnic-- staying in the same work clothes until the last scene-- even though everyone else gussied-up.

Ado Andy and his two romantic partners, on the other hand, DID have chemistry that was palpable. All three actors were talented, sang well, and Andy danced beautiful and worked the audience to great effect. The trans Aunt Eller was also good and a strong role model, sort of making sense as a leader of this non-traditional community. I felt as if I had wandered into a pocket of 1904 Oklahoma that was very open and non-traditional about sexuality. It was fun, interesting and refreshing, but it wasn't what the original "slice of Americana" play aimed to communicate. If I were disapproving of LGBTQ* issues and bought this ticket without knowing the plan, I would have been pretty shocked! (LOL) The play was also racially diverse, which WAS historically accurate (native Americans and blacks were certainly part of Oklahoma Territory). The mixed-race relationships would have been more realistic if they had featured native Americans with either black or white actors, rather than black and white together. But realism isn't what THIS production was aiming to show. It was a dream world from start to finish. Go with eyes wide open and an accepting heart, and this is a marvelous production.

The final production we saw was "the Book of Will." Due to smoke, all Elizabethan plays were moved to Ashland high school the week we were there. The reduction to 399 seats of an audience of over 1000 patrons was a clunky, first come, first served, system that meant we waited over an hour in smoke and heat and, though we arrived at 6:30 for a 8:00 curtain, we almost didn't make it inside.(at least 100 people who wanted to see the play did not). MANY seats seemed to have been given to high school students (perhaps a fourth of the seats), not those of us who had bought seats in advance. We assumed there was an agreement with the H.S. that arranged that. Seating was general, though tickets were purchased for specific seating areas. By chance, though I had bought cheap tickets, we got perfectly centered seats.

Warning: The theater house was very tightly designed. Large adults will not fit in these seats and rows designed for adolescents.

The full set couldn't be transferred of course, so staging was a little strange at times. But my big disappointment (I expected to adore the show) was the weakness of the plot. The whole plot line could be easily summarized in a sentence. There was little rising action and no climax. There just wasn't enough material for a full length play. The acting was good-- excellent-- but the conclusion, which involved a screen with various actors saying lines from plays-- was clunky and ruined the historic mood of the play. We ended up with a "moral", as we sort of did with Oklahoma, also.

It was a wonderful week, and I enjoyed every play, despite my close analysis, which may seem critical. The acting is always outstanding at OSF, as are costumes and usually direction. I also heard wonderful things about "Love's Labor Lost", which we couldn't fit in.

The fires in CA led to people literally wearing face masks all over Ashland. Outdoor activities were out. Backstage tours (which are inside) were cancelled "due to smoke" without any notice and with poor signage. If smoke is going to be a regular visitor in Ashland, as it has been for a few years, I heard, the theater company must learn to handle it more smoothly.

As a long time OSF member, I don't expect to love every play they perform. Since travel to Ashland, hotels and dining in downtown Ashland are not cheap; I DO expect the OSF experience to be much better than it is this season. Artistically most OSF plays are heading in a direction I (and many others I spoke with) no longer support. There's too much blatant pandering to certain social elements, and many themes include excessive gore, violence, and crude or politically charged behavior.

While I expect some risqué material from Shakespeare; it seems many of this season's offerings are contrived, significantly overplaying sexual and moral innuendos that aren't needed to tell the story. Frankly, that's not why I've purchased numerous tickets every year.

I agree with another reviewer who suggested these plays be rated like movies. That way those who like X and R ratings can support those plays while the rest of us can avoid walking out at intermission and/or wasting money that would be better spent on something else.

P.S. You'll note from my high reviews of prior seasons, I'm not just spewing sour grapes... I normally love OSF.

My first time at this theater. Saw Oklahoma. It was a 100 times better than expected. The voices were out of this world. Dancing was great. The cast was LGBTG. So tastefully done. Appropriate for all ages. Will go back.

I and my friends have been attending the Festival for decades and I always come with the highest of expectations. This is the first time that I can say that the results were only 50% instead of the usual 100%. The direction of the Festival seems to be changing from professional standards to community theater and shows that would be appropriate to tour to high schools. The good news first: "Macbeth" was stunning. The production is spooky, scary, suspenseful and acted at the highest level. Likewise, "Indecent" was spectacular: it is incredibly theatrical; the actors make us really feel the emotions of the story. Now the bad news: "La Commedia of Errors" falls into the community theatre tour to the high school category. My mother tongue is English and I speak a bit of Spanish. I know this play very well. During much of the Spanish narration, I could not follow at all what was being said. The device of having the actors turn to the audience and asking them to hold props is amateurish. Preaching about immigration policy is risky. Remember that about 1/3 of all Latinos voted for Trump and I doubt they want to hear the "we are all one in solidarity" message. I would prefer that Oregon Shakespeare stick to putting on a professional show and allowing the audience to draw their own conclusions. "As You Like It" was simply a mess. The cross dressing is probably intended to be creative and gender bending but it made no sense. The actors were not up to the level of the other shows and the music was monotonous and unpleasant to listen to. It sounded more like growling while someone banged on pipes. The Festival has a new Artistic Director this year. I hope that she can turn things around. I will not be so eager to drive up from San Francisco without more confidence that it will be worth the time and expense.

I live here in Ashland, Oregon and try to see every play. The previous review concerned the under study for Falstaff. G. Valmont Thomas, the wonderful actor playing Falstaff in both Henrys this season played both parts in July 8, but his metastatic cancer prohibited him from returning to the stage again. I am sure that OSF went through a horrendous time getting an actor to take over both parts at short notice. I am sorry to say that I don't know who played the part of Falstaff on August 28 but he gave an awesome performance. Please remember that live productions are made up of real people and that last minute changes can happen.

Nice venue for the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. The plays are not all Shakespeare and are mostly quite good. Have seen some really wonderful world premieres of some plays. Worth coming to but the summer may no longer be the time to come - too much smoke from California wild fires.

We have gone to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for years, and this year was no different than in the past. The Festival does a good job with Shakespeare’s works, does well with musicals, and is clueless when it comes to non-Shakespearean comedy.

We moved to Ashland in March and have had many opportunities to see OSF plays this season, almost all of them. They have all been so well done! Our favorites were Beauty and the Beast, Odyssey, and Shakespeare in Love. We look forward to many more seasons here.

From late February through October each year, Ashland is home to one of the finest theater companies in the United States. OSF presents 11 plays each year, always with four or five of Shakespeare's, but also with a range of classic American and European drama, plays from other cultures, and premieres of new plays. With one of the most diverse company of actors to be found anywhere, and has the strongest group of actors you will see anywhere... OSF provides new theater and also keeps the classics accessible to new generations. Most people who come to Ashland know and love it... If you haven't been there yet...pick a play, any play...it may be a life changing experience.

I've been going to the Shakespeare festival at least once a year for years and fall in love all over again every time I go. We had a great time watching Beauty and the Beast with my 6 year old...it is always magical!

I saw five plays during a long weekend. Four of the five were brilliant. As You Like It was one of the best Shakespeare productions I’ve seen during more than 40 years in attendance. I’ve seen two separate plays by Octavio Solis (a national treasure,) and each has been excellent. The 2025 season production of Julius Caesar was more than terrible. The production was NOT an Oregon Shakespeare Fest original, rather it was created by Seattle’s Upstart Crow. The direction failed the script and the actors (an all-female cast was left to dangle with no focus or distinction,) the blocking was purposeless, the vocal ranges slim, pacing was stick in 3rd gear, and the fight choreography was embarrassing. OSF should drop all further partnerships with this amateur company. Otherwise, please join OSF for an amazing array of theatre thru October of 2025.

This has become a center for new and innovative productions, including the minority of Shakespeare plays they produce. Read up before you go so you can choose wisely; not every play will appeal to everyone, although each one will be thought and conversation provoking. We see them all so as not to miss a good one;>) Be sure to schedule a backstage tour if you can, and do not miss the talkback by an actor in the play which usually occur throughout the summer in the Allen after the play the actor is in. The Green performances are also worth checking out, and free!

I hadn't been to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in about 20 years and it was time to go again. I first noticed some improvements to the main campus "on the bricks" as it used to be called. A beautiful lawn area and seating for the pre-show entertainment outside. The theaters are beautiful and there really isn't a bad seat in the house. I especially like the outdoor Elizabethan theater on a summer night. I saw 2 Shakespeare plays, which were top notch, but the one I will remember for a long time was a more modern play called "Mother Road" with was excellent. When I go back, and I will, I will try to see more modern plays.

After my third visit to Ashland - my second in three years - I am forced to question whether the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is still a good place to see Shakespeare.

OSF remains an interesting place to see new plays - and plays from non-Anglo cultures - but its Shakespearean productions are increasingly strange and, in a funny way, apologetic. It's as though the current leadership inherited a name and a mission in which it no longer believes. Or perhaps, it simply doubts that a people who elected Donald Trump to lead them can understand the sophisticated political themes underlying nearly everything Shakespeare wrote for the stage..

Certainly, the visit just ended raises the question of whether OSF is a good place to see Shakespeare. I saw a Wednesday matinee of 2 Henry IV on my own, and my travelling companion and I saw 1 Henry IV the following afternoon. Both productions had merits - mainly the male actors playing King Henry, Prince Hal, and Westmorland/Bardolph and the lovely female actor who played Hotspur (as a woman) and Doll Tearsheet. (These productions played heavily with traditional gender-casting, often in ways that worked against the story.)

But the real disappointment came from the Falstaff - an understudy, but Yale Drama-trained - whose characterization was something out of a '70s sitcom. (I almost expected him to exclaim "Hear that Elizabeth? I'm comin' to join you!") Bizarre behavior in such a politically-correct venue as OSF.

I had issues with both productions. Neither director seemed to have much grasp of the plays' politics - and Shakespeare without politics is like "A Christmas Carol" without ghosts. My friend, who had earlier seen Part One with the original Falstaff, thought it a beautiful play with that casting, but agreed that her second visit was disappointing.

Our time in Ashland was salvaged by the beautiful, mystical - and very funny - "Hannah and the Dread Gazebo". If you visit OSF, be sure to order early to get seats for this small miracle. But if you plan to see either Henry IV, understand that you'll be attending a production which is far from "Shakespearean". And for heaven's sake, be sure to ask who is playing Falstaff.

Great to be back in Ashland for the Shakespeare Fest. We saw four shows that were all outstanding. NOW I want to address a couple of bad reviews because they change a show from a musical play to a concert. I thought it was outstanding. It was done is such a creative way with such talented people I can not imaging the actual play could be better than what we saw. Nice work OSF. We will continue to make the drive from Eugene to see this year after year.

We attended the matinee with our 5 year old in tow. She loved the musical.
Our show was in the Bowmer theater. tip 1; It’s a good idea to bring a light sweater as the AC can make the room quite chilly.
Tip 2: there aren’t enough restrooms snd the line to the women’s was do long it stretched up the stairs to the floor above
Tip 3: the stairs to upper levels are steep

My friend and I like to pick 3 modern plays at OSF and attend two during an overnight visit. This year we saw Island, a charming musical, Revenge Song, interesting story at the Elizabethan but needs to lose all the "f*** yous!" and punk rock that punctuated this play. It spoiled the story. The third play was the best, "How I Learned What I Know" about the life of a black man in America, a one-man show, whose cast included people August Wilson encountered in his life, brought to life by his words. We laughed and cried. It was so real. I appreciated the insights and lessons learned. Wow!

I've gone every year since 2007, except when it was closed for COVID. I'm having trouble persuading my husband to go again. Most of the familiar cast members are gone. Last summer we saw The Tempest shortly after the lead actor (one of the best) left for greener pastures, and the play clearly suffered from the last-minute substitution. We disliked Revenge Song - a waste of talent on a crass, unfunny script. King John was the only bright spot last summer. The really fun comedies are gone. There are fewer plays to choose from. OSF seems to be trying to alienate its longtime patrons which is rather sad.

I always enjoy a trip to Ashland. In years past we have seen some great productions, such as an outstanding interpretation of King Lear. This ysummer I saw three plays, Comedy of Errors done as immigration play, done mostly in Spanish with all the lights in and no costumes or props. I would have left at the intermission had there been one. Between two knees, quite funny, about the history of Native American genocide, and Cambodian Rock Band, a musical, about the Khmer Rouge. Well done, but I was by that time wishing for a play that wasn’t political . Next summer, if I return, I hope to a see a play that is a little more light-hearted. And if there is a play that is done in another language, it should truly be bi-lingual, with subtitles, as done in many operas.

Have seen several of plays at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. This time we watched Macbeth. The acting is always top notch! Really enjoyed this performance. If you've never been you really to see a performance.

I stayed at the bars inn and it was only a short walk to the festival. and i absolutely loved the festival. i went and seen the Henrys, the odyssey and Julius cezar the casts were great and they did a wonderful job portraying the characters.

We're not coming back to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2020. That will be the first time in 36 years that we will not make the 650 mile drive to Ashland. We looked at the offerings for 2020 and decided that next year would be as strident as this year. Some productions were worth the price of admission, literally: others were not. I enjoyed "Mother Road" for its staging and thoughtful, contemporary message. I found "Between Two Knees" amateurish and unworthy of inclusion in the Festival. Danforth Commins gave his usual masterful performance in The Scottish Play, although I was a bit mystified why Act IV, sc. 1 had a bath-tub instead of a cauldron, with the witches adding fenny snake bath salts!
Yes, the message of inclusion is an important one, but the Festival is preaching to the choir, it seems to me. I drive (or used to drive) 650 miles each way to see the best theatre this side of New York. In 2020, I will get season's tickets to Vancouver's Bard on the Beach. ( Their Anglo-Indian take on "All's Well" was much more thoughtful and effective than OSF's.) I will check the plays for 2021, but now, I need a break from OSF's increasingly intrusive agenda.

It was a great experience. There is not a bad seat in the Thomas Theater. Well done. Good acting. We sat in the back row and actually preferred being there.

Such a marvelous escape to go to a play day after day for as long as you can stay. Whether the play is fabulous--Sense and Sensibility--or not so fabulous--Romeo and Juliet--its great fun to be there. Parking much improved with new garage that is very close by. I was traveling with and individual who uses a walker. We are met at the entrance by a "helper" who gets us to our seats and takes care of the walker during the performance. He or she checks in at intermission in case we need assistance then and brings the walker back to us when the performance is finished. Such friendly, helpful and personalized service.
The performances are great fun even if the quality varies. Nothing is terrible, but some are terrific and some not so much. I enjoyed "The Book of Will" much more than I expected. Laughter and tears--it was all there, touching my heart and reminding me why theater is an enduring art form.

For the first time, we made it to see a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, something on our bucket list. We bought tickets to Three Musketeers. With the cast they had, we were hoping to see something of the quality of Hamilton. This wasn't. We don't prefer profanity and tolerate some if it's in context, but this one was WAY over the top with some parts continuously punctuated by F and MF (the latter which we flat out dislike) bombs, which were gratuitous and detracted rather than added to the plot. I got the feeling that they are trying pander to the "woke" movement, with this and other plot and costume choices, but I doubt that is the majority bent of their customer base. I also refuse to believe that the majority of black culture condones speaking this way, so do not even think it makes a good cultural statement. The outdoor theater was nice to be in and the actors themselves were good. We did get some good laughs out of it. The script was just okay. They need to get back into HIGH quality productions that appeal to a WIDE range of people. I see they operated at a huge loss this year. I hope they "awaken" to the possible reason.

The out door stage/productions are well worth the trip; then off to a good dinner. Worked for me!! Great way to spend an evening!

Fantastic; Shakespeare as he intended it to be: engrossing and entertaining! The Merry Wives of Windsor was a delight, and Julius Caesar as an exciting dramatic rendition and the other plays, The Odyssey and Hannah and the Dread Gazebo were experiences to be had! Unison was deep and moving. All the actors were marvelous, putting themselves into the roles to make the characters unique.

This season included 11 plays, only 3 of which were Shakespeare. The others ranged from a popular musical (Hairspray) to a series of new plays that represent the diversity of America today (Cambodian Rock Band, Mother Road, How to Catch Creation, Between Two Knees). A good place to expand your horizons.

It had been decades since I had been to the festival, and bought a couple of tickets at the very last minute when stopping in Ashland for the night. The Elizabethan (the outdoor venue) is amazing. We saw The Merry Wives of Windsor, which was a mash-up of Elizabethan and 1980s pop themes. SO creative and enjoyable! (We did see some grumbling old fogies leave at intermission, but we thought it was FAB.) Will definitely plan to return and take in more plays.

This was a trip we have often talked about taking when visiting Oregon. We drove down from Portland. It was a pleasant drive.
The festival is in a beautiful college town. We saw Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well in the Allen Theatre. That is the open theatre in a gorgeous setting. We first saw a free presentation in the Green Theatre outside the three theaters. The Play was fantastic. We were warned that it might be cold, and it was. I would recommend bringing a blanket. A hot cup of tea, served at the concessions stand solved the problem.
The play was humorous,and easy to follow. A mix of modern and past which was portrayed very effectively. My husband and I love Shakespeare and this play did not disappoint. It was a great evening. The production kept me on the edge of my seat. We had a great view in balcony seats. I hope to do this again.

Oklahoma can best be described as Universal love. Think about a world that love can happen to men and women, men and men and women and women. This foot stomping, hand clapping and hooting and hollaring made for a grand afternoon. The music was infectious, especially the beautiful man playing the cello with a smile and spirit, making the show even grander. I loved it. Actors and actresses danced, sang their hearts and moved the audience to a mass standing ovation. Unfortunately, I have to go back to a world where these joyful possibilities will be sacrificed due to bias and bigotry.

We came for 3 days and attended 2 plays. Sense and Sensibility was our first experience and it was so well done. Oklahoma was our second and the music and acting was fantastic. Can't wait for Hairspray NEXT year!

This production of Julius Caesar is outstanding, Shakespeare as it should be done. Don’t miss it if you like good Shakespeare well produced and articulated. The Importance of Being Earnest, on the other hand, was more like a Saturday Night Live satire sketch that goofed everything up and didn’t begin to do justice to the classic script. Skip it unless you like to see good plays turned into vapid slapstick and mugging. Jitney - meh - your mileage will vary depending on your taste and interest. Well acted and produced, but the script seems overrated to me. It was OK.

Like previous seasons, OSF continues to offer slick, professional productions which can be different and thought- provoking. Additional extras are provided by tours, Noon talks and pre-evening play talks. Getting increasingly preachy, which is one downside but ease to ignore.

Stole our money! Have been a member for over twenty years and planned a trip in 2020 to see plays. COVID got in the way and no plays without a refund being an option. Then no shows in 2021 so pushed as a voucher to 2022. We are not able to attend this last year and called today. Voucher is no longer good and the money is gone. Can I get at least a donation. NO! So over $500 is gone without one contact from them.

Few of the plays that were on this year interested us. We were never given a chance to get our money back.

We will give our money to other art venues that respect their long time members.

With several theaters indoors and outside you just can’t miss booking a night at The Shakesphere Festival! The plays are varied and not all by Shakesphere. The theater company takes “creative license” sometimes with Classic plays...turning drama into comedy, or changing the setting from Verona, Italy (Romero and Juilet) to “The Wild West”! Tickets for the day of the show can be purchased for half price at the box office 3 hours before showtime too! (Bargains!) The Theater is dark on Monday’s, but there is a Cabaret in town that features womdeful plays! (I saw a comedy written by Steve Martin - Picasso when last in Ashland)

We chose Unison, and Shakespeare in Love as our plays. The venue was lovely and easy to access. The talent was equal to anywhere I've been--LA, CHICAGO, Washington,D.C. , The Barter Theater in Abington, Va , etc. well worth the ticket price

We've been coming here since the 1980s. We've seen many productions. The pandemic was hard on the festival; actually, it still is. We did not see a production of RENT a couple days ago because of COVID (but we got our money back).

Still, the production of Twelfth Night that we DID see was absolutely wonderful: funny, creatively presented, and moving.

Our experience last year was more mixed. We saw three productions: one was totally amazing, one was extremely well produced and worth seeing but less satisfying, and for the first time, one production (The Tempest) seemed to have only one outstanding actor who knew how to make the role vibrate.

Still we came back, and while we were disappointed about the last minute cancellation of Rent -- well, what can you do? And the production of Twelfth Night alone made the trip worthwhile.

We ordered tickets on line, but needed disabled seating for one in our party who can not sit in standard seating. While the usurers & stage manager were very helpful & accommodating at the 1st play we saw, we went to the box office for adjustment to seating for this person for the rest of plays we saw inside & out.

My heart and mind awaken my spirit to prompt a visit to a place I love. Ashland's theater district is alive with love, anticipation, peace, joy, and fun during the festival season. The fragrant air drifting softly through Lithia Park welcomes visitors with a gentle welcoming hug as if to say, welcome home. Anticipation builds as showtime approaches as I take a relaxing walk among the shops, and to find the perfect restaurant to satisfy a craving. Saving time to take a stroll through the park is a wonderful tradition before going up to the theater courtyards to people watch and enjoy the festive outdoor entertainment before going in to be seated for another awesome play. I could go on, but everyone should create their own special memories at this wonderful place. Ashland, I have loved you from the first day we met when I was 18 - over 43 years ago. I wish I could see you more but I will savor every moment when I return. Until then, my memories of you will be tugging at my heart to once again be in your warm embrace.

Ashland's top quality theater offers varied entertainment that can be compared to Broadway and London.
Some may shy away when they hear "Shakespeare", but fear not. These plays are presented so creatively that perhaps a whole new world will open for you. Also, about half the plays are by other writers....with enchanting Beauty and the Beast, original Ride the Rails, captivating Odyssey and a baudy musical version ogf Merry Wives of Windsor are at the top of my list this season. Next season's schedule is out and has Oklahoma on the bill.
A few years ago I came to Ashland and was so taken with the arts scene that I bought a small apt.here and feel so fortunate to have OSF on my doorstep. You should add Ashland to your Bucket List. What a treat!

The Ashland ambiance is lovely and welcoming.
In this 2019 season, we saw 5 shows.
"How to Catch Creation" was superb, good story, nicely staged, well acted. For us, the best of we saw.
We really liked "Indecent," and "Macbeth."
We were told, but weren't able to get tickets on our schedule, that "Cambodian Rock Band" is superb. Heard it from teenagers and from senior citizens, so sharing that as a second-hand recommendation.
"La Comedia of Errors" was interesting --- however, they say you will really understand it whether or not you speak Spanish and/or English. Our experience was that, if you don't speak both, you miss too much of the dialog. The really good thing about this is that it ties Shakespeare to current events - once again showing why he endures.
We were extremely disappointed with"As You Like It" ... and in two other shows we were parts of conversations where others said they'd felt the same way.
Hope this helps your ticket buying.

I can not believe the way things are going at OSF. I have attended since 1968 and I was so offended by this overt gay and transgender version that I am canceling my membership. We expected a classic production. This is not it. Furthermore, the 2nd play we saw Love's Labor Lost was a chaotic, jumbled, mish-mash of Shakespeare - modern quips- and a rock band. I am sad to pull the plug but they pushed me over the edge. No more donations, membership, nothing. Time to change leadership.

Once again OSF Strikes out. I went to see the Three Musketeers last night. This was a horrible script misinterpreted for the work of Alexander Dumas. The person who stole Dumas' script and then updated for 2000's Minstrel Show. It stereotyped black people as foul mouthed, jive talking hood rats.
This depiction does not belong on the once great Elizabethan stage of OSF. I am attending my last show today Romeo and Juliet. based on my experience seeing the first two shows this may be my last ever OSF show.
The choice of this script by the artistic director was an insult to the actors. A new company should be started in Ashland to put this disgrace behind the community.

Test pilots like to push the flight envelope, and the professionals at the Ashland located OSF (Oregon Shakepeare Festival) like to push the envelope of performance. These are not just Shakespeare plays. A better characterization would be "in the spirit of Shakepeare". A member told us that the organization, actors, and support staff number over 1000, There are three (3) performance halls and support facilities in Ashland (one in Shakespearean style), and a full production facility down the road in Medford. The actors and musicians are professionals, better than some of the off-broadway we've seen, and the plays are carefully vetted. They are not only a delight to see, they challenge you to think. They are contemporary in context, educational in content, and intimate in venue. A typical season from April to October would see 11 plays with multiple performances and an outdoor "Green Show" stage with a variety of non-play performances. We've done Broadway, and LA. OSF is not quite like either, but instead reflects a spirit of competition that makes it a lovely addition to your entertainment planning. It stands out as always both relevant and brilliant. We know that we won't like every play, but we also know that we will always love some of them. If we had friends visiting America, we would recommend they include OSF in their "must see" list.

We thought the everyone in Oregon might have been in town for the festival. We had tickets for the Odyssey and enjoyed both the theater and presentation.

Just amazing offerings with great casts year after year make going to OSF in Ashland a no-brainer. Not just Shakespeare, but world and US premiers all performed sublimely by one of the few repertoire companies anywhere. Plays that began here have found their way to Broadway (and even to HBO!).
Have been 7 times without a disappointing theater experience. GO!

This was our first visit to the Festival and we were very pleased with the organization, knowledge of staff and number of activities and performances. We had planned to be in the area for several days. So,weeks ago I checked the web site for availability of tickets to MacBeth...Sold Out. I then called the box office and was told the same. Fortunately we checked at the on site box office and found that seats were available. We got seats in Row L center! We took advantage of the free Park Talk in the Garden and the reasonably priced Preface for MacBeth in Carpenter Hall.
We enjoyed this production of MacBeth in the beautiful Elizabethan outdoor theater and hope to return next year.

Of the 11 plays this season only 4 were worth seeing. As prices have gone up, the quality of acting and productions has plummeted, especially the “world premieres” which are often works in progress. OSF is running with poor leadership and a fiscally irresponsible board of directors. We used to see all 11 plays at least once. Next year, for the first time in over 30 years, we are not renewing our membership. It’s not just the smoke—it’s the choice of plays, the poor quality of the younger actors who are chosen for diversity not ability, and the aimless directing. This would work in a small garage theater where all tickets are $20 and actors work for free—not a huge operation like OSF.

Last year I saw three performances with a friend. This year, I returned with my girlfriend and we saw two more. Not a bad performance among them. Top production values, creative direction and stunningly solid performances throughout. Highly, highly recommended.

This was our third time going to a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We've seen Othello and Hamlet which were both outstanding. Based upon the quality of the production and acting in Hamlet last year, we decided to go to three plays this year. The first two we saw were Henry IV Parts 1 and 2. They both were dreadful. The acting was terrible and the overall production was amateurish. Several people left at intermission and I should have. Those two plays were a total waste of time and money. It's too bad that they won't refund the ticket prices for rotten plays. Thankfully Julius Caesar was very well done and the acting was incredible. Even though that redeemed our experience, we're going to skip next year.

We’ve been here several times before. We love the ambiance of the three theater Camus and the pre show entertainment. Year after year this company presents outstanding drama. This time we saw “Manhatta’ a play about the clash of Native American and European culture both in the very early U.S. and today.

I have been trying to get here for 50 years. Finally made it because close to Redding where I attended wedding. Saw 3 plays in 2 days. Luckily none of them were in the open air theatre where 2 nights were cancelled because of the smoke in the air from all the local fires.
I am giving a 5 rating because it lived up to my expectations. The theatre was nice and roomy. The plays were professionally done. The staff and volunteers we're friendly and accommodating. I would love to come back next season and stay longer.
Downtown Ashland is a nice blend of shops, galleries and restaurants. There do seem to be a lot of homeless. There was a really loud and raucous group down the street from the theatre one night. Probably harmless but keep an eye out.

I have seen quite a lot of theater, and Ashland easily holds its weight in the quality category. The small town was a delightful experience to explore; the indoor theater was a fantastic space; and the diversity in casting incredible. Overall, accessible (for Shakespeare) if you enjoy a road trip. Be sure to schedule some time to explore the surrounding countryside as well! Also, beware the one way streets...

It has been over 25 years since I was last in Ashland, and I had visited the Shakespeare Festival many times in the preceding 10 years. This visit, I was even more impressed with the theatres and the acting than in the past. This is a very special festival, and it keeps getting better with time. An event that will give you memories to treasure.

Our first trip to the outdoor theatre to see Merry Wives of Windsor. This play was great! The director had brilliantly juxtaposed some fun 80's disco music to this play yet retaining the overall Elizabethan feel. Was fresh, funny, fun, and so well-acted. We enjoyed ourselves immensely, and it surpassed our expectations. What a wonderful evening!

I can’t say enough about the awesome performance but I also want to give a shout out to the extremely patient , professional and friendly box office . That’s an amazing group .. they always try to help me with seating and meeting my performance requests ! Awesome

The revels now are ended for this season, but I still would like to share my thoughts. Exciting new performers, miss some of the past ones.
Twelfth Night sparkled - costumes, acting, production. Malvolio was hilarious, with a short and excellent improve riff with the audience added.

Three Musketeers -Superb if you're ok with profanity
What is in a word? In The Three Musketeers we were bombarded with many, many curses relating to motherhood, a set up for the casts' shocked reaction to the innocuous word "knave." Is such profanity an integral and essential part of hip-hop culture and we just need to adjust? What did that one word cost the festival in audience alienation, future attendance, and donations? Was it worth it? I think the festival missed an opportunity for provide a kid friendly play. Still, the costumes! The acting! The production with lighting, choreography, etc. were all EXCEPTIONAL.

Romeo and Juliet was lively and the homeless camp set actually worked. Car headlights driving across the bridge were an ingenious addition. Some of the poetry was lost in the conversion to hip hop and rap as it was hard to make out the words at times, at least for me. If it could have been a little slower and more distinct I think it would have worked. Romeo was intense and didn't seem to really take in the other actors, but delivered his lines with enthusiasm and feeling, but maybe overacting. Juliet was charming when showing her dewy eyed love for Romeo, but other times shouted her lines. The Friar was masterful and actually felt his role, with tears. Capulet excellent, Benvolio a delight. All in all and unique and satisfying producion.

My husband and the audience all adored RENT.

I hope the future finds a middle way between experimental theater and pleasing and retaining the audience.

Such a fun few days. The entire atmosphere in Ashland during the Shakespeare Festival is both relaxing and exciting. So many great restaurants in town. See as many shows as you can fit in, all guaranteed to entertain.

Went to The Odyssey on a Saturday evening and Julius Caesar on Sunday afternoon.

Both were great performances. The Odyssey was in the Elizabethan Theater. Even though it was a rather long play, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Incredible acting and always an exciting story. The Elizabethan is a great venue.

Julius Caesar was in the Angus Bowmer Theater. This was also an excellent show with amazing acting.

Excellent performance of How I Learned What I Learned (August Wilson). A play not to be missed! OSF is coming back in a big way.

The folks at OSF clearly are into sharing their joy of theatre with the audience. They do this by staging an exciting array of plays with wonderful costumes, sets, direction, and, above all talented actors. It must be an exciting company to which any theatre professional could belong - working in so many different genres. The actor playing the lead today in a play may be playing a walk on role tomorrow, and a director might be directing a heavy tragedy and also a musical in the same season. The costumer might be creating a fantastic dress for Queen Elizabeth I for one show (Shakespeare in Love), or modern military garb for another (both parts of Henry IV).

Clearly, a lot of thought goes into how a play should be staged, what the costumes should look like, where it should be staged, and which actors should be cast. I suspect that it takes a great deal of research and study on the part of the director, designers, and actors, to produce such wonderful results.

What plays should be staged also must take a great deal of thought. This year, for example, the Festival offered Henry IV part 1 and Henry IV part 2, and then Merry Wives of Windsor. If you know your Shakespeare, you know that a common character in all three is Sir John Falstaff, and so having these three plays to allow you to learn so much about him was inspired. I greatly appreciated that the same actors played in both part 1 and part 2, the set was the same, the costumes were the same, and it was played in the same theatre (the Thomas, with the play performed in the round, so that you feel much more a part of the action).

All of this allowed me to immerse myself in the lives of the characters created by Shakespeare so long ago, and to feel an immense devastation when Prince Hal (now Henry V) repudiates his great friend Falstaff, and leaves him kneeling with bowed head in the center of the stage, alone, and, at least for the moment, unable to keep up the illusion of a buffoon.

I am happy to see that the management of the OSF has decided to mount Henry V next season. I will be there, hoping to learn more about Prince Hal and how he handles being King Henry V, and of course, browsing through the smorgasbord of plays offered then - including Oklahoma, Sense and Sensibility, Othello, Romeo & Juliet, and, to balance it all, a play based upon a classical Chinese drama, Snow in Midsummer.

Three important tips:
1) If you are going to be seeing plays in the Elizabethan theatre , bring a cushion, and, especially if you are seeing a night time play early or late in the season, bring a blanket, and wear gloves and a hat. It is possible to rent cushions and blankets, but my experience is that the supply runs out, especially as it gets closer to curtain time. Remember that it rains in Ashland, so bring a rain poncho (this can also serve to keep you warm, because the plastic traps your body heat).
2) If you are seeing plays in the Bowmer or Elizabethan Theatre, bring opera glasses so you can see details.
3) If you have a minor hearing loss, you can rent audio aids - sometimes it is hard to hear the characters, especially if they are not 'miked', which is frequently the case in the Bowmer.

We saw Othello Friday eve. The performance was very good. Unfortunately, because of the poor air quality, the outside events earlier in the day were cancelled.

I was excited to be attending OSF for the 1st time. I choose the Three Musketeers for my first play due to my love for Dumas'work. I know before hand this was a modernized version with a different perspective. In a nut shell - they destroyed Dumas' masterpiece. I appreciated celebrating Dumas's heritage - but depicting the musketeers as stereotyical jive talking, foul mouthed players just took it too far for me. Instead of celebrating Dumas's being multiracial, in my opinion they diminished it. Just to clarify - I did not have a problem with the risqueness or the language ( the F word is certainly one of my favorites), just how they developed the play. Best part of the evening was the Green Show prior to the play that highlighted the cultures of Mexico thru dance.

Watching a high quality repertory company is always a delight. We began our visit with Othello—a moving, high impact tragedy whose every character was well crafted to bring to light Shakespeare’s masterpiece. We finished our visit with watching Love’s Labour Lost with many of the same actors bringing joy to all watching.

Take time to visit OSF and take in more the one show to appreciate the depth of the company.

The website is very helpful for planning your trip. The Green shows and Back Stage Tours are just 2 of the amazing things they offer to enhance your visit.

We planned ahead and had preview tickets for one of the first audience attending performances of Hairspray, the Broadway Musical. The music started, the singing was spot on and the dancing was WOW. If in Ashland, - see if you can get tickets for this production and get the Beat from Baltimore and Hear the Bells Ring!

Yes! OSF is changing -- as it always has and should. Good theatre delights, inspires and challenges, confronting our present time with the new and the classic. La Commedia of Errors: fresh, fun, wonderfully acted. The production strips away most theatrical artifice, exposing the words and emotion more sharply. The Spanish portions are beautiful and funny and completely understandable to a tragically uni-lingual American. How to Catch Creation must not be missed. As it ended I desperately wanted the characters to continue their conversation. Mother Road is a heartbreaking and inspirational study of the family. Mark Murphey - astonishing. If you love artifice Alice is Wonderland crackles with imagination and Christopher Jean's portrayal of the White Knight brought me to tears. By not worrying so much about what I "should" see like Macbeth and picking plays more or less "randomly", whole new worlds open up (although I'm keeping with the rule of seeing every play with Armando Duran). Thank you OSF! (And, btw, apparently I missed a stunning Macbeth! -- Maybe next month . . . )

An adaptation that would appeal to the many young in the audience. True Shakespeare brought into the 21st Century. Acted to perfection.

Just a warning to all: The outdoor theater goes on even if it is raining. Paid $317 for two seats for MacBeth and sat in the rain and found out that my raincoat was no longer water proof and got soaking wet. MacBeth was awesome but would have appreciated it if OSF had thought to towel off the wet seats or given us towels so that we could do it ourselves.

We see shows at OSF every year - from Shakespearean, American classics and new works, and have never been disappointed. And there is nothing like watching a show outside.

We have been to all 3 theaters and seen 3 plays. Besides Shakespeare, they offer an interesting variety of plays...both old, new, musicals, etc.

This year has been awful. We love the festival and finally came back, it’s been 6 years. We bought tickets to a play, paid for a hotel, drove for hours to get here and found out as we were walking up to the theater the play was canceled. All plays were canceled this week. Apparently due to sticking to 2020 Covid regulations. It’s ridiculous. Incredibly frustrated and upset with this experience.

We saw “Sense and Sensibility” and Oklahoma on successive nights both in the Angus Bowmer theater. This theater has a semicircular stage and stadium seating. Every row is raised from the row in front of it, so there are no bad seats. Sense closely followed the original Jane Austen novel and gender rolls were not switched. The staging is not elaborate because of the size of the stage, but well done.
The following night we saw an LBGTQ2 version of Oklahoma. The staging was primarily a prairie house front on the right and a split rail fence across the stage. In this production Curly is a woman in love with a woman. The other pair of lovers are men. In cannot remember the original play but the dialogue seemed to closely follow it with changes for the romances where necessary.
We were very fortunate in our visit because smoke was not a problem. This year the Oregon Shakespeare Festival has had to contend with smoke from forest fires in Northern California and southern Oregon. Our theater was indoors, unlike the Elizabethan theater next door which is outdoors and has bench seating. (If you see a play there dress warmly and bring something soft to sit on.) the Bowmer theater put plastics strips inside the doors to minimize smoke coming into the theater.

Oklahoma was an amazing show!
The acting, singing, music, and dancing were wonderful!
We're still singing the songs! The love and passion in all their forms came across
as most natural. Kudos for all the cast, staff and musicians!

We have been coming to OSF yearly for years and can’t believe the poor customer relations! Two years in a row shows cancelled with little to no notice or explanation, limited refund or comp offered. Very few shows to choose from with a limited repertoire. The one man show we saw this year had a strong performer with a minimalist set, no musicians, etc so hard to judge the artistry that was once so great at OSF. Meanwhile, I get no shortage of begging emails to donate to their cause. Maybe management should start by trying to keep their loyal customer base attending by recognizing we pay a considerable amount to get to and stay in Ashland so when a play is cancelled, throw us a bone! How about a generous voucher with no expiration date for our trouble and disappointment? The community and artists have suffered through the pandemic and we want to return, but our recent experience has us bidding Ashland farewell.

We saw 5 plays and liked them all. Combine this with a trip to Crater Lake and a rafting adventure. Ashland is a beautiful & friendly small town surrounded by large hills & small mountains.

Always lots of different choices, some safe and some adventurous, but always high quality. For good seats need to order in advance but sometimes last minute works as well.

This company has become so woke it's impossible to enjoy the plays. Everything is politicized and the prevailing message is very clear. They have taken a festival that was the cultural jewel of the area and ruined it.

This year's festival was less well attended because of heavy smoke and nearby wildfires, resulting in the festival losing revenue and means of support. Nonetheless, the professionalism of choreography and orchestration, the acting, singing, dancing, and music were all outstanding. The smoke has now almost cleared, fires are under control, and people need to return for the plays and the many excellent restaurants in Ashland. We saw 3 plays plus an excellent "backstage tour" given by a long time member of the OSF staff.

Wonderful!!! We go often, campout nearby, and see plays!! Excellent craft, entertaining, challenging, provocative
. This year we saw 6 plays in 4 days. The standouts this year for us were (in order of our rating): 1) Cambodian Rock Band!!!, 2) Commedia of Errors!!, 3) Indecent!!, 4 Between Two Knees!, 5) All's Well that Ends Well! (but what was that ending??). Macbeth, on the other hand was rather a big disappointment, largely due to the direction. Danforth Comins is an incredible actor, we saw him in Hamlet, and he was amazing!!! Coimins does the best he can with this Macbeth, given the director's lack of cohesion in, well, anything. And Lady Macbeth is just plain mis-cast. But many on the audience appeared to enjoy it; so to each her/his own. So go see for yourself: OSF!!!

I had been attracted to Love's Labor's Lost since the program showed people in period costumes. That was deception number 1. The director of the play apparently feels that Shakespeare is too hard to comprehend and had opted for modern music, minimalist costumes and even some script fabrications...the "hulk" reference comes to mind. The play was more screamed than played, the accents going from ghetto to southern drawl though some of the actresses tried to stay true to the original text and delivery. Having seen a number of plays both in Stratford England and Ontario, I would not recommend this play to anyone.

We love coming here every year. The plays are always amazing. Summer is crowded but fun. The off-season is wonderful too. The theaters are right in the center of town.

This is the most creative and inventive theater company on the West Coast. Blending traditional Shakespeare with modern themes and environments, this group crafts an exceptional experience. We saw three plays: Loves Labors Lost, Oklahoma and The Book of Will. Each was superb.

Loves Labors Lost infused the principals with modern-day sensibilities, as the four noblemen swear off women for the purpose of devoting themselves to study and the acquisition of knowledge. Rather than depicting these four as stuffy, out-of-touch elites, they looked and behaved like four college, socially awkward freshman who simply don’t know what they want. Well, at least until they see the girls, and then they go about trying to impress them by performing grunge rock and roll, performing under the name of “The Muscovites”!

The Book of Will was equally inventive, telling the tale of how Shakespeare’s company pieced together and published his plays after his death, saving them for all time.

Finally, the musical Oklahoma was sublimely staged, sung and acted....with a twist. The main love interests are all same sex relationships. Yes, yes I know, as if a ballet of dancing cowboys wasn’t gay enough already, but this really was quite extraordinary. Besides, it was incredible fun to have a man perform “I’m just a boy who can’t say no”; talk about a role reversal!

So come. Enjoy the shows and the town and Southern Oregon. It is a singularly wonderful Western experience

P.S. Be on time!!! Late comers really are not admitted and there is no courtesy 5 minute delay...the plays start on time.

We saw Oklahoma and were shocked that the twist on the original play was about two girls falling in love and two men falling in love. In the second act there were many blatant love scenes of the gay couples. The only heterosexual man was displayed as a murderous, unsavory, contemptuous person. In the brochure there was no mention of this twist. There was a comment about a transgender on stage and it was tastefully presented.

We felt it was a bait and switch production. Going to see a classic musical, and having an in your face agenda.

This is the perfect production of Oklahoma for today's world. By changing the genders of the lead characters, this version presents a united view of how the US could be.
Oklahoma was first released in 1943 and it served to unite Americans during WWII. This version unites Americans against a different threat. The orchestration was brilliant and innovative and the entire production was amazing.

Amazing festival nestled in a country setting. Definately, try the outdoor stage if you are in Ashland in the summer. The shows are first rate and very easy to understand for kids 10 and over.

I've seen it a couple time's over the year's. Last year's was incredible. Regardless of the play you won't be disappointed from the performance. They have 3 theatre's and an stage in a courtyard that puts on mini summer performances from native american dancers to live music. The outdoor theatre is good to go to before the fall or later spring otherwide it can get cold. The staff is helpful and the actor's are amazing. Definitely a must do when stopping in Ashland.

I went to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival this season and have been going for 18 years. I have noticed a distinct change in their play selection over the last 10 years and how they chose to interpret and present the plays. It's not just contemporary interpretation - it's one sided and very politically oriented. This year, Oklahoma wasn't the expected production but one that turned the lead roles into women in lesbian relationships. The Way The Mountain Moved was a history about the American westward movement and while the storyline was confusing and unresolved, the progressive social messages were obvious and overt. This info isn't provided to you when you purchase your tickets, so you don't know what you're going to get until you show up. And to attend the OSF is expensive: about $90 tickets and $200 a night for a hotel room. The Artistic Director that appears to have spearheaded this change is leaving after the 2018 season. Hopefully his replacement will restore some balance to the OSF and bring back some selections that are more universal and entertaining.

We use the OSF to re-connect with long-time friends for several days every October. Plays often address social issues of the day; we find the dramas to be good ways of learning other points of view, helping us to grow in our understanding of people. Plays usually very well done, good productions far out-weigh the occasional clunker. Amazing town, Ashland, thriving economy based on theater!

I have been taking my son & daughters every year so far (ages 12 through 25). The plays are wonderful & well done, the settings & costumes remarkable. We have laughed, we have cried. They offer so many opportunities to learn about the Shakespeare classics and so, so much more! I cannot say enough positive about this theater - read, then pick your play, now go experience!

My wife and I came to Ashland 20 years ago before we were married. Now we are visiting with our teenage girls. The quality of the plays remains superb. The highlight of the season is Oklahoma. The energy the cast and musicians bring to the show is incredible. Telling the story through an LGBTQ filter proves revolutionary. The musical stays true to its original exuberance while being transformed into powerful commentary on the norms and roles society seeks to enforce upon all men and women. If do not want to see such a performance, no one is forcing you to attend.

My significant other planned a weekend away to go see his daughter in the play Oklahoma. What an amazing treat the play was absolutely one of the best place I’ve seen on stage and of course we did go see his daughter she was one of the characters in the play we will go back the following year to see the upcoming shows that will be showing at the Shakespeare Theatre. If you have not yet gone to the Shakespeare Theatre I highly recommend it would be a great romantic getaway for couples retreat.

A friend and I went to the Allen Elizabethan Theater (replication of the Globe Theater in Stratford Upon Avon) to see The Three Musketeers. I had messed up getting the tickets that I thought I'd purchased a month before on the internet but evidently something went wrong and there were no tickets in my account when I went to retrieve them. - you can't just print off your tickets like most other venues; you have to wait until 10 days before the scheduled event to check if your tickets show up i your account. I called the day of the play when I realized something went wrong and they were very helpful and got me seats in what he said would be an "extreme view" on the side. Not realy - it was only 4 or 5 rows back on the right of the stage and it was perfect and quite inexpensive. It started raining during intermission but most everyone was prepared with raincoats - this is an outdoor theater. Stopped when the second act started and the players didn't miss a beat - though they wore their street clothes so as not to ruin the costumes and that was still fine. Wonderful theater in an outdoor setting. Take some time to go! If you go early, there is some musical entertainment in the courtyard outside of the theater.

Many great theatre events, nice spread of levels of interest. The team makes every effort to give the audience high levels of production.

Ashland is destination for OSF. Take full advantage! Its offerings are varied---not just The Bard! Its productions top flight. And its facilities exquisite. The outdoor Elizabethan Theatre is a gem.

We stayed reasonably close to the Shakespeare Festival and loved listening to the singing. It’s truly an amazing experience. We’ve gotten many times and absolutely recommend. It’s one of the best parts of Ashland. The actors are amazing in those are lines there are many family-friendly performances. And it is ridiculously good.

OSF is recovering from COVID and even more so from a poorly selected Artistic Director who thankfully quit before totally running the theatre into the ground. Now with Tim Bond at the helm, tendrils of the once great theatre are growing back. Us OSF veterans know the trauma the last several years have been for OSF, and I know us to be a resilient group who understands the heavy uplifting of essentially rebuilding a once highly-regarded theatre. So good to see veteran actors returning.
Our group saw Smote and no one was unaffected; each for different reasons. Although our lives were very different than Rodney Gardnier’s, there were deep emotional crossovers to which, I believe, anyone could relate. Be prepared for an emotional dig into your own past balanced by some well-deserved laughs along with excellent acting. Welcome back to OSF Rodney!

You can't go wrong seeing a play here. We saw Sense & Sensibility and as always, it was excellent! Great scenery and acting, fun parts of the production.

This is my 37th consecutive season at the Festival, and there have been plenty of changes in all those years for sure. Lots of ups and downs, just like with your favorite ball club. Most years I've gone twice, and a few years three times in order to take in plays which simply must be seen more than once (LaBete, Hamlet) because of the excellence in acting, directing and the general production values. The current Artistic Director, Bill Rauch is an absolutely top notch director of plays. He's knocked it out of the park as a director of All The Way, Richard II, King Lear, Hamlet, and set a new standard for direction of The Music Man (move over Morton DeCosta!) The big difference with OSF and Rauch is that the companies previous dedication to great theater has been increasingly subverted by an honorable desire to develop new plays and playwrights. Outstanding actors (no names would be appropriate) have ceased working here in part because of an overall dissatisfaction with the companies general direction. As a result the troupe has fewer top talents to fill key roles. OSF has made mostly successful efforts toward diversity in their acting and production crews with an additional stated goal of luring in a more diverse audience.However, other than school groups the audience is still mostly older white folks like me. Ashland has become more and more expensive as a destination, really almost a boutique village. The family department stores and other "local" type businesses are pretty much a thing of the past. The audience has become more and more well heeled and less diverse as to social strata. Perhaps the worst play done at the Festival in the last 20 years was Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner by Luis Alfaro in 2008. OSF went on to make Alfaro their Playwright In Residence in 2013. Like Rauch, he is personable and accessible, but the nation's leading repertory theater deserves a more serious dedication to excellence. Stick with the Shakespeare plays as long as you don't mind the ahem, creeping agendum that's becoming more and more obvious. "The plays (not) the thing" so much anymore; it's become something altogether different these days.

from February to October you get quality original productions of new musicals, new plays, classics, oh and Shakespeare. I saw two shows, one challenging and one comfort theatre. This place needs to work on handling handicapped clients (I was on crutches and it was a chore). Otherwise, this is a national treasure. Get the popcorn in the lobby.

I watched Juliet and Romeo. It was an amazing theatre. The play was excellent.
Bring a comfortable seat cushion and a warm blanket or wrap.

The play was awesome! Wonderful story and acting was exciting and lively.
I totally had a fun time.

I would love to see more Shakespeare now.

We have been coming to the OSF since the 1970's. Always some plays are better than others, understandably. Unfortunately, artistically, things seem to be going in a direction I dislike; seemingly pandering to baser behavior, perhaps to get an audience? More gratuitous violence and crude, offensive behavior than I want to see. Obviously, some crude behavior is expected in Shakespeare, built-in we might say; but On the Rails was a celebration of immorality, both heterosexual and homosexual, neither of which I care to have foisted on me. Which is very sad, considering the main plot of the show was spot on. Ashland needs to start rating its plays, just as films are. That way we have an option to avoid the R rated stuff if we choose, and let those who need it for entertainment have it.

This was our 7th visit and this company never ceases to amaze. They are creative, talented and put on amazing productions. Can’t wait to keep on returning.

I can’t say enough about the awesome performance but I also want to give a shout out to the extremely patient , professional and friendly box office . That’s an amazing group .. they always try to help me with seating and meeting my performance requests ! Awesome . This was from last year feb 2020

And her mini schnauzer? Would pay.Would like to have her come for a visit but it's a
long drive to do on her own. thanks

“Oklahoma” the musical in Ashland at the Angus Bowmer Theatre is such a new take on an old standard. The LGBTQ version offers food for thought. Excellent orchestra, and cast. Fun show. My only complaint is 2.5 hours. Matinee is best.

Wow! We flew into the Ashland airport in our small plane, hopped in a taxi and had the best 4 day weekend, ever! Great weather, great food, amazing theatrical productions and a very conveniently located hotel in a historic BnB. What was not to like? Obvious this is a tourist-friendly destination; cars stopped all the time for folks waiting to cross busy streets. Street performers whose music was concert hall worthy, not too insanely expensive meal options and many that felt like mom and pop ventures. In all, definitely somewhere I'd like to return again. We'll bring folding bikes and putter about on the not-too-busy streets beyond downtown to see what we can discover.

Spending 3 nights at a nearby Medford hotel, my friends and I booked (early and online) three different previews in a row at the outdoor theatre in June 2018. The preview balcony price was right! Any seat in the outdoor theatre is good and the atmosphere is festive. Since it was review time, there was no pre-show entertainment outside the venue. I had a little difficulty at times with the audio amplification and understanding some of the actors speedy dialog. The nites were perfect for theatre, no rain and clear skies. However, they do rent blankets and seat pads if you need them and the performance goes on rain or shine. The seats were comfortable, with backs, and the site lines unblocked as the seats are perfectly raked in the balcony. Surprisingly, entry and exit to/from the outdoor venue was fast and efficient and the volunteer ushers and ticket takers were friendly and helpful. Parking on the street was not difficult a block away.

Try to catch a performance in the "Elizabethan style" theatre -- but any of the venues are within walking distance of one another. Ask which are more accessible to the temporarily or long-term disabled. For popular audiences that are turned off by Shakespeare's poetry, the repertory company has many good performances of more contemporary plays.

After many years of whizzing through Ashland on my way elsewhere, I was finally persuaded to stop and experience the Shakespearean Theater. I am wholly indebted to My Lady for encouraging this stop. Ashland is such a charming city, that you may forget why you're here while roaming it's streets and visiting its shops. And the restaurants are wonderful! But the creme de la creme is the performances at the Elizabethan Theater just off Main Street in the heart of town. The theater itself is so very visitor friendly, open-air, with comfortable seating. We went for a performance of Romeo and Juliet, which was marvelously staged and wonderfully performed by star-quality Shakesperean actors. It was like being transported to the old Globe Theater, with modern sound and lighting. An unforgettable experience.

I’ve been attending since the 70’s and would have stated that I love the festival a few years ago, but the push toward political statements vs high quality acting and the constant inclusion of all things new and different have left me skeptical and frustrated, especially when ticket prices are higher than anywhere else except Broadway.
I will not renew my membership next year.
The wildfires have certainly caused problems this year, and I am sympathetic. They have tried to make accommodations by moving to a much smaller theater where no matter how much you’ve paid for the original tickets, you are asked to wait in line for general seating on a first-come, first-served basis. On our first night, that is exactly what happened. Last night however, after sitting in the heat and smoke for almost an hour, with only about 20 people in front of us, we were ushered into the theater where about 100 people were already there and we saw “reserved seats” signs on certain chairs. Huh????? If there is a next time for me, and right now I doubt that, I will definitely ask the box office if they are planning to abide by their posted procedures.

As a family of 6 we have been consistent and loyal supporters of what was once a fabulous organization. The last couple of seasons have been dreadful beyond belief. It has been painful to watch a once talented and amazing shakespearean cast be reduced to incomprehensible, pandering, slop. We will no longer be driving down, renting expensive hotels, eating at overpriced Ashland restaurants to watch such sad drivel. I would advise any true lover of Shakespeare to avoid this company at all cost. It is not what it was. It is like being hit over the head with a frying pan, repeatedly. Terrible acting. The production has gone downhill to such an extent that it is almost unbelievable. I hate to say it, but this company deserves to to go the way of the dodo bird. It is just not worth the time and the effort to come and see this awful production.

I could not have two more different experiences in two nights at OSF. I was able to travel to Oregon over 40 years ago with my family and had a lasting memory of live theatre. We began with a great adventure with the musical Into the Woods. The voices and actors were excellent!. In look at the 2026 season. Then the second night was the Merry Wives of Windsor. The idea of the Motor cycle gang was a prop for the fist scene and never tire to the effort. I felt that the pride parade in the morning was replayed during the play. The need to distort Shakespeare work for Woke agenda was too much for me. Tonight I lost the found memory of a child and the desire to ever return to OSF. Just too much of a bad thing

Wow, talk about a twist! This should be called “Gay Oklahoma”. The two leads are women, Curly and Laurie, who fall in love and marry. Will Parker and Ado ANDY are a couple. The peddler (good timing) was also attracted to Ado Andy. Lots of same sex kissing. The audience loved it when the male actors kissed. Lots of clapping. Not MY Oklahoma but the acting, singing, dancing, and orchestra were terrific.

Wonderful Plays! Both contemporary and traditional! Excellent staging both outdoor at the Elizabethan and indoors! We saw four plays this season and there are more we’d like to experience!

I thought I would be bored and I was not. I called my parents after and told them that they have to come. I can not wait to go back and see more plays. Even though it was an open air theater it was comfortable and cool. Great acting!

The Shakespeare Festival is fantastic every year & very famous. It is definitely worth checking out. There are modern interpretations as well as musicals. I go every year & will continue to do so.

There has been new hardscaping on the Bricks, the area in front of the outdoor Allen Theatre and the indoor Bowmer Theatre. A small amphitheater has always been there, the focus of the Green Show (the entertainment before the theatrical performances). Now, however, attractive cement bench seating has been created in keeping with the amphitheater 'bowl' design.

Generally a real seating improvement, there is one drawback and that is a set of stairs to the side of the amphitheater has replaced the step-free walk way. This makes for limited access for anyone with mobility issues, and there are many theater goers who are older and using canes as well as some people in wheel chairs. The only step -free way to get from one level to the other now is to go around to the other side of the performance area, thereby significantly increasing foot traffic to and from the theatres on that side.

Being sharp observers of what works and what doesn't, I am sure that the Oregon Shakespeare Festival management will look at this issue and address it if it becomes increasingly problematical for access. The good thing is that now more people can sit while watching the Green Show.

My husband has been going to OSF annually since the late 1970s and I have been going since 2000. We have raised our 3 kids on Ashland and OSF. Our extended family goes annually and donates considerably. We're glad OSF is open again but this year's line up has us concerned for our future interest.

Our first play was cancelled last minute. We did get a refund on the tickets, but not the AirBnB or the hassle of taking the kids out of school for a day. So that was disappointing.

Then we saw three plays over the next 2 days. All good and we enjoyed them. However, the line up this season and next season feature very little Shakespeare. In fact the new Artistic Director is really working hard to push an agenda that I don't disagree with whatsoever, but that I do not want to spend money to see on stage nearly every play on my vacation. Can't some plays just be fun? Can't some plays just be traditionally staged? There has always been a streak of the experimental, the social-political-justice themed, etc. It was all good until that completely took over. Please just give us a little Shakespeare in the mix. OSF you are is danger of losing your base and you can't afford to right now.

We enjoyed our trip here over 10 years ago.
Our appreciation for the performance artists were heightened this time around. We bought our tickets earlier this time around. We were able to obtain seats closer to the stage for Beauty & the Beast and Shakespeare in Love.

My husband and I drove down from Seattle to stay for 2 nights and see Loves Labor Lost at the Elizabethan Theatre. Loved it!!! Just be sure to wear warm clothing in the Fall and bring a blanket. Definitely will be back to take in more plays.

This world-class theatre festival, which runs 9 months the of the year, has a new take on its productions, and that is that theatre, to be relevant, must have a social conscience. What you see is expertly produced, directed and performed, but leaves you asking yourself questions as to why the world is as it is, and could it be better.?This applies to the Shakespeare plays as much as all the new plays that are being written and performed in the U.S.

My husband and I came to theatre here, from Canada, thirty years ago. It is a different experience now, and yet both were excellent in their ways. I wish the were here to see it now.

This was our first time back to Ashland in 20 years. Sorry we waited so long to return. It did not disappoint. The selections were wide ranging and we saw The Odyssey, Julius Caesar and UniSon. We enjoyed all of them but we were particularly moved by UniSon. We are August Wilson fans and this production did him justice.

Previous members of the festival-plays are not always consistent in quality of costuming and set. Many actors are phenomenal though and absolutely amazing and worth the trip!

We came for three nights and bought tickets for three plays, one matinee and two evenings. We wish we had gotten more. The theaters are comfortable with great acoustics. The acting superb. Settings and costumes marvelous. All in all such enjoyable theater. It almost doesn't matter what you see as all the plays were great.

We saw 4 plays in two days, all excellent. Henry V is superb, Othello and Sense and Sensibility were excellent. A new play, Manahatta, was stunning.

Saw first show tonight Julius Ceasar. It was good, actors and actresses are just amazing. Green show was a Native American, "Supaman" he was amazing as well.

Support this place for all that they do!!! We attended the yearly variety show, a fundraiser for AIDS and enjoyed the whole event.

Hairspray was a delight and moving and beautiful and loving and sarcastic and ironic and a must see!

Going to see MacBeth, Indecent and Alice in Wonderland and won't be a bit surprised that they are just as amazing!

We make a quest every year to experience all of the fun and splendor of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The plays are always outstanding, and the talent is amazing! Every time you think that you've seen your favorite play, the next one just keeps getting better and better. People come from all over the world to visit Ashland for this event, and I would recommend that you should as well. There are (3) theaters, the Elizabethan, the Angus Bowmer, and the Black Swan. All of them have different qualities and individual strengths. Be sure to catch a play at each one to see all that this festival has to offer! This year we had the pleasure of seeing 'Love's Labor's Lost' and the west coast premier of 'Sense and Sensibility'. Again, the talent is impeccable--well done! We will most definitely return next year, thank you.

This year, we saw three plays, all of them wonderful.
My favorite was August Wilson's "Jitney." No one in my family had ever heard of him before, but now we want to see all his plays!
The Importance of Being Earnest" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor" were also great fun.
None of them quite matched last year's "Macbeth," which was in a class by itself, but anything Tim Bond directs (like "Jitney") is a must-see.
OSF, please keep producing plays of this caliber. See you again next year!

With 12 plays per year—Shakespeare, modern, commissions and musicals, they have it all and A+ quality actors and theatres.

Saw Mother Road last night. Moved to tears several times. It was written as a sequel to Grapes of Wrath and highlights how the same social issues are present today.

We saw three plays over 2 days, all inside (outdoor theater not open in mid-May). All were well done. Indoor theaters are impressive.

On our bucket list was to attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Had we realized how outstanding the plays were going to be we would have moved it to the top several years ago. Maximizing our 3 night of theater we got to see 6 (that's right 6) different plays. Each one was outstanding with actors who were wonderful. We loved the inclusiveness of the casting and the proficiency of each actor. Stages were well done and when we were in the same theater for the afternoon and the evening performance the stages were totally transformed. Visibility is excellent from any seat in the house. Make certain to purchase your tickets as early as you have confirmed your trip since they sell out quickly. Handicap seating is also thoughtfully placed.

So happy to be back at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival. Revenge Song was our favorite. The acting was terrific, every single actor, not a weak link in the whole cast! The two female leads were so exuberant, just outstanding. Yes, there are some F bombs, but not the obnoxious every other word kind. Production values superb! Rave, rave, rave! Costumes a delight, lighting great.

Tempest uneven- we enjoyed the performances of the "supporting actors," more than the main characters. Calaban excellent. Stage production excellent.

Once on This Island well staged with excellent music and choreography. The accents made it hard to understand the dialog in places, but overall an excellent production.

King John uneven as well. The title character well played, as well as Eleanor and King Phillip. Production techniques enhanced understanding of the play. The preview we attended was so useful. Highly recommend reading the play in a modern version, available on kindle, before you see the play.

Agree the festival needs to dial down the political correctness lest they lose their audience, yet we enjoyed Revenge Song the most.

Over a period of three days, we saw four plays. They were very well-acted, extremely professional. The theaters are in the center of town so they are easy to get to and near wonderful restaurants

Every year I come, and I always say that one of the plays is the best we have seen yet. So wonderful to have professional theater available

When we know we're driving through Ashland we always check the OSF offerings. We've made special trips in the past just to see a selection of plays over several nights, but these days it's more a feature of our travels. So when family wedding plans in California co-incided with the production of Oklahoma! it was a no-brainer.

And what a marvelous evening it was. Theatergoers owe OSF and the entire creative team behind this production, led by director Bill Rauch, as well as a splendid cast and wonderful group of musicians a tremendous thanks for one of the most rewarding evenings of theater ever presented at OSF. It is only with exceptional rarity that one can truly say that a play or musical "comes to life" in the way that this production breathes fresh life into Rogers' and Hammerstein's work. For just as surely as the audience of 1943 felt so moved when this show opened, we, too in the audience of 2018 are completely captivated anew by this Oklahoma!, only this time through the alchemy of gender and pronouns. It's a wonderful thing to see, particularly at this moment in our country's history: an entire audience so moved by the power of love. These days you drink deeply when you find it.

Unless you are adventurous and don't mind off beat theater, stick with the Shakespeare plays. This is their bread and butter of course. Plays like The Odyssey ---- lousy. Saw it in the outdoor theater this summer and people next to me, and in front of me fell asleep. Funny though when the play was over they jumped right up and clapped. I think they were glad the play was over. Fantastic venue and the experience is fun in and of itself.

Sadly there are few Shakespeare's plays available during the Shakespeare Festival. The selection is limited and the programs are often filled with plays that I'm not interested at all in seeing.

We saw All Is Well That Ends Well on Saturdat, Aug 31. The magical atmosphere of Allen Elizabethan Theater under the stars was truly amazing. Show was very entertaining, with a very modern interpretation of the play. My wife and children enjoyed the show and performances, especially of the lead actress!

We were seated on the far left side of the stage, in the 7th row from the front. Both visually and audio wise, we felt very satisfied. We even had the advantage of seeing the cast up close and personal as they were entering/exiting the stage via the hallway next to our seats!

Will be back to Ashland for other plays, as well....

Ironically there’s a lot of modern plays. I really wanted a Shakespearean play but they only have a few a week when I was there. Still cool recreation of a famous Shakespeare theater.

Theater, Shakespeare and contemporary plays, creatively presented In a fabulous outdoor Elizabethian theater and in indoor venues to engage all ages and "likes". The town of Ashland is also enchanting with amazing music, arts and crafts, food, and drink. Take a break and visit crater lake too!

Have been fortunate to see 4 plays this season at Shakespeare festival.
Shared the plays with my husband, friends and family. The plays were highly entertaining, cognitively stimulating, touching. The material evoked thoughtful discussion with new and old friends. Looking forward to next seasons offerings at Ashland Shakespeare Festival.

We have been coming here since 1982 and moved here permanently in 2004. We volunteer and for 30 hours apiece get free tickets to all the shows!

I visited friends in Ashland recently who are supporting members of OSF, so they had to take me. We enjoyed "Off the Rails" which is not Shakespeare, but adapted from "Measure for Measure". It was a great treat for me. They also have free pre-show performances in the courtyard. We caught a couple of those that were very entertaining.

But I think the best of all, was attending an afternoon "coffee" interview with one of the performers. I believe those are reserved for members, but as their guest I was able to attend as well. It was great hearing from Lauren Modica.

Overall, I had a wonderful time.

Always a perfect time. The theaters are spacious and comfortable. Each one has it's own appeal. Boumer is spacious and comfortable, climate controlled. Elizabeathian is lovely outdoors especially after dark. Thomas intimate, no bad seat!

Productions are top quality & varied. Each year is a treat. Venues are well-maintained. Easy walking from center of town.

Pathetic, irritating, and weak play. People left before it was over.. sadly I stayed and witnessed the lack luster and often screeching play performance. The fights scenes and costumes were particularly pathetic. The actors were unfocused and the all female cast was weak, not distinguished and very disappointing. Save your money and time and skip this play. I watched it with a professional director and actor and he was even more shocked. I am sure I am not the only person dissatisfied and my hope is that the artistic director is more careful next year. Try other plays they are much better.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is a must for anyone who loves theatre! Acting, staging, even improv is superb! Whether you are three for Shakespeare, Musicals, or newly commissioned works, you cannot go wrong. We even saw a reading one year that was beautifully executed and thoroughly enjoyable.

OSF never fails to disappoint, but this year was exceptional. I was moved to tears by the same-sex production of Oklahoma. The music, story, and energy was the same as ever, but these nuances changed it, too, making it richer, deeper and more interesting. I am a straight, middle-aged woman, but understand how much representation matters, and I am so impressed and grateful to OSF for putting on this show. Seeing same-sex couples in these roles has an enormous impact on members of the LGBT community, but it also has enormous impact on all of us, for showing how clearly love is love. We also saw Othello, and it was terrific. Great acting, interesting sets, first-rate directing. Sense and Sensibility was fun, but less impressive than the other two. We missed Love's Labors Lost due to the smoke, and - to be frank- the festival really needs to work on how they communicate about these smoke-related situations. Sadly, smoke is probably going to be part of the experience more often now, and they did not do a good job communicating about it, and then were rude when we explained that getting an email over the weekend is not the best way to reach people who are out-of-town and traveling. There was no notification on the website (at least not clearly visible on the mobile version), no clear signage, and no text capabilities. So, in summary, plays were outstanding, communication needs work. Thank you, OSF, for bringing us theater that does exactly what theater is supposed to do - entertain, but also challenge and illuminate. Can't wait to return next year.

We were able to get tickets for the merry wives of Windsor. We have seen some Shakespeare over the years but this is the best.

Don't read the 2023 reviews. The company is back under new leadership and its old familiar excellent productions and accomplished group of actors. This was our first return, being visitors for several decades, since Covid and last year's bad season. We found both Much Ado About Nothing and Macbeth superb. I agree with another reviewer that the Macbeth lighting was particularly wonderful, and the unexpectedly young Lady Macbeth was sublime. We added Lizzard Boy, with its original cast and production, a brilliant reminder that our particular difference matters, that we need to celebrate our uniqueness.

More of the previous actors will be returning in 2025, so sign up! Ashland Shakespeare has been a must-vacation every year. The town and surrounding places to visit only add to the joy of this performing company. We came on a bus tour, and missed having a car to get out further.

I've loved many of the plays I've seen in Ashland. The venue is always beautiful and lively and the pre-play concerts are a nice touch. However, last night we saw what was a very disappointing play, Merry Wives of Windsor and ended up leaving at intermission (1.5 hours in). At the price of these tickets, it felt like throwing money away. Also, for those who are disabled, be aware that you can park for free in the public parking lots that usually have a fee if you have a disabled parking placard. Parking is difficult to find, so we were glad to discover this.

After a wobbly few years including the devastating effects of the pandemic, we are so excited about this year’s line up of plays. Nine plays being offered with a wide variety for all interests. We saw Born with Teeth and it was magnificent. We took our young adult kids (some of whom had heard about this play in their college Shakespeare classes) and really enjoyed it. Going to see Smote This tonight. With the new leadership and return of some veteran OSF actors, I feel cautiously optimistic that OSF is back!

Modernizing classical works is ok, but this version did not work for us. Our intermission discussion was whether to redeem an an hour of our lives or give the play more time. We made the wrong decision and stayed.

Several of the actors did not did speak clearly.

I am by no means a theater person, but I enjoyed seeing a play here. I respect and appreciate Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s very nice facilities and production quality. You should stop here and see a show if passing on I-5. If on a budget or unsure, buy cheap seats in advance; there aren’t many.

We have come to the Shakespeare Festival for years, and have really enjoyed the more traditional performances of both Shakespeare and other plays. This year’s performance of Romeo and Juliet answers the question of what happens if this play were set in a homeless camp, occupied by blacks, instead of upscale Verona. Shakespeare is difficult to follow under any circumstance. Setting the dialogue to a rap beat, accompanied by copious pelvic thrusts makes it even more difficult.

There's a reason why Hairspray is often sold out and few if any discount tickets are available,. Quite simply, it's the best, most entertaining, over-the-top hilarious Musical we've ever seen from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and we've been fans for over 40 years! Do yourselves a favor during our current (and hopefully temporary) social and political turmoiled times and go see this!

We manage to get down to Ashland every 2-3 years to take in the plays. We are fortunate to have a world-class theatre company here in Oregon! Saw Othello and Romeo and Juliet in the Elizabethian Theatre under the stars. Othello proves again Shakespear's genius in exploring themes that are as timely today as when written in the 1600's. I thought the modern adaptation worked well and helped to make the play more current.
Romeo and Juliet is, of course, another classic. Our first time in the Elizabethan at night. Great experience but, as others have noted, this time year important to dress warmly and bring a blanket!

Great show! Was there for Julius Caesar. They did a a wonderful job! Will be back to see something else in the future.

Romeo and Juliet
Disappointing. We left at the intermission. The actors spoke quickly and without enunciating, so it was hard to understand. Turning some monologues to rap was clever, but again, lack of enunciation severely detracted. Also the play was sexualized without the sweet nuances of innocent love that is a primary theme from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The tired theme of “middle aged white women are wicked” is, of course, included in this rendition.
I typically like to attend 2 Shakespeare plays per year. Other than this one, I have never left early. Generally I can follow Elizabethan English.
Performance by Romeo, Friar Laurence, Lord Capulet were very well done

I think that if you're going to watch Shakespeare, you should at least try going to Oregon for the Shakespeare Festival. It's such a beautiful place to watch The Bard's works--plus you'll get to experience it in this rich setting of culture and serenity. We joined our community college for this summer Page to Performance gathering. We spent a week enjoying the plays, of which we saw 4, and 1 musical. Each one brought a plethora of emotions and wonderment for me and my family.
Visit the OSF Welcome Center in the heart of downtown Ashland, and learn firsthand from their volunteers the kind of plays, costumes, and other events you can experience while you're enjoying the small town.
The Elizabethan Theatre, is a smaller version of the Old Globe theatre, and it's just amazing. We had the privilege of meeting some of the cast from All's Well That Ends Well, Cambodian Rock Band, Macbeth, and La Comedia of Errors, and that alone was an enriching experience for all of us who participated in the discussions. So if you're ever in the mood for a fun experience in the country, join the revelers in Ashland, Oregon at the Shakespeare Festival! They're there from

You don’t stumble onto Ashland, OR, so you have to really want to get there, but the Oregon Shakespeare Festival makes it well worth the effort. The #1 regional theater in America with a $30M+ annual budget, they produce about 10 plays a year, 3-5 of which are Shakespearean.

Their principal performers are Actors Equity, and their productions are top-drawer as are their venues. We got our tickets late (about a month in advance) and were in the top row. No problem, they do not have a bad seat in the house, plus the rows are designed to offer plenty of leg room (I’m 6’4”).

SUGGESTION: Be sure to sign up for the Backstage Tour. With three different venues and so many productions over a 9-10 month season, the whole operation is massive and this 60-90 minute tour gives you some insight into how they pull it off.

We were only in town for one night, but we saw a 3-hr modern-version production of Othello in the evening, took the Backstage Tour the next morning, and saw “Sense & Sensibility” in the afternoon before having to leave town. Wish we could have stayed longer.

SUGGESTION: The festival venues are adjacent to Ashland’s Lithia Park. Be sure to take some time in between productions to stretch your legs with a walk through this small but beautiful park.

My favorite is the Bowmer Theatre for its sound control. Enjoyed the Elizabethan Theatre, but on a windy night the sound drifts away if you're in the balcony seating. You can't watch better acting than Othello. The villain is wonderfully horrible and they've combined modernized settings/events just right with the old english style text.

I was fortunate to attend three plays while in Ashland and they were amazing! This was my first time in Ashland and attending plays there. The theaters were clean, easy to enter and exit, the attendants were so helpful and pleasant. I can't wait to go back!

Fabulous, as always, even with challenges of very smoky conditions due to northern California fires. While the Elizabeth (outdoor) stage was out of commission because airconditions were unhealthy, the show went on with certan productions transferred to nearby Ashland High School. I was a little dubious but should not have been. the HS theatre is very nice and the production we saw - Loves Labours Lost - was exquisite. Oklanhoma was a treasure. Obviously some are a bit flummoxed by playing with genders and orientations, but I found it actually illuminated the story. The music, signing and dancing was impeccable. Thank you OSK! -- a Fan for 40 + years

The actor who plays Othello is electrifying! The actor is incredible, and the play was so amazing because I was on the edge of my seat for the entire time. Not to mention that the actors were so expressive that I understood all that was happening in the play. This play is a must see.

We were looking forward to stopping in Ashland and attending a play at OSF as part of the first leg of our trip through Oregon. We attended half of the Three Musketeers. Like many others, we left at intermission. It was sophomoric and offensive and frankly tiresome. Also, I don’t need or want to hear about social justice issues in every endeavor - and I’m a person of color. Enough already.

I read (afterwards) that OSF is having serious financial problems due to COVID and the fact that use of their large endowment is subject to restrictions. The Executive Director left in January and its Artistic Director left in June. OSF required emergency fundraising to open this season and announced in June they need more to continue. With less funds, they have a smaller selection of plays, which results in fewer ticket sales, etc. Not looking good for continued operation.

I wish them well and hope they are able to continue, but don’t know that we’ll be back.

My first time to any play in Ashland. Well worth the cost. Loved having the entertainment outside before the show. Even my low cost bad seat wasn’t that limiting on my view of the stage. Only a couple of scenes were partially blocked. Was happy that the actors used the whole stage which meant I felt engaged with them on my far to the side seat. Acting was superb and set was very tastefully done. Costumes were amazing. I will be back!

We attend the Festival every year. We mainly go to Shakespeare plays, but at times have tried others. The productions are always well done. Directors often take plays and adapt them to different times or cultural moments, so it is helpful to read the descriptions of the plays before you book your choices. Definitely recommend going to a couple plays. Sometimes the more obscure plays are the best.

Shakespeare is rolling over in his grave. We were looking forward to our first ever Shakespeare play on the stage - and choose the classic Romeo and Juliet. Alas this year's production is anything but classic or classy. This version, set in a homeless camp is beyond bad and goes into outright offensive with gun violence, pelvic thrusts, and middle fingers throughout. The OSF should be ashamed of themselves. We left at intermission and will not be back unless OSF returns to its classic self.

So I was in town for one night and my boss hooked me up with tickets for a play and front row seats to boot. I haven't been to a live play in a few years and sitting in the front row of this theater was like being IN the play! The stage and scenes were so impressive and the actors were on point! It was a very nice evening and I will certainly be back again to check out other performances.

The Oregon Shakespeare complex is a nice facility and the town is now known for it, with services and other attractions developing around it. Still mostly closed at the time of our visit, but was interesting to visit.

This is the place for live theater! It is an open air venue that offers seating with backs and you can rent a cushion for $2. I think any seat in the house would be a good one. The acting was superb. The sound was fantastic - easily hear every spoken word. Because the temps were so hot that day, the theatre delayed the show 30 minutes (8:30) for greater comfort -- a good call. The staff were very well informed and welcoming. We loved the show, Beauty and the Beast. We'll certainly return in the future.

Shakespeare Festival was not our vibe. Loved the shops, restaurants and nearby lake to hike and explore. Ended our hike in a with a delicious lunch and bloody mary at Lake in the Woods restaurant.

This is a great theatrical experience overall. Although they are up a steep hill there is a ramp rather than stairs. Each venue
Has bathroom issues.
The Bommer has a ladies on one side with a reasonable amount of stalls but stairs to het to it.
The Elizabethan theater has one ladies that is too small for the venue.
The Thomas has a bathroom on the floor below the theater.. inconvenient e en though there is an elevator.
This year the fare had three standouts.. “Oklahoma”; “manahata” and “Snow in Midsommer.”
“ Othello” And” Henry V” were good but long. Most of the shows were cancelled in the outside theaters while we were there. We “ lucked out” with the only performance of “ the Book of Will” but sadly it was meh! Way too long for that venues uncomfortable seats!
And “how the mountain moved”was well directed but a real head scratcher as to its point.

Fantastic play! Bring a seat cushion to the Allen Elizabethan Theatre because the seats are hard plastic.

Two gal pals enjoyed two plays at OSF, Mother Road and Between Two Knees on a 2 day jaunt to Ashland. The plays were captivating and deep, painful at times, but delivered with a dash of humor and plenty of sincerity. We were moved, made to feel uncomfortable, made to look at our own biases and misconceptions, and we had plenty to discuss afterwards. It was a wonderful experience. We can't wait for our next trip and anotherpasta great play.

About 1/3 of the plays put on here are by Shakespeare, with a great variety of other plays and musicals. If you are just driving through, it’s always worth checking to see what is available. Most people buy their tickets in November of the year before (we do!), but sometimes plans change, which means excellent sets might pop up the week before or the day of a show.
But if you plan a trip here - as we do - get a place to stay first, then the tickets. There’s plenty to do, and with two indoor theaters running from March through October. The outdoor theater opens in late May and runs through mid October (though pre-emptively closed this August in case there’s smoke), there are lots of plays to see each day. The actors, costumers and production team do a great job here!

I am a straight woman who found the OSF version of Oklahoma absolutely delightful and moving. This is the first time I've ever shed tears of joy during a play. (I'm 57 years old.) According to the program notes, the Rodgers and Hammerstein organization was absolutely on board with this interpretation. It would be sad to miss this. For me, the best plays this season, so far, are Othello and Oklahoma, both of which were directed by the outgoing artistic director Bill Rauch, who has been hired away to the Big Apple.

They have turned what was a wonderful inspiring theater experience into an in your face gay agenda travesty. If you expect traditional Shakespeare, forget it.

A wonderful experience in all areas. From the organization of the venue, to the courtesy of the staff, ease of parking, all were fantastic...let's not forget the plays. Fantastic in every way. Outstanding acting, wonderful performers, costumes, it was all simply outstanding. This venue is a must!

Such a timely presentation and perfect delivery in the Thomas theatre
Please include this into your lesson planner regardless of your age - well done cast & crew

This year's Macbeth is awesome! After last year's disastrous season, I had vowed never to go back to OSU again.
Wow, I'm sure glad I gave it a second chance! It was first-rate, and made for a very special matinee.

Theatres are excellent. This year’s productions of All’s Well That Ends Well and Mother Road we’re both well done with very good casts. Would happily see both again.

We have traveled to Ashland for the OSF every year for six years. I spent the first 42 years of my life in Manhattan and have always regarded NY theater as the gold standard, rarely even approached elsewhere. I am happy to say that OSF is better than NY. The acting, direction, timing and tightness are comparable, but the innovation and creativity exceed NY, where pandering to popular culture and tour buses has gotten out of hand.

FYI, OSF takes diversity and inclusion very seriously. Casting is color-blind and age indifferent and, twenty minutes into a performance, you cease to notice.

This year we saw Sense and Sensibility (very good), Othello (good) and Oklahoma (truly outstanding). I just read several other reviews where people found using gay couples in Oklahoma to be off putting. Folks, it's 2018. The acting is top notch, the voices are superb and the show holds together wonderfully! I am glad some people were uncomfortable. Change usually follows discomfort.

If you want to see some really top notch theater, run, don't walk to Ashland.