Join our mailing list for the occasional dose of travel inspo! Or do what you can to see "Destiny of Desire" -- I can't imagine Oklahoma! Educational and Community Organizations, Television, Film, Commercial Events, and Photo-Shoots across the continental U.S. Come visit us! After the dark COVID years of 2020-1, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon is back on the boards, but that is a mixed blessing. There is the feeling that the front office has fallen under the influence of aggressive marketing. So I need one-person shows, three-person shows, some of these smaller pieces, new plays, to complement my Shakespeare plays or my musicals. The. Support American Theatre: a just and thriving theatre ecology begins with information for all. The most unusual play at Oregon Shakespeare Festival is Mona Mansour's 2017 "unseen," a one-act drama that looks at the effects of violence on those who photograph wars and the difficult choices they make. Pilotis your brand new trip planner that helps you discover and build travel itineraries connecting you to resources everywhere. ", People who love OSF but don't love the new mission have posted on Facebook and participated in letter-writing campaigns. NOW I want to address a couple of bad reviews because they change a show from a musical play to a concert. The vast majority are excellent. If you're up for a short drive, then a trip to Medford is totally worth it! As the influential nonprofit theatre considered its 2023 season and future, it was clear that changes would be needed, and now theyve come. An immersive digital festival at the intersection of live theatre and extended reality November 2022 O! If reading this you agree with me, please write a supporting review. Ashland. Some of the criticism, though, has gone much farther than artistic difference of opinion. Theyre not efficient, and theyre not running in the way that we need them to. hide caption. So excited to have OSF back after the pandemic. To add insult to injury, they will not return our money! Jenny Graham/Oregon Shakespeare Festival I'd recommend purchasing tickets as soon as possible for any plays that are available on the dates you'll be in town. Rauchs replacement was Nataki Garrett, late of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company where she was the Acting Artistic Director for eighteen months. Rush Tickets Do you need to book in advance to visit Oregon Shakespeare Festival? The current line up of plays and their interpretation is often based on the new directors wish to present homosexuality in theater. It's lovely. But some of the criticism has gone much farther and Garrett has received death threats. I cant say enough about the awesome performance but I also want to give a shout out to the extremely patient , professional and friendly box office . But like many regional, non-profit American theaters around the country, this theater has been faced with a mostly white subscriber and donor base which is aging. the arts are like that and Ashland is a counter-culture place. Great performances, but concerned by the general OSF direction. Far left political bias has ruined this experience for me. People who love OSF but don't love the new mission have posted on Facebook and participated in letter-writing campaigns to Garrett's office. Besides The Tempest, King John and Confederates, there is also a production of the Tony Award-winning musical Once On This Island, here set in Haiti, and a raucous queer musical called Revenge Song by Qui Nguyen. Hello Susan B of Dallas Oregon: Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Nataki Garrett stands inside the Allen Elizabethan Theatre in Ashland, Ore. She recently programmed her first full season but not everyone has embraced her new approach. And how do we get THERE?". But whereas New York tourism is rebounding, more or less, has theatre tourism to Ashland rebounded to what it was? "I thought the pandemic was the hard work for maybe about 15 minutes into the pandemic," Garrett said. After two years of pandemic closures, audiences are back at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. "Mad world, mad kings, mad composition!". December 1st - January 1st, 2023. My husband has been going to OSF annually since the late 1970s and I have been going since 2000. Her favorite places she's visited (so far) include London, UK, Angers, France, and the entire country of Norway. There are countless hotels in Ashland. Garrett had, however, an excellent track record in fundraising. He plays the role with warmth and humor rather than the bitterness often shown, generous in forgiving, not overly rough with Caliban or Ariel, the spirit he has enslaved to do his bidding. Published: Jul. I especially loved how the show used the Angus Bowmer Theatres space, especially the trap door in the center of the stage where Papa Ge, the God of Death (played by Chuckie Benson) appeared near the end of the play. NPR reporting on Oregon theater death threats prompt local and national response, Oregon Shakespeare Festival focuses on expansion but is not without its critics, Oregon Shakespeare Festival announces 2022 season with 8 live, 3 digital productions, Performance venues, arts groups ask Oregon lawmakers for more COVID recovery funds. "I guess I was expecting a theater company on crutches," Shakespeare scholar Daniel Pollack-Pelzner told NPR. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. I asked him to come to OSF, and I recognize that when you come in with the intention to help an organization move through something because the possibilities are so clear, and theres so much that could happen, and when it doesnt work the way you want it to or it takes too longthat part I wish had turned out different. Michael Sullivan for NPR And then maybe youll come back? Ive had patrons say to box office staff, You know, Id love to come back to OSF, but I used to be really sure about who I was sitting next to. And Im clear that theyre not even thinking about me sitting next to them, a 50-year-old Black woman. "People don't want to lose control of things that are important to them and if they feel that something is being taken away, they're going to protest that and they're going to make their discomfort known," Etling said. 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. What???? And MMC, an self indulgent piece of experimental theater which might appeal to collge drama students, but left me empty and emotionally detached. Support American Theatre: a just and thriving theatre ecology begins with information for all. After the dark COVID years of 2020-1, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon is back on the boards, but that is a mixed blessing. Go for it!.especially if youre going to the Elizabethan theater. if rush is an option. How Oregon researchers are testing 3D printing to reconstruct bone. Oregon Shakespeare Festival Explore the 2023 Season Buy Tickets Rent Romeo and Juliet The Three Musketeers Twelfth Night Where We Belong O! Join 14,000+ travelers and Pilot your next adventure! Schmitz joined OSF as its fourth executive director in fall 2020. Donors and audiences disappeared, so she campaigned to raise $19 million through federal, regional and foundation funding. There is an entire new division built around inclusion, equity and access led by Anyaniya Muse, who was recently promoted to the role of Managing Director. A scene from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2018 production of "Romeo and Juliet" in its outdoor Elizabethan Theatre. This year a play that glorifies the Black Panther Party, a violent hate filled group with a political agenda that advocated the overthrow of the goverment and the use of lethal force. ROB WEINERT-KENDT: A lot has changed since we last spoke. Then no shows in 2021 so pushed as a voucher to 2022. The current season is designed for "collective impact," Garrett said. The restaurant produces exceptional dishes and whether you have a pre-show dinner reservation or . During the transition period, Garrett will be Interim Executive Artistic Director. Make the planning experience more fun by collaborating with your travel buddies!. Cyndii Johnson (left) and Erika Rose perform in Confederates at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. And how do I make a connection to them? 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! Modern. Is this a good time to visit? The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is in the midst of its first full season since 2019, with five plays on the boards and two more opening in October. It is a story about the way American history haunts the lives of Black women, showing the parallels between two women who live a century apart; one in a slave cabin during the Civil War and one on a contemporary college campus. How about a generous voucher with no expiration date for our trouble and disappointment? Check with Box Office on day of show for availability. If you're not entirely sure where to start planning your itinerary, that sounds like a job for Pilot! And they used to be sitting next to their friends. Two years in a row shows cancelled with little to no notice or explanation, limited refund or comp offered. Right off the bat, this show blew me away. Judging by what I am reading here and hearing from patrons while we were there, we are not alone. "I want OSF to exist well beyond me, 25 years from now and a time when I won't even be here on Earth, I want it to still be here," Garrett said. During the summer months of the festival, you can catch a show at the outdoor Allen Elizabethan Theatre. Oregon Shakespeare Festival Executive Director David Schmitz, Courtesty of Oregon Shakespeare Festival / JPR, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival announced a slew of staffing changes this week as part of a restructuring strategy aimed at aligning its business model with its vision and realities of the post-pandemic market.. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is back in full this season, with a new focus centered around greater access for patrons. The play is the last wholly written by Shakespeare, who tells us that his work is substantially finished: "Now my charms are all o'erthrown, and what strength I have is now mine own." "What I saw instead was a theater company on wings.". Thats a real thing. People who love OSF but don't love the new mission have posted on Facebook and participated in letter-writing campaigns. We wouldnt have minded if someone came out with a script to replace them. The Festival was in a period of transition when COVID devastated our lives (literally, for so many people), our economy, and live cultural activities. It always pays to give their toll-free number a call. How should I dress, for example, is it normal for visitors to wear costumes of the era? Nice work OSF. The park is a lot bigger than it appears on first impressions and stretches out into a woodland area.. They feel like something is being taken away from them. On the second day they were back to work I received an email that informed me that they had processed my refund. My friend and I like to pick 3 modern plays at OSF and attend two during an overnight visit. Audio produced by Jeevika Verma. When OSF hired her in 2019, she became one of the first Black women to lead such a large, legacy performing arts institution. (Pre-pandemic seasons at OSF included as many as 11 productions. "I guess I was expecting a theater company on crutches," Shakespeare scholar Daniel Pollack-Pelzner told NPR. Mery Wives of Windsor as a platform to advocate gay marriage- really? Something went wrong while submitting the form. Part of the reason why I think the industry is feeling this crunch is that when you start to invite people who are not in that predominant theatregoing group, that groupthey signaled to me. So check with the box office ASAP about rush ticket availability for Oklahoma! We have raised our 3 kids on Ashland and OSF. So in general, I'd advise getting tickets ASAP for whatever is available when you're in Ashland, and then try to rush Oklahoma! She said those days trying to save a legacy institution from total collapse were terrifying and clarifying. It spoiled the story. Unfortunately the three shows we had planned to attend were cancelled due to the COVID-19 quarantine. In "How I Learned What I Learned," August Wilson explores his life and times in a rapid-fire eponymous monologue, remembering the tough streets of Pittsburgh's Hill District, where he grew up and which he described in his American century cycle plays, among them "Fences," "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," "Jitney" and "Joe Turner's Come and Gone." Executive director David Schmitz, who joined the company near the beginning of the pandemic, will step down, as will development director Amanda Brandes. OSF prices the tickets in two ways: Zones and ticket types. So we just didnt have enough tech time to be able to do all the shows that were in our list. Please join us in this mission by making a donation to our publisher, Theatre Communications Group. In looking at the program, I found thatOnceis an adaptation of Rosa Guys novelMy Love, My Love, which in itself is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersons The Little Mermaid. Toward the end of the show I realizedits theHans Christian Andersons The Little Mermaid. Meaning the original fairytale does not have the happy ending the Disney one has (google itits not a direct spoiler toOnce, and its not as bad as the original Cinderella ending). She has been trying to recover her mental stability in the company of her Turkish lover Derya and her mother Jane, who has come to take care of her. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Starting this month, they will help the theater community and its patrons overcome a global pandemic that made . Here you can admire beautiful Japanese gardens and relax for a while in the serene atmosphere. All rights reserved. But things arent the same as they were during the pre-pandemic 2019 season. In a second column, he added that he thought programming diverse, contemporary plays didn't make sense, because the majority of Ashland is so white. Is there currently smoke? Photo by Jenny Graham. hide caption. Because Ashland is close to the California border, on a clear day you may even glimpse Mt. Be a part of it! NO! Is this staff restructuring part of a larger pullback you began last year? So how do you create a space in which the theatre is a public forum? Many of the student body has been itching to get a taste of live theatre again- restless to climb back into those seats and watch the curtain rise. Theres nothing that cures the midterm mood quite like an OSF musical. Copyright 2022 NPR. Still, according to a press release, OSF realizes it must invest in a strategy that will impact the long-term success of the organization.. Have been a member for over twenty years and planned a trip in 2020 to see plays. I cant talk aboutOnceif I dont talk about the four godsPapa Ge, Agwe, the God of Water (played by Michael Wordly), Asaka, Mother of the Earth (played by Phyre Hawkins), and Erzulie, the Goddess of Love (played by Camille Robinson). Be sure to take the opportunity to visit Lithia Park, right in the middle of town. Performances continue through Oct. 30 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. White Christmas will be performed at the Thomas theatre of OSF. Your submission has been received! Most of the reviews here are clearly manufactured by the management of OSF. The so called " world premiers" (performances of minor recent works ) is insulting to the educated theater goer. Ashland and various hiking trails that meander through the mountainous terrain.. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud. I will be forever thankful that David was fearlessly optimistic from his very first day working to bring OSF forward to vitality while celebrating its glorious past.. However, because of sudden changes in its operations, the length of its season, and a turn away from Shakespeare as a central source for performances, the 2022 and 2023 OSF is a very different OSF than in 2019. So when you say systems, youre talking hardcore administrative stuff, not necessarily how you make the work, rehearsals, etc. "It's a state founded with a racial exclusion clause in its constitution unfair labor laws for migrants who have come to live there and an active KKK presence well into the 20th if not the 21st century," he said. 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. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.osfashland.org/. It's sort of the bread basket of the industry," Garrett said. www.confederationcentre.com From June to September, The Charlottetown Festival. hide caption. Located in Talent, OR we rent to professional for-profit and non-profit Theatres. "You see us and then you forget us.". She grows up to be an adventurous young woman (played now by Ciera Dawn) wanting to know what her purpose is in life. JDP. What theyre talking about is they dont know anything about those new peoplebecause theyre younger, theyre from a different culture or background or race. Finally, I think one of the things that made me fall in love with this show was seeing the audience incredibly engaged. The Oregon Cabaret Theatre has provided first-class entertainment and dining in the Rogue Valley for the last thirty-four years. An unfortunate loss of a wonderful theater. ASHLAND, Ore. -- The Oregon Shakespeare Festival on Wednesday introduced the line-up for its 2022 season, one that promises to a return to a year-long run after two seasons curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to more accessible pricing. Awesome . Ashland, OR 97520. The actors are great and wasted on this material. Book your tickets in advance - shows can sell out, and you don't want to miss anything! We'll let you know when we launch! Bianca Jones (left) and Erica Sullivan perform in Confederates at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Ore. That kind of sentiment is good news for OSF, because changing demographics mean that theaters must work to expand their audiences to survive. It is a story about the way American history haunts the lives of Black women, showing the parallels between two women who live a century apart; one in a slave cabin during the Civil War and one on a contemporary college campus. 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