Here are mini-reviews of four plays running now. Share. Awesome . It's one of the best times I've had in the theatre in years -- but it can be a tough ticket since the word's gotten out about it. Can $50 million in emergency funding make the arts equitable in Oregon? Book your tickets in advance - shows can sell out, and you don't want to miss anything! Ashland, Ore., home of the festival, is itself about 91% white, according to the 2020 census. In 1983, OSF even won a Tony Award for Best Regional Theatre! We've never been to Ashland -- thinking about July. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. I spoke to Garrett last night about the challenges shes faced and the adjustments shes made. Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the 87-year-old regional-theater stalwart that has become a leading player in the theater industry's push to increase diversity, equity and inclusion, has. Portland State University Professor Daniel Pollack-Pelzner pointed out that Oregon has a bleak history of racism. OSF has recently been trying to offset deficits from the pandemics impact, including reducing its number of shows each season, shortening its calendar for performances and diversifying the shows it offers. "I thought the pandemic was the hard work for maybe about 15 minutes into the pandemic," Garrett said. Things to do near Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Tours and Tickets, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Ashland, Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Tickets & Tours, Belle Fiore Estate & Winery: Tickets & Tours, Irvine & Roberts Vineyards: Tickets & Tours, Dana Campbell Vineyards: Tickets & Tours, Weisinger Family Winery: Tickets & Tours, Phang Nga Bay Sea Cave Canoeing & James Bond Island w/ Buffet Lunch by Big Boat, Todos Santos Day Trip from Cabo San Lucas, Skip the Ticket Line: World of Coca-Cola Admission, Grand Turk Gibbs Cay Stingray and Snorkel Adventure, 5-Hour Small-Group Catamaran Cruise from Bridgetown with Lunch, Combo Skip The Line - Uffizi Gallery And Accademia Gallery Tour, Interlaken 3-Hour Guided E-Bike Tour with a Farm and Ancient Villages Visit, See all 2 Oregon Shakespeare Festival tours on Tripadvisor. Many went mountain biking or on wine tours, or were simply passing through on their way to somewhere else. Schmitz and Brandes departure is actually not necessarily connected to OSFs financial difficulties, she said. 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. The gods go crazy to sort things out, and there is gorgeous singing, especially by Ti Moune, her rival Andrea (Hannah Rose Honore) and Erzulie (Camille Robinson). Ashland is located in the Rogue Valley, so you can look down on the city nestled in the valley once you've reached the peak of Mt. $$ - $$$ Bakeries Cafe Vegetarian Friendly, $$$$ American Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, $$$$ American Contemporary Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ American Healthy Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ American Cafe Vegetarian Friendly, $ Quick Bites Pizza Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ American Vegetarian Friendly Gluten Free Options, $$ - $$$ American Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, $$ - $$$ Specialty Food Market American Vegetarian Friendly, Points of Interest & Landmarks Monuments & Statues. He wants to be asleep. How about a generous voucher with no expiration date for our trouble and disappointment? JDP. Once on This Island(2022): Dominique Lawson, Ayvah Johnson, Ciera Dawn, and Ensemble. Spending time in Ashland allows you to get connected to so many outdoor spaces. OSF was hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic and never fully recovered. She did not add further detail. But the recovery gave me an opportunity to really look into the way our systems are running and to think about how those systems could run better. Photo by Jenny Graham. www.confederationcentre.com From June to September, The Charlottetown Festival. Rothschild's opinion started a community conversation, said Bert Elling, who edits Rothschild's column at Ashland.news. So we right-sized on the artistic side coming into 2022. Still, according to a press release, OSF realizes it must invest in a strategy that will impact the long-term success of the organization.. Scott, you are so right - there was no dearth of LGBTQ promotion for the stellar production of Oklahoma! 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). There are countless hotels in Ashland. Her favorite places she's visited (so far) include London, UK, Angers, France, and the entire country of Norway. But nearly any production in Ashland is going to be worth seeing. Its not. The most poignant episode is about his discovery of John Coltrane and the power and passion of music. "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. And MMC, an self indulgent piece of experimental theater which might appeal to collge drama students, but left me empty and emotionally detached. 2017 Theatre Communications Group. Please subscribe to The Shakespeare Newsletter to continue reading. She was soon joined by new Executive Director. Yet Garrett is moving forward. The festival has announced a Restructure, Reframe, and Revitalize (3Rs) Strategy, which will focus the next few years on shifting and modernizing administrative systems that no longer serve the organization, including finance, information technology, human resources, marketing, and development. If you're curious about what it's like and what you can expect, then I've got all the details for you! Christmas Tree Farms; Christmas and New Year's Events; Ice Skating Rinks; Ski & Snowboard Resorts; . It was so real. The Allen is a wonderful replica of an Elizabethan theatre. 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. "Recovery season," as Garrett calls it, includes Shakespeare stalwarts like The Tempest, but with a diverse cast, and King John, which in this production is an all-female and nonbinary cast performing a story about male power in imperial Europe. ASHLAND In a cost-cutting measure to cope with declining attendance in 2022, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival announced it has revamped its plans for 2023, trimming the length of its season and number of plays produced. It's sort of the bread basket of the industry," Garrett said. In addition to stage performances, OSF also offers campus tours, prefaces, and post-show discussions. After two years of pandemic closures, audiences are back at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) does not allow for late seating or children under 6. We wouldnt have minded if they did a pre show introduction with some cast members singing one or two numbers from the show. All of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival printed and online descriptions we saw of this production of the musical "Oklahoma!" Seeking Equity stage managers for Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2022 season. The 2022 season will feature eight plays from June 20 to October 8. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Nataki Garrett, Anyania Muse, David Schmitz. Then no shows in 2021 so pushed as a voucher to 2022. Get Pilot. Judging by what I am reading here and hearing from patrons while we were there, we are not alone. I took part in the Summer Seminar for High School Juniors and got to work with the same actors I loved watching on stage. Cyndii Johnson (left) and Erika Rose perform in Confederates at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Is there any way to get secondary market tickets (I dont see anything listed on Stubhub) or does the box office release tickets closer to the show date? If you have a particular show (or shows) in mind, I would recommend checking availability and booking in advance. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud. Nataki Garrett took on her new role as Oregon Shakespeare Festival's artistic director in 2019. The box office was closed for several weeks and I sent them an email during that time. And the programming doesnt have to be different. Buy Tickets through the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Box Office As a result, I am afraid that OSF will face increasing financial hardships, and so will the town that hosts it. 2022. We will continue to make the drive from Eugene to see this year after year. All the pandemic did was accelerate something that was already moving, and all of the things that were actually failing in the American theatre, it moved them up very quickly. People who love OSF but don't love the new mission have posted on Facebook and participated in letter-writing campaigns. He wants to be in the dark. I thought it was outstanding. It's a repertory theatre, meaning that they often have multiple shows playing at the same time. Well, Im sad about David. Jenny Graham/Oregon Shakespeare Festival Crucial summer performances were canceled due to COVID, the now regular wildfire season took its toll, overall attendance was down, and, to make things egregiously worse, artistic director Nataki Garrett received death threatsand had to travel with a security detail. This is based on when a performance takes place such as the day of the week, time of day, and special occasions like holiday weekends., Each theater is divided into two Zones for every performance. "And that means that my mandate is to rethink the way we do things.". After two years of pandemic closures, audiences are back at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, to find a season of diverse plays. 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. Stole our money! Rather, the restructuring is really about, are we a $44 million organization, like what I inherited? hide caption. Do you need to book in advance to visit Oregon Shakespeare Festival? The play's most poignant moment comes when in a film clip of a bereaved mother asks Mia if she sees her subjects. 2022 Election Guide; Entertainment. You can see performances in either the Angus Bowmer Theatre or their black box theatre, that's called the Thomas Theatre. That being said, the ending of the story the others tell the little girl is sad, but also filled with hope, which I think is incredibly important. We have raised our 3 kids on Ashland and OSF. For more information about OSF policies, . His resignation is effective immediately. clearly stated, "Bill Rauchs 75th-Anniversary production breaks new ground with same-sex lead couples and other LGBTQ2+ casting". So check with the box office ASAP about rush ticket availability for Oklahoma! They applauded when it was announced which understudies would be covering for different actors, laughed with the jokes, and didnt utter a word when there was an intense moment or passionate song. Is this staff restructuring part of a larger pullback you began last year? Some of them can definitely sell out well ahead of time. The community and artists have suffered through the pandemic and we want to return, but our recent experience has us bidding Ashland farewell. Rush Tickets Be a part of it! "I guess I was expecting a theater company on crutches," Shakespeare scholar Daniel Pollack-Pelzner told NPR. OSF Costume Rentals Roxana Ramseur works on a hat for "Once on This Island," a Tony Award-winning musical that uses Caribbean rhythms and instruments to tell a story of Black joy and sorrow in the aftermath of colonization and isolation. But Garrett said these longer-term changes she's implementing to expand the festival's mission are non-negotiable and essential. No, and thats a systemic issue. How is the smoke affecting the outdoors theater? And most importantly, new artistic director Nataki Garrett has programmed her first full season. Rothschild said in a column this summer that he admired OSF's diversity efforts, but thought the drop in the number of Shakespeare plays it produced showed that the theater no longer trusted Shakespeare to draw audiences. OSF received over $5 million in Paycheck Protection Program loan money during the pandemic, nearly all of which was forgiven. Do you see a visit to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in your future travel plans, or perhaps you'd prefer something like theHermanus Whale Festivalinstead? The actors are great and wasted on this material. The trip planner that puts everything in one place, making planning your trip easier, quicker, and more fun. how is the air quality with the fires now? What drives the plot of the show is the inequity between rich and poor, white and Black, and other racial and economic disasters leftover from colonialism, ostensibly in Haiti. As for the single and very solid Shakespeare production, Nicolas C. Avila stages "The Tempest" in a lean and uncluttered manner, a staging Elizabethans would have readily understood. "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. Garrett said the restructuring is about recalibrating, given that audiences are coming back to OSF at approximately half the numbers that used to show up pre-pandemic. Hi! Next season, Garrett will direct the company's flagship Shakespeare production, which will be a Romeo and Juliet that's inspired by the making and the failings of the American West. Thanks 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 yes, Im very hopeful. No under study? Hi JDP, The current season is designed for "collective impact," Garrett said. Pilot makes it fun and easy to share and relive your favorite travel memories with many useful features! Schmitz joined OSF as its fourth executive director in fall 2020. Did we mention that it's completely free? The 89-year-old theater is the primary cultural attraction in Southern Oregon, and in March 2020, as the reality of the pandemic became apparent, the company shuttered its productions and laid off 400 staff, about 80% of its total workforce. As the influential nonprofit theatre considered its 2023 season and future, it was clear that changes would be needed, and now theyve come. Athenaeum Center, 2936 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657. the arts are like that and Ashland is a counter-culture place. "My concern is that they have decided to essentially remake the OSF into something it wasn't instead of building on their strengths,really turning their back on its strengths," said Herbert Rothschild, a longtime OSF subscriber and local columnist, told NPR. Oops! Thanks to the box office staff for their efficiency and professionalism. During the transition period, Garrett will be Interim Executive Artistic Director. Go for it!.especially if youre going to the Elizabethan theater. The entire monologue has a jazzy cadence to it. 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. Once on This Islandis showing at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival until October 30th, 2022. Performances continue through Oct. 30 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Directed by Rosa Joshi. It's lovely. Managing Director of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) People, Culture & Operations Anyania Muse will be Interim Chief Operating Officer. my sister lives there and she says it is bad currently. One of the things Im focused on doing is I want to help my historical theatregoing audience learn how to be ambassadors. Since news broke of the festival's artistic director Nataki Garrett hiring a private security detail for her personal safety. She said those days trying to save a legacy institution from total collapse were terrifying and clarifying. Ti Moune (Ciera Dawn) and Daniel (Dominique Lawson) are in love, but as an aristocrat, he must marry within his circle, and she must remain on the wrong side of the island. there has been a massive outpouring of support from cultural organizations across the country. Review: Four Plays Absolutely Worth The Trip To The Oregon Shakespeare Festival July 12, 2022 By Caroline Crawford The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is in the midst of its first full. Tags:Shakespeare, Arts And Culture, Theatre. Finally, I think one of the things that made me fall in love with this show was seeing the audience incredibly engaged. We'll let you know when we launch! A remodeled church located one block from OSF, the Cabaret's venue oozes with the old school charm of the jazz era. It is hard to see how they can justify $120 per seat. Ashland Shakespeare Festival Schedule Also different this year? To my sister theatres who are still focused on this one generation of audience members, and who think that education programming is enough to bring people in, I have to say, our yield is about 13 percent of people who came to OSF as schoolchildren and come back one more time. About 15% of the. Awesome. Jenny Graham/Oregon Shakespeare Festival "Revenge Song, A Vampire Cowboys Production," written by Qui Nguyen, is easily the worst. Zone 1 makes up a little over half of each theatre, and Zone 2 makes up the other half., Zone 2 is the cheaper of the two zones. But some of the criticism has gone much farther and Garrett has received death threats. So excited to have OSF back after the pandemic. Meanwhile, I get no shortage of begging emails to donate to their cause. (Pre-pandemic seasons at OSF included as many as 11 productions. Far left political bias has ruined this experience for me. View all hotels near Oregon Shakespeare Festival on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Oregon Shakespeare Festival on Tripadvisor. They dont necessarily want to fund, you know, a new system for finance. It will feature new works and "profoundly relevant classics." Our extended family goes annually and donates considerably. And how do we get THERE?". Wednesday, Aug 2, 2023 at 8:00pm. Great to be back in Ashland for the Shakespeare Fest. OPBs critical reporting and inspiring programs are made possible by the power of member support. There you'll findHarry & David'sCountry Village Store. So in general, I'd advise getting tickets ASAP for whatever is available when you're in Ashland, and then try to rush Oklahoma! By Nice work OSF. But, since Bill Rausch has come on board, things have turned hard to the left. However, we do have Box Office hours this time of year and general ticket sales begin Dec. 17. Performing arts organizations in Oregon say theyre still struggling to recover from the economic blow of COVID-19. In a second column, he added that he thought programming so many diverse, contemporary plays didn't make business sense, because the majority of the Ashland audience is white. Theyre not efficient, and theyre not running in the way that we need them to. Thank you! OSF prices the tickets in two ways: Zones and ticket types. 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 . Please join us in this mission by making a donation to our publisher, Theatre Communications Group. Digital Stage Explore the Season This is a moment to take bold action to make theatre accessible by lowering barriers for entry. Garrett has directed no Shakespeare as of 2022, she plans to direct Romeo and Juliet in 2023, and produced only one of his plays, Robert OHaras critically lambasted 2017 production of Macbeth. By William Shakespeare. So over $500 is gone without one contact from them. Minded if they did a pre show introduction with some cast members singing one or two from! And that means that my mandate is to rethink the way that need... Cultural organizations across the country Garrett said these longer-term changes she 's to... Them can definitely sell out, and more fun: Zones and ticket types planner that puts everything one. 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