Ashland lies in the southern part of Oregon and has been ranked in the top of “The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America”. Besides the famous theater scene, the area offers winter skiing at Mt. Ashland, a plethora of restaurants to meet all tastes and budgets, and hiking or biking in the nearby mountains. This town of 21,000 boasts a lively small-town feel with a splash of eclectic fun.
While the distance is far, 329 miles to be exact, the drive to Ashland, Oregon from the Tri-Cities is worth the effort and expense for those seeking the cultural enjoyment of quality drama. Ashland is home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OFS). The name “Festival” implies the event is short, and it once was. When the event was founded in 1935, it was a three-day festival with the presentation of only two plays. The regional theatre (three playhouses) has grown to offering audiences up to 11 various plays through the months of April to December. Viewers can indulge in Shakespeare’s works (some untraditional) and in an array of contemporary plays.
There are only three months left to enjoy the 2023 line-up of plays. Several performances will be ending in mid-October. OSF play-goers can see Romeo and Juliet in the Angus Bowmer Theatre. This performance is a contemporary version that looks at the themes in the classic through a lens of today. It is directed by Nataki Garrett. If you enjoy musicals, the play Rent will be performed daily until October 14th. The Twelfth Night is also on stage in the Allen Elizabethan Theatre. Where We Belong, a solo piece, will be on stage in the Thomas Theatre. If October doesn’t offer time to travel, It’s Christmas, Carol! will be performed during November and December.
Recently, the list of performances for the 2024 season has been revealed. A favorite of many, tickets for Macbeth will be available within the next month. The performances will run between mid-March and mid-September. During the same time performances of Born with Teeth and Shakespeare and the Alchemy of Gender, Smote This, and A Comedy About God…and Other Serious $H*T will be performed. During late spring and summer, audiences can enjoy Virgins to Villains, Lizard Boy (and indie-rock musical), Much Ado About Nothing, and Jane Eyre.
Because the drive is long, and you should plan to take in more than one play, reservations at an Ashland hotel is necessary. Tripadvisor ranks the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites as a top choice. The Bard’s Inn, a BW Signature Collection, is also on the list of highly recommended hotels. For the older, classic flavor that may get you in the spirit of enjoying Shakespeare’s works, you may prefer the historic Ashland Springs Hotel, built in 1925.
Tri-Citians are fortunate to have Ashland and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as a cultural destination within reach. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, by phone at 800.219.8161, or by order at osfashland.org. Enjoy the scenic drive through the Columbia River Gorge on your way to an PNW adventure in Ashland!
