Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Oregon Shakespeare Festival celebrates its 75th year in 2010. The organization traces its roots back to the Chautauqua movement and has the oldest existing Elizabethan stage in the Western hemisphere, built on the site of the 1893 Chautauqua dome. The Tony Award-winning OSF is among the largest professional theatres in the country, presenting 11 plays in three unique theaters for eight months. Total attendance reaches between 360,000 and 400,000 annually.

Visitors to OSF have the opportunity to attend noon lectures, talks, concerts and pre- and post-show discussions, all designed to enhance the playgoing experience. In attending an OSF play, audiences participate in a 75-year history of community collaboration. OSF’s founder was an instructor at what is now Southern Oregon University, and the close ties have been important to the development of both organizations and the economic growth of the larger community. OSF has also been instrumental in drawing artists and scholars to Ashland, many of whom have begun businesses and other arts and educational organizations.

• Held annually from February to November
• ADA accessible
• Guided tours available
• Interpretive signage
• Fee required
• Located on both public and private land