The live performance of a play has an electrifying quality. Nothing can compare to the moment when the lights go down and the stage is completely black before the action begins. We are abruptly transported to a whole new universe at that precise instant.

At the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, you can participate in this amazing event. The festival has a long and illustrious history, dating back to the turn of the 19th century. Every year, it draws tens of thousands of attendees worldwide to experience transformative theater on three separate stages, including one of the earliest outdoor Elizabethan theaters in the United States. Here's how to make the most of your next vacation to Ashland by taking in some world-class theater, cuisine, and outdoor adventure.

Experience The Magic Of Both Traditional And Cutting-Edge Theater

Although the festival got its name because it used to devote itself only to presenting William Shakespeare's works, the event did not just focus on Bard's works. In addition to presenting classics, contemporary pieces, and musicals, the festival continues to reinterpret Shakespeare for today's audiences.

According to Nataki Garrett, who serves as the festival's creative director, "The 2023 season is all about rethinking, rejuvenating, and reinvigorating." "We are rethinking the trajectory of the theatrical industry. We breathe new life into the art form by focusing on the artists and their work. We are revitalizing the junction of the artist and the audience by enabling the artist to create transformational experiences and offering access for audiences to connect with compelling stories.

The 2023 season will begin in the middle of April and end in the middle of October. Performances will typically occur on Wednesday through Sunday and include evening and matinee shows. By using the festival's digital box office, attendees can pick their seats in advance and purchase tickets. Since all three theaters are located near one another just off Main Street, the festival grounds are quite simple to explore.

Have Dinner And Drinks Before Or After The Concert

The culinary scene in Ashland has a wide variety of excellent alternatives, ranging from meals influenced by the surrounding area to one-of-a-kind drinks flavored with undertones of Indian spices. In his upscale restaurant MS, just ranked as one of the top 50 restaurants in the United States by the New York Times, Chef Josh Dorcak has designed an exclusive seasonal prix-fixe menu of what he refers to as "Cascadian cuisine." Reservations are necessary. In its sister restaurant, Nama, which also offers an izakaya menu with a primary emphasis on fresh fish and shellfish, oysters highlight the happy hour menu.

Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine provides a farm-to-table experience and serves food that is more traditionally considered to be American cuisine. Once you have had their in-house prepared meatloaf, stop by their historic vintage bar that dates back to the 1920s and have a glass of Oregon wine, a creative cocktail, or a local beer. Fresh and regional ingredients may be found on the grilled flatbread pizzas, burgers, and salads offered at Luna Café + Mercantile, in addition to the one-of-a-kind beverages. The menu at Alchemy deliberately mixes crowd-pleasing foods like crispy duck leg confit with Oregon-focused wines and inventive drinks. One example of this pairing is the wine selection.

Blue Toba is a restaurant in the heart of Ashland that specializes in tasty traditional Indonesian cuisine. One of the restaurant's specialties is rendang from West Sumatra, a soft beef curry served with coconut turmeric rice. In the spirit of Indian-American fusion, Masala has Indian-inspired drinks in addition to an extensive menu that includes meals such as the restaurant's namesake masala and biryani and fusion plates such as Punjabi fish and chips.

Strolling Around The Gardens While Shopping For Handmade Items

The town of Ashland is located at a point where beautiful natural landscape meets arts and theater of the highest caliber. Take a stroll around Lithia Park, which spans 100 acres and is within walking distance of the festival grounds, before or after the performance. A rose garden, duck ponds, untamed forests, and groves of sycamores are some of the attractions that can be found in this enchanted forest. The recently inaugurated Ashland Japanese Garden is a serene hideaway that can be found in the middle of Lithia Park and offers free entrance. Before reaching the tranquil sand and stone garden, stroll through the bamboo grove in the middle of the path.

The outdoor Lithia Artisans Market is open on the weekends from March through October, allowing consumers to buy the items of local artists, ranging from body care products to carpentry, straight from the artisans who produced them. Visit the ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum with your family if you have smaller children; there, children can learn about science and nature via various hands-on, interactive activities and exhibits available all year long.