Revive the thrill of the Renaissance stage and recover the joy of language at the American Shakespeare Center's Blackfriars Playhouse, the world's only re-creation of Shakespeare's original indoor theatre. Study two plays and attend two full performances. Engage in wordplay and swordplay, learn about staging and make-believe, and go behind the scenes with actors and scholars. Delve deeper into the Bard's life and work to examine enduring themes of love, hate, jealousy and madness in his classic plots of misadventure, treachery, secret trysts, satire, comedy and tragedy. Enrich your understanding of the original meanings of words and phrases that are now part of everyday vocabulary as you discover the delights of "speaking Shakespeare."

Performance of two plays at the American Shakespeare Center. Plays and casts subject to change by ASC. Walking up to two miles per day, several blocks at a time, from hotel to classes, activities and restaurants. Hilly terrain with some short but steep inclines. Not all locations are handicapped-accessible.

Date Specific Information

Evening performances scheduled at the Blackfriars Playhouse are "Taming of the Shrew" on Wednesday and "Othello" on Thursday. The American Shakespeare Center reserves the right to change scheduled performances; this rarely occurs, but if it does, we will notify you as soon as possible.

Program in association with Virginia Commonwealth University, providing quality programs since 1979.

Staunton

Tucked in the heart of the Shenandoah, Staunton is blessed with natural beauty, a rich cultural heritage and 270 years of history. Five National Historic Districts display outstanding architecture, while the American Shakespeare Center and its re-creation of Shakespeare's original Blackfriars Playhouse showcase the best of the Bard.