Summer tiiiiime…and the livin’ is easy, so it’s time for me to visit Ashland, Oregon’s infamous Shakespeare Festival. I know, give credit to George Gershwin, since I have taken a bit of liberty with his classic song. For me, nothing is better than finally being warm in the hot summer sun and my love of theater and being able to combine the two together. I will be able to do that soon when I make my annual pilgrimage to OSF in Ashland. There is truly nothing that compares with being in Ashland and viewing a play at the outdoor Elizabethan stage. The stage is based on Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. Theater under the stars, I tell you it’s very special.
The Tony Award winning OSF is celebrating its 75th anniversary season so besides the superb offering of Shakespeare and contemporary productions for everyone, this season is dedicated to their audience, and there are many extra goodies in store to mark this year’s celebration.
I am going to make the most of my one week at Ashland by attending the following stage productions:
- Pride and Prejudice
- Twelfth Night
- Henry IV, Part One
- She Loves Me
- American Night
- Hamlet
- Ruined
The 2010 Season at OSF runs until Oct 31 for many of the plays.
Besides the OSF, Ashland has much to offer as a summer destination. It’s an arts area with lots to offer all year round. And it’s a pretty, small town of 20,000 surrounded by gorgeous mountains, bubbling creeks and cascading rivers. Summer highs are typically in the 80’s with lows in the 50’s. I know in this area, known as the Ro
gue Valley, the temperature is generally 5 degrees higher than Seattle, but with Seattle’s recent cold spell I am sure the difference is quite a bit more.
There are many places to stay, from romantic cottages and luxurious resorts to even the budget hotels and motels. Ashland also has wonderful parks and open spaces in their historic downtown. Lithia Park stretches from the downtown plaza and is a great place to hike. Of the 93-acres, some of the park is the National Register for historical significance. The park is a great place for a picnic or just to sit and people watch. For this art centered town it’s well supported for visitors with around 100 restaurants featuring well-known and creative chefs so dining well is never a problem.
Driving distance is 450 to 500 miles from Seattle. It’s a nice drive. The last time I visited, we did the drive in a day. Amtrak can get you to Klamath Falls, which is about 70 miles from Ashland. Alaska Airlines flies into Medford which is a bit closer.
More reports coming. Hope to see you soon down in Ashland!
For more info on OSF in Ashland, visit www.osfashland.org.
– Ethel W.
