American Shakespeare Center's Blackfriars Playhouse

We went to watch A Christmas Carol when we visited Staunton and it was so much fun! The cast did pre-show Christmas performances and then also more Christmas performances during the intermission. I enjoyed this play. We were a bit late buying tickets online so we're seated on the side but our spot was still fine. But I do recommend buying tickets way in advance if you want the best seating.

Saw 12th night with the understudy playing the main role of Olivia/Cesareo *Lydia Sophia Christensen*. She absolutely killed it. I was privileged enough to sit on the stage and I could see the tears rolling down her cheeks as she absolutely crushed Shakespeare's vision and delivered her lines with passion. Girl has so much talent, and this comes from someone who has never heard the name or seen the face, but looks forward to her next performance. What an absolute delight. The drunken uncles of the court had me in stitches. I will 100% be back with more friends. What an absolute delight. And that's not to speak less of the rest of the cast. They had me captivated, laughing, tearing up. Please, if you get the chance, check out any of their plays. You won't be disappointed in the least.

"The Hound of the Baskervilles," ( spring season 2026) -- OMG! All four of us LOVED it! We laughed out loud throughout, as did the nearly full house around us. Outstanding ensemble cast, terrific direction, and a smile-filled usher experience made for a wonderful evening m. This one is a smidge racy at points, just as Shakespearean comedies are. Don't miss!

We purchased two tickets online the night before the final showing of A Christmas Carol. We received a phone call just a couple hours before showtime and were informed that these were handicapped seats and unless one of us were in a wheelchair then we would not be able to use those seats and we would be given a refund. My wife told the caller that she is in fact handicapped. The caller asked if she was in a wheelchair. My wife said no and the caller told her “well you can’t have those seats- they are wheelchair companion seats.” The Blackfriars website where we purchased the tickets did not specify this detail. When we got back on after being told we couldn’t have these seats there were no more seats available. I’m not sure if a regulatory agency would agree with their position of denying a handicapped person seating in a handicapped area. And if is this is the policy Blackfriars wants to maintain then they should correct the website so this doesn’t happen to someone else. Very disappointing and really poorly handled by the management staff. And by the way I attempted to register a complaint with management leaving 3 messages at their offices but never received a response.

Always a great experience at American Shakespeare. The experience you have (in the round) is awesome. No matter the acting lineup it is always great. So much better than watching a screen. I recommend that you go and at least try it. I was hooked from my first play years ago.

We had the pleasure of seeing their modern interpretation of Romeo & Juliet! It was AMAZING! A little live music from the cast at the beginning of the show and returning from intermission, so fun! The actors are all first rate in delivering a true to form Shakespeare dialogue, while bringing the dress and characters into modern day. Loved it!!!

Another tour-de-force performance by Angela Ianonne as Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol. We have loved each and every show we have seen at the Blackfriars, but this one-woman show was truly amazing. Sadly, just one performance this year, but I hope the ASC brings her back next year so we can see it again and bring friends!

Drove 2 hours for a school field trip to this theater with my daughter to see the Christmas Carol play. I took my 2 year old along (which is very well behaved). At the door as everyone else walked in from the cold I was told that no one under 3 years old could attend. The girl said she would ask if they would make an exception but they still said no. I was told to come back in a couple hours and I could pick my daughter up. WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO KNOW THE AGE RESTRICTIONS AHEAD OF TIME SO I DIDN'T JUST HAVE TO HANG OUT UNTIL THE PLAY WAS OVER.

Certainly much much better than the last performance of the too happy Scrooge in the last years Christmas carol! Oscar wildes performance was beyond excellent! The type casting was certainly spot on! I was very disappointed that the audience didn't give the hard working actors a complete standing ovation! They deserve the highest praise! I think other than the Christmas carol, this was our first non Shakespeare play at ASC! I loved the little personal contemporary colloquial phrases added to the dialogue! The timing was perfect and the enthusiasm was infectious! I know it can be difficult to perform in this theater without a sound system. I found that some of the actors had difficulty projecting their voices at times , especially singing. As it was pointed out at the beginning that a corset does present certain challenges! It was a strong 2.5 hours performance! I must say it was a fabulous Bunbury experience! Smashing! I would recommend if you're older to make sure you get a seat with some backing! I noticed several disgruntled patrons!

Crazy enjoyable, every time I go! The productions and cast are top notch, and the historic theater is amazing!

My family buys tickets to "A Christmas Carol" every year. The actors are incredible, and the performance is always impressive. Other, non-holiday Shakespearean performances are equally impressive. Highly recommend!

We had a BLAST at the ASC! Saw the 2023 presentation of Much Ado About Nothing. The environment was chill and laid back. The performance was GREAT. We'll def be returning!!

Lovely version of Shakespeare's plays. Slightly modern with updated clothes. True to The Bard. Upstairs bar.

Just went to see "A Christmas Carol"! It was fantastic! All of the actors are so talented; acting, singing and dancing! We had so much fun! We have seen a few shows here in the last few years and loved them all. It is worth the 5 hour trip! I really hope they play this show again next Christmas so I can bring my family.

Blackfriars Playhouse is a unrated local gem, they host a lot of free events including Shakespeare birthday party. The building is absolutely stunning inside, it's replica of Shakespeare playhouse in London. No pictures are allowed to be taken and your devices can be taken away. They have a great selection of plays and I'd love to see this place flourish even more with people visiting. It's to great if a place to loose. There is a gift shop as you enter and host to answer any questions you may have.

"An inequitable treatment of an eighty-year-old senior, a stroke survivor suffering from a severe case of neuropathy and recovering from a serious neck surgery" We had the misfortune of dealing with the incomprehensibly rude and callous attitude of two staff members at the ASC. When we arrived there, we discovered that our seats did not have any back rests (balcony row JJ). This information is not easily accessible, nor is it indicated on the seat diagram provided on the ticket booking webpage. Not surprisingly, several other spectators from the same row were as unpleasantly surprised as we were. However, since we had been loyal patrons of the ASC for a long time, we were determined to make things work even though my husband had serious neck surgery a couple of months prior to that theater visit. We asked an usher for cushions, and when my husband got his, he slid back on the floor and leaned against the empty bench behind him, for his neck started hurting several minutes into the performance, about which I notified the usher. We patiently waited until intermission in order not to ruin the other spectators' experience, but after the first act, my husband approached the usher to express his need to move to the upper row, where all seats were vacant and had back support, to mitigate the increasing neck and back pain. I thought that the issue would be resolved easily based on our past favorable experiences with the ASC staff, so I went to the restroom. Upon my return, I saw my husband sitting in a seat in the upper row, so I asked him if permission to do so was granted, and he confirmed it. However, it was not facilitated by the usher, who got confrontational with him. He had to talk to the House Manager on duty, who was on the first floor, and he had to take several flights of stairs to get there, suffering from a severe pain in his neck and imbalance caused by his neuropathy. I was not aware of all this because I was in the restroom, not expecting the usher to send him down because we had informed her about his recent neck surgery and pain several times. By the time we were seated in our new seats, we saw another couple move up, who also got permission to do so. While we were chatting with them, the House manager on duty suddenly stormed into our aisle with an angry expression on her face and gave us an ultimatum in a raised tone of voice either to move down to our original seats or to leave the theater. I was shocked by both this statement and the aggressive manner it was delivered in since several minutes prior to this, my husband did get her permission to move to the upper row of seats. As it transpired later, she expected him to confirm our decision about switching our seats by making it back downstairs within 2 minutes, which would have been an unreasonable expectation and an athletic feat even for a young healthy person, let alone an eighty-year-old senior who has had a neck surgery recently and has several physical infirmities, including but not limited to severe neuropathy, high blood pressure, partial numbness in his limbs due to a stroke, and some other health problems. He simply had trouble getting out of his seat and was slightly delayed by the conversation with the young couple seated next to us. The Tragedy of Errors on the part of the two staff members would have been easily avoided had the House manager on duty politely and calmly asked us for our confirmation instead of embarrassing us in front of other people. To give credit to the new executive director, with whom we requested to meet, she lent a compassionate ear to our explanations and issued a refund for the tickets. However, by the time we met with her, our theater experience was "brutally butchered" just like Julius Caesar on the stage several minutes before, and we decided to leave. It is with deep sadness that we are withdrawing our patronage from the theater, but we hope that the Blackfriars Shakespeare Center will really become an equity theater, not just in word but also in deed (and not just for actors but also for diverse audiences).

Small theater, done in the round. The seating is comfortable, if close; but that is in the style of the period. Also in the style, the play and playhouse are both continuously lit. You can see the actors, they can see you. Good actors (and ASC members are) will feed off the audience, as they would have in Elizabethan England. They will ham up the good bits, and move along quickly if the audience isn't feeling it. I like the approach. The Shakespeare productions are faithful to the original, but not slavishly so. I have been fortunate enough to attend RSC Stratford, and these productions compare favorably. I intend to subscribe to the annual program so as not to miss any.

I love Shakespeare theatrical productions. We have enjoyed season tickets in DC, outdoor performances at the Sylvan Theater, and other productions at excellent venues. The unique & amazing setting of the production I saw tonight of As You Like It at the Blackfriars Playhouse makes it a tremendous experience. I sat in seat C6, third row center, and it was fabulous. They even have stage seating ( two chairs on each side). The actors come and go from the aisles among the audience and, in some cases, interact directly with the folks in seats. This show had a cast of only seven actors playing all the parts, but they were all top-notch performers. I highly recommend this company--it is worth a trip from far away to experience Shakespeare this way.

The small town of Staunton has this amazing cultural gem! Impressive team of Shakespearean actors and actresses. Really enjoyed our time here watching Macbeth. COVID measures includes reduced seating, masks, vaccinated staff, and online ordering of swag. Great experience, highly recommend supporting this theater.

MJ Appallingly rude treatment of theatre patrons seems to be a trend at this theatre!! After reading J M's review of 6/17/24, my husband and I can certainly relate to an almost identical experience. Last Friday we made our first trek from Charlottesville to ASC to attend their production of MacBeth. As Shakespeare enthusiasts, we had read about the theatre and the architectural likeness to the Globe so we were eager to fully enjoy the event. My husband had purchased our $80 tickets in balcony row OO online. Upon arrival we were directed to the balcony where we were met with a self-important usher who escorted us to our seats. Although surprised to see that our seats were nothing more than a backless wooden bench topped with one long cushion (to obviously accommodate more patrons next to us), she (usher) made a point of pulling back the cushion to point out hidden printed seat numbers. I found this rather silly but my mood was light, so I thought nothing more of it. After the performance started we realized that the railing in front of us directly cut our viewing range. We either pulled ourselves forward to try to see over it or leaned back to try to see under it - most uncomfortable. We noticed the same behavior in the couple seated next to us, regardless of personal height.....back and forth, squirming to try to view stage/actors. We continued this ridiculousness until intermission and since we noted that the balcony was all but empty, we decided to move to an area of empty balcony seats, further from the stage but with a higher and direct view of the production below. After intermission, in our new seats, with play in progress, we were soon accosted by the same female usher who had seated us asking our name and if these were our original seats!! She should have known the answer since she seated us!! I told her that the railing impeded our view but she said we had to move back to our old seats. I told her that moving back to where we couldn't view the performance seemed absurd since the balcony was all but empty. She continued to be confrontational and completely embarrassed us in front of all who were now taking notice. She said it was necessary for us to leave the play and go ASK PERMISSION of the House Manager to move our seats. I asked if we were to pay more for different empty seats even though we couldn't see, and she indicated no price difference, but that we MUST GET PERMISSION!! Disgusted and embarrassed, we then moved to empty seats on the side high enough for viewing. She huffed off and the next thing we know we are accosted by someone else - evidently the House Manager. By this time, the humiliation was too much, so I told her that we would simply leave, no longer to be chastised. As we left she followed after saying we didn't need to leave but we HAD to register new seats in our name IN CASE THEY NEEDED TO CALL AN AMBULANCE FOR A PATRON!!!! I have never heard such absurdity nor been met with such a lack of dignity. If either of these employees had any class, they would have quietly taken myself or my husband into the lobby for such a discussion. We are native Chicagoans and have attended many productions at venues like the Chicago Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, Chicago Symphony and if a better seat available after intermission, with no one in obvious attendance, there was never any issue with such a move, nor were we ever treated with such lack of class. And although some of the actors were stellar, we would like to see Shakespeare performed in period costume rather than army fatigues. I plan to address our experience with the Executive Director in the hope of some recompense.

We took our kids to Much Ado about Nothing, and had a fantastic time. You can tell the actors are amazing when the kids are giggling throughout, despite maybe being challenged following the dialog. It's a testament to the production/actors when small kids can sort of follow along Shakespeare. I'm also just thoroughly impressed by the range of the actors, from comedic to dramatic, to playing musical instruments and singing.

These guys are seriously good. I've been five times in three years and have seen five five-star performances. Don't expect a lot of New York style glitz and flare. Do expect to be entertained Black Friars is the cornerstone to any trip to Staunton.

Fantastic Shakespeare, in the middle of nowhere! This troupe brings a tom of fun and enthusiasm to their work, including singing songs before the play begins and during intermission. It is a special experience to see Shakespeare performed in a Shakespearean-style theatre, including the opportunity to sit on the stage and participate, a bit. Our seats were in the main section and the view was perfect. We came for two shows on Saturday, Loves Labours Lost in the afternoon and Henry the VI part 3 in the evening; both were marvelous. We have since returned for Richard the II, As You Like It and Richard the III.

If you are looking for traditional Shakespeare, unfortunately this is NOT your place. The theater space is quite charming. The theater is a replica of the Globe so disregard the reviews about the view/seats; this is as close as you'll ever get to Shakespeare outside London. I am a philanthropist of the arts and it kills me to write this, but several of the past performances have just been terrible. I wish someone prior had written a truthful review. There are a few really good actors who clearly outshine the rest. I feel for them because they deserve a decent production. Save your $ or go to another show somewhere else. Very sad because I have some great memories here. The tip of the iceberg was their production of Hamlet where Hamlet was played by a girl and Ophelia was a man. It was ridiculous, however they didn't intend it to be. Also, script and plot were so far off that it wasn't even the essence of Shakespeare anymore. They were taking "selfies" throughout the play. Just bizarre. Half the audience either fell asleep or walked out at intermission. Hopefully things will improve for the better with the new artistic director (announced 2/20/24). I will update my review if I ever go back, but it will take a lot to get me back there.

Let me preface this review by saying Shakespeare is my hero and mentor. I love the Bard! As a former English teacher, I taught Shakespeare to high school students and it was the highlight of my teaching career. I've even published 2 books of sonnets, inspired by this great playwright and poet. I've read every play, every sonnet and every story that Shakespeare has written. I've also read dozens of books on Will's life and wrote my term papers on him... yes, I'd even admit to a touch of Bardolatry. That being said, it pains me to compose a "not so stellar" opinion of a performance of one of his plays. On a previous trip to Staunton, I found this theater and I was thrilled. We went inside and took pictures by the gorgeous tapestries. The staff gave us a mini tour, the building was awesome! There wasn't a show playing during our "pop in visit", but I vowed to come back and see a play! Flash forward... the day has arrived! We drove to Staunton and had an early tea service at Anne Hathaway's Cottage to put us in the mood for the show! Parking was a breeze in the nearby parking deck! We parked on level 2B which I thought was a good sign! (Or not 2B!) Excitement tingled through our souls as we handed our tickets to the page and were shown to our seats! The theater was amazing... gorgeous floor to ceiling wood, brilliant chandeliers... a beautiful replica of Shakespeare's original theater with wonderful attention to detail. We sat in the balcony and were provided seat cushions for our benches. It was a nice touch offering refreshments before the show and during intermission. The musical interludes were jaunty and entertaining. The play, "As You Like It", was about to begin. Now this is where you might interject: "The lady doth protest too much methinks." As a lover of classic Shakespeare, I was taken aback when the troupe emerged wearing 1930ish "mobster" costumes. My brain immediately went to the "The Sting" where Edith Head won an Academy Award for Best Costuming for her work on the 1973 film! And while I loved the costumes in the film, I felt they were out of place and distracting in this play. Similarly, if Edith Head were to have dressed Robert Redford and Paul Newman in Elizabethan garb, I would have been equally dismayed. I know the program gives an explanation of their choice to use "contemporary" costumes, and they strive to use staging conditions to "create modern, engaging, interactive, and magical theater - " but, IMO, I felt it was a travesty. Frankly, during much of the play, I just watched the audience and focused on the language. The roles were confusing and several people sitting around us were "lost" not knowing who was who. Shakespeare was an artist of weaving words and staging plays! He was the master. It's not necessary to improve on perfection. You need not add a mustache to da Vinci's Mona Lisa or tweak Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind by having the characters dress in the 1950's. To change or embellish an artist's work to try to keep up with social or political views side tracks from the artist's original creation which should be kept pure, as the artist's envisioned it. I know, as a writer, I would be incensed if someone changed my work. Now, don't get me wrong, I have no qualms with adaptions or inspirations of an artist's works, e.g. West Side Story vs. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet; 10 Things I Hate about You vs. Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew; Clueless vs. Jane Austen's Emma, etc. But if you're going to stick to the original words and language, keep the setting and costumes harmonious as well. "To thine own self, be true" is an appropriate quote from the Bard... stay true to his dream. In conclusion, "As You Like It"? I didn't like it! Shakes-"spare" me!!!

Great plays in a great setting. It is an authentic and unique theatre experience. Shakespeare comes to life here. A gem of the shenendoah valley.

HATED IT SO MUCH!!! DONT waste your money here. Customer service is HORID, over half the seats are completely out of view, there are no backrests, and I would rather get tortured by medieval torture devices than ever come here again. NEVER GO HERE EVER!!!!!!

Worst theater I've ever been to. DONT waste your money here. Customer service is TERRIBLE, performance is bad, over half the seats are completely out of view, there are no backrests, and I would rather claw my eyes out than ever come here again. NEVER GO HERE EVER!!!!!!

As part of a long weekend trip to Virginia, we added in a stop at this recreation of Shakespeare. My husband and I love live theater and we've seen a lot of shows. The troupe that performed Much Ado About Nothing this weekend was excellent! The actors played their parts so well and brought so much life and vigor to the show. The ushers and people at the door were extremely friendly and helpful! Very welcoming! If you love be theater, definitely try to make it to a show here. I bet we'll be coming back again someday when we are in the area. Of note: The seats in the balconies do not have backs. We arrived after other people had taken the cushions (to put behind your back) and my husband and I were left cushionless with no back rest. We had a couple of achy backs from horse riding the day before so it was a bit uncomfortable. If your worried about this, just get a seat on the floor, where all the chairs have backs. The other option is to get there early enough to get a cushion!

We came here last weekend to see The Merry Wives of Windsor. My expectations weren't very high, but I ended up really enjoying it. We arrived early and I'm glad we did. After finding our seats (seat numbers are tucked away under the cushions) the cast came out to perform music. They played a wide variety of styles (folk, rock, etc), had some non-standard instruments (the harmonica was fantastic, which is a thought that rarely occurs to me), and the vocals were great. They played again at intermission. This was definitely one of the highlights for me. We almost came back the following weekend for their fundraiser which was just a night of this music. The theater is a re-creation of Shakespeare's indoor theater (or as close to that as they can get based on surviving theaters of that time period and input from scholars). It's a great space, and fun to see a Shakespeare play on a stage designed with his plays in mind. I'm not a Shakespeare fan. We read through an overview of the play on our drive from Charlottesville which I think was a good decision. The cast did a good job of making it accessible. They had the audience laughing many times (some from the play itself, some from acting/costume/prop choices they had made). Mistress Ford, Mistress Page, and Falstaff were all particularly good. I'm a little sad we didn't make the trip out to one of their shows earlier in our stint in Charlottesville. I'd gladly have come here once or twice a year. This place is definitely worth checking out.

We attended Sun afternoon Matinee performance of TEMPEST. It was an outstanding performance. We continue to be impressed with the musical talents of all the Actors/Performers. The play as well as all of the music entertainment offered was really outstanding. It was our first time back at the Theater since COVID came and we were not disappointed.

Outstanding. Every performance has blown me away. They are the real deal, and the creativity and talent used in this beautiful space is worth the drive, no matter where you are in the state. The people that work there are kind and always really lovely. The theatre itself is an exceptional experience and is utterly magical. Photos don't do it justice. Every seat in the house is a good one. Staunton itself is also a great place to spend an afternoon or weekend trip at; the shopping is pretty typical of Virginia small towns (but there are some standouts), and the small restaurants are quite nice - there's a broad range of food styles and prices. The town has a bit of a rough-around-the-edges feel in some places, but it's quite historic and has some beautiful architecture. I couldn't recommend ASC any higher - they really go out of their way to make you feel welcome, and they provide a theatrical experience that is extremely high quality and attracts top-tier production/creative teams and actors.

Twelfth Night opening tonight was the worst performance I've ever seen in my life, by a lot. Having been to ASC over 20 times pre-Covid and having spent 10 years living in big cities, I have spent a lot of time in theaters. ASC was exceptionally bad in almost every way. Performing to a 2/3rds empty theatre, the ENTITE cast was terribly unlikable. To be a good show, don't we need at least 1 likable person? The character formation was so bad that I still didn't know who was whom by the intermission. ASC has become just a room with 4 walls and no soul. The amount of negative energy from the cast was astounding. In all 20 of my prior visits there was a fun and lively cast that interacted with the audience making sure they were having fun. This time the cast couldn't even muster up a genuine smile to end the show. The beauty of ASC is that they tend to make Shakespeare approachable for the masses. This show was more about gender roles than it was about Shakespeare. But everybody was there for the Shakespeare! To make matters worse, the staff was consistently rude to everyone (I didn't see even 1 hospitable interaction with the exception of the bartender upstairs). One staff member even demanded that an elderly man put his mask over his nose while he was obviously focused on adjusting his hearing aid. I'm embarrassed for recommending ASC to so many people and disappointed that Staunton's main theatre has completely lost its luster. I hate to say it having grown up in Staunton but I wouldn't expect this theatre to last another year. And it doesn't deserve to. It has become a place that stands to serve the actors rather than the community.

First, I have to say it's great that Shakespeare is being performed regularly in the heart of Virginia. It's good to know that great Western literature can still find an audience in a country where European culture is daily denigrated as imperialist and racist. The theater is a very accurate depiction of the famous Globe Theater in England on a smaller scale, and the stage is easily seen from all seats. That's the good part. We went to see the 2023 presentation of Much Ado About Nothing with high hopes, but left underwhelmed. The reason: total wokeness compromised the entire rendition of the performance. I was initially put off by the pride flags in the lobby and the large sign boasting of "Gender Fluid" restrooms, but I wrote it off as just theater people being theater people. However, I found the "gender fluidity" of the actors much harder to ignore while watching the play. First, the role of Don Pedro, a victorious and dynamic Spanish General, was played by a slim lesbian with poor projection and even less stage presence. Not at all believable. The part of Leonato was also played by a woman, with sharpie mustache and goatee, who was more animated, but still obviously female, as was the woman playing the villain Don John. Margaret is played by a male homosexual with a beard, which is equally difficult to get your head around. Anyway, maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but I think it truly demeans the greatness of Shakespeare to have his already classic comedy sacrificed on the alter of wokeness. The play is great as it is, so long as the integrity of the characters remains intact. Taking such artistic license as "gender fluidity" severely compromises this, and guarantees a less than satisfactory performance.

On a recent trip to Staunton, the wife and I decided to take in a mid-day play of "King Lear" at this..the world's only recreation of Shakespeare's own indoor theatre, the Blackfriars Playhouse.  The 300-seat Renaissance-style theatre was the perfect setting as it allowed us to feel as if we were physically on the stage..spoiler alert!!!...several patrons were actually invited up by the cast and seated on both flanks of the stage, crazy right?..yeah..crazy good! The play was fast paced, broken in two only by a brief intermission. The cast was amazing and several of the actors played multiple parts within the play...they even played modern songs with an Elizabethan era twist prior to the play and at the intermission..very cool and unique! My only negative would be the selling of $1 raffle tickets by one of the stage actors prior to the play..the prize..an all actors signed poster of the play..kinda cheapened the overall experience. So if your ever in Staunton and in the mood to partake in a one-of-a-kind Shakespearean play, than this is your ticket!

The show itself is decent. The staff is horribly rude! With a family of five we go to the theater all over the world and enjoy many performances, museums, etc. There are rules to every establishment but none enforced or patrons treated with a lack of respect like in this small town theater. Extremely disappointing! And funny enough that while one of my children suffer with asthma and would slightly move his mask to breathe, I watched two people on the main floor Never put it over their nose. Not one word said. Just beware they single people out. So sad to be so angry while working in a theater.

I went on field trip with my students to Blackfriars Playhouse a few weeks ago to see The Taming of the Shrew. This place is amazing! When I was in high school, I had to build a model of the Globe Theater, so I was super fascinated to see a real-life replica. We arrived a bit late, so the only seats that were available were in the second row of the balcony. My seat wasn't the best, and I was on an uncomfortable corner, but nonetheless, I still really enjoyed the show. The actors were dressed in a mix of classic Shakespearean costumes and some with a more modern spin. The acting was on point! Although most of the students read only an abbreviated version of the play, they were still able to follow along and stayed super engaged throughout the performance. You were able to buy beverages and snacks during the intermission, which was really great for the kiddos. I plan on going back sometime this month to see another play, and I can't wait!

Tonight marks my fourth show here at the Blackfriars but my tenth of the American Shakespeare Center. I have known this company since they were the Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, and I've only watched them get better and better with each production. I always look forward to what they produce and cannot recommend the experience enough. Culture yourself. Get on board with the ASC.

This is an excellent venue and a worthwhile experience anytime of the year! We have been to this location several times over the past 10-years and found Blackfriars Playhouse troupe to be well-rehearsed and genuinely entertaining in each presentation they have put forward. We do prefer to go in the cooler times of year, since there is no air-handling system inside this purpose-built (practical) wooden structure; and in the warmer months, can be very hot inside. They do offer refreshment services at the intermission: including drinks from a service cart the staff push out onto the stage. The surrounding town of Staunton is an older area which is going through a revitalization effort and has some charming little shops along the main street within a few blocks of the playhouse itself.

Don't miss this theater if you like Shakespeare! This was my first time to Blackfriars which replicates what scholars think an Elizabethan theater would have looked like. It's small but comfortable. Lovely attention to detail in the construction. My favorite part was the actors performing to entertain the audience before the plays and at intermission. I also loved that the actors set up a stand on the stage and sell beverages before the performances and at intermission as would have happened in Elizabethan times. There are also seats on stage for brave audience members who may become part of the performance. I made a point to see their performance of "Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson" which was memorable, There is no other theater like the Blackfriars in the US s don't miss it!

We attended a production of Coriolanus. The acting was great for a small theater, and the troupe played entertaining music during the intermission and before the show. The audience lights were left on during the show, apparently because that's what they did in Shakespeare's time, and it didn't take away from it. Seems family friendly - we saw a number of kids in the audience.

I was wary of traveling more than two hours in each direction mid week to see a play, but my brother and his wife had spoken so highly of their experience I decided that it would be good to participate in something that they found so engaging. I was not disappointed. The Blackfriars Playhouse was a treat beyond my wildest expectation. The playhouse is an intimate setting where the audiance is a part of the set. There are no spot lights, no booming soundtracks, and no intricate sets to transport one into a different time and space. The setting unfurals in the imagination of each patron with the help of the cast whose delivery was essential for creating a space filled with laughter, silence, angst, and tears, as the story unfolds. This was by far the most acessable Shakespeare I have ever experienced. A "standing O" doesn't begin to capture the praise earned by the Blackfriars Playhouse performers if "O" stands for only for ovation. If you are in Virginia (or came from another state as we did) don't miss this wonderful opportunity to experience something magical.

We were passing through Staunton and stopped so that my teenage son could see his first Shakespearean Play -- Much Ado About Nothing. The theater is modeled after the original theater in England, with benches around the front, seats for the King and royalty in Juliet's Balcony, and stools for the beautiful Gallants on stage - and it was very authentic and beautiful - the photos barely do it justice. And they do their shows with the lights on because in the days of Shakespeare- the stage was lit by candles and they left them lit during the performances. It makes the show very interactive, So their motto is "We do it with the Lights on " :-) We got there late and only had balcony seats - but its a small enough theater that every seat is a good seat. Before the show began - they had snacks and drinks and a wonderful Entre Act - the performers were singing together and playing many different and unique musical instruments - What an extremely talented group of people. Before the show began they invited the audience up in the balcony ( Cheap seats ) to fill in the empty seats on the stage saved for "The Gallants" - my son was nervous and wanted to stay put so we watched it from above -- It was delightful and we laughed so much - the actors were very talented and made the old english very understandable through their broad playful actions - we came back the next day and saw Richard the III -- and they invited us to sit on stage and we did - it was like being part of the play - we were right in the midst of the sword fighting and the mayhem -- WONDERFUL!! Saturday night BUSY -- be an hour early and be in line to get good seats Sundays quieter- you can buy good seats at the door. closed Monday and Tuesday

This review is to show the love me and all my friends and family have for the place! The plays here we go see every few months are spectacular! No where else is like it. A MUST try place! No price is too much for the amazing place of Staunton!

Wow! An absolutely PHENOMENAL theater experience! GO!!! Shakespeare's indoor theater recreated... the only one of it's kind. Everything about the venue and actors is according to how it was done in Shakespeare's Blackfriar theater. There are Shakespearean theater groups in the US, but NOT LIKE THIS! The venue is small and intimate, with some audience members sitting on stage, with actors interacting with them during the performance. For 30 minutes prior to showtime, there is live music and singing by the actors themselves. The atmosphere is simply PHENOMENAL and fun and I can't find the proper words to describe it, so I'll have to edit this review later. LOL The talent and acting skills blew me away. Fabulous! I can't believe a theater of this caliber exists in Staunton, Virginia. It's an absolute gem. The couple seated next to me last night stated there have been coming for 12 years, from Long Island, New York. Yes, it's that good; worthy of traveling to as a destination on it's own. I can't wait to go back for more. Important to know: this is repertory, so the same actors perform 4 different plays each season. I saw Arms of the Man last night; tonight is Julius Ceasar, and there are others this week. How can the young actors expertly perform different roles in different plays, all in the same week? To top that off, the summer season starts June 12, and they are rehearsing for 4 MORE plays. Amazing talent. Simply amazing. Take that and add the aspects of the Blackfriar theater and this experience is a must for all adults. I grew up in dinner theater and am a Broadway junkie, but this experience is my new favorite. Season ticket, please! :-)

I had a feeling this was going to be a bad night when as soon we walked in, there was a lady shouting out a long list of rules to everyone in the lobby. It felt like grade school. Audience members were allowed to sit on stage, which I found distracting. I bought a reserved seat but had problems finding it because the cushion covered the seat number (and an usher was barely helpful). The play itself, "The Lion in Winter" obviously was the biggest factor in my enjoyment of this establishment, and it was laughably bad. I don't know if they changed a lot of lines from the original, but it felt like "Everyone Loves Raymond" trying to spoof Shakespeare.. The acting was not particularly impressive. Perhaps I felt a little disconnect from the actors when they were asking for donations before the play. We left at intermission. I read about this theatre in the Washington Post that portrayed it as an innovative establishment in a small town. Unfortunately it seemed like a very amateurish place

It's very hard to pinpoint exactly why I am giving the Blackfriars five stars. I've been coming here for four years, both as a chaperon for high school trips and as a patron on various occasions. The quality of the performances is astounding and you can tell that everyone involved in the production is truly passionate about their craft. The playhouse itself is beautiful and a sight to behold. Performances are done with the lights on (as in Shakespeare's time), but don't think of it as old-fashioned. Before the show and during the interludes the actors sing modern songs on stage that connect well to the play. Think "Only the Good Die Young" for Romeo and Juliet, or "I've got You Babe" for the Importance of Being Earnest (yes! Blackfriars does do more than Shakespeare!). If you are driving through Staunton or looking for a fantastic weekend trip, this is the place to come!

We attended a performance on Antony And Cleopatra. The actors and performances were excellent, the environment quite beautiful. Avoid row H, despite the cushions this row has a wooden back which is extremely uncomfortable to endure for ~2 hours, but even with that, it was a wonderful event.

The play house is an incredible and unique setting. Very intimate experience for the audience. If you care to dare there is seating on the actual stage. The players draw the crowd into the piece through out the production making it even more memorable. The players are phenomenally top notch. If you have the chance check out their traveling troop as well. Shakespeare doesn't turn you on? Give these guys a shot and they will make believers out of you. Downtown Staunton offers many dining opportunities with in walking distance of the playhouse. There is even a coffee house with a beer garden next door to the theater. Snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine are available at the playhouse.

Previously living in this town has spoiled me so much... I could go to Blackfriar's anytime I wanted to and see a wonderful, unique Shakespeare rendition. Now, I'm in Boston, and I feel it's terribly difficult to find the same cultural foundation. I've seen Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, Taming of the Shrew, Midsummer Night's Dream, and Romeo and Juliet. I've also seen A Christmas Carol and The Santaland Diaries around the holidays. Every performance has been amazing, even more so on the times I was able to sit on the Gallants' Stools. The actors always engage and improvise with the audience, and the theater is absolutely beautiful. I recommend anyone to go here at least once, regardless of how far of a trek it might be.

An intimate, small theater an ideal venue for a play; great acoustics. We saw Othello and The cast are amazing. Othello is played by a female and I would prefer a male only because Othello is a male, although she did a great job. The negatives that will keep me away in the future is the wearing of masks throughout the entirety of the play, 2 1/2 hours. At the start, the entire cast, on stage, warns the audience to wear the masks properly or they would stop the production and if necessary kick people out. I'm sorry, but masks suck and I have a hard time breathing and it was warm to boot. Yet, the cast is maskless throughout the show. I took a photo of my Wife during intermission posing in front of the stage and the Usher immediately ordered her to put her mask on, really, for a photograph?? We paid a lot of money and we were under the gun of the mask Gestapo Police, ridiculous. I say we DEFUND the Ushers, lol. I'm so done with COVID.

Excellent surprise! What a delight Richard III was last night in the gorgeous theatre which reproduces a Shakespearean theatre in style and atmosphere. The acting is superb with Greg Brostrom's magnetic physical and facial expressions defining Richard. John Harrell deftly portrays multiple characters including a truly convincing Duchess. Jessika Williams gives a striking and memorable performance as Margaret among other appearances. The incredible versatility of the entire troupe is demonstrated repeatedly as they switch roles, engage in a magnificently choreographed sword fight, and perform musical numbers before and mid-show. The depth of talent as musicians is magnificent as they alternate playing a variety of instruments and harmonize vocals.

The American Shakespeare Center only place in the country I want to see Shakespeare performed at. You will understand it and you will love it. The theater is the most beautiful space I've ever seen. The quality of the costumes is incredible and the performances are unimaginably great. Virginia is so lucky to have this treasure.

Have seen three great plays here (Measure for Measure, Titus, and The Rehearsal). Extremely talented cast with years of acting experience that also sings and plays for the audience before and during each show. James Keegan and John Harrell anchor many performances along wtih Christopher Seiler, Sarah Fallon and Rene Thorton Jr. The web site says it all: Situated in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley in historic Staunton, Virginia, the 300-seat Blackfriars Playhouse -- the world's only re-creation of Shakespeare's original indoor theatre -- opened its doors in September 2001 and has already delighted tens of thousands of enthusiastic audience members from around the world.

We've lived in the area a while, but the ticket price held us non-avid-theater-goers at bay. But, we finally decided to check out Staunton and include this in the day tour. We decided not to buy tickets online because this isn't really peak season, so they would have tickets for sale still when we arrived in town. Then, we go to the playhouse, and we learn it is pay what you will night. Pretty great deal, and we assume it was because it was opening night. The doors opened about a half-hour before the play started, and there were drinks and snacks for sale. Without a ticket, we were allowed to sit wherever we wanted as long as it wasn't marked reserved. We decided to go up to the balcony area. The playhouse is styled after the Globe, so it's a fun atmosphere. The only drawback was light hung down into our view a little bit, and on the sides you could see as well. Because of that, we moved to the middle to have a better view. I'm guessing on the bottom some areas would have obstructed views just because of the layout and poles int he building. The play was great, even for their opening night. They did a great job conveying the story, even if you didn't know all that was said during the Shakespearian play. They performed for a few hours, had a short intermission and continued until the end. We parked around the corner in the parking garage, which was only a $1 for the time we were there. You could show up earlier and check out Staunton and eat before the show, which is what we did. I don't need to go all the time, but I am glad I went. It's something fun and different to do in the evening.

On a recent visit from NYC I decided to check out the Blackfriars theatre production of Two Gentlemen from Verona. The theatre is really beautiful and the acoustics are amazing. It is an intimate house, so it would be hard to get a bad seat. I loved how they kept the lights on during the play and that the actors and audience interacted in the story. They also sold provisions that you could enjoy while watching the show. Much like the way opera audiences experienced opera in its inception; I assume that, in Shakespeare's day, this is how it was done. If you are an uptight theatre go-er and think that Shakespeare should be recited in a museum-like fashion, this is probably not for you. You could tell that the actors were well seasoned in their craft and, from that vantage point, were able to incorporate more modern elements into their interpretation. I recently saw a production of the Elixir of Love at the MET where the world renowned tenor Juan Diego Florez worked some break dancing moves into his drunken dance and, trust me, his singing was exquisite! Ultimately, many forms of performance were not originally experienced in the manner, for better or for worse, that we have come to believe they should be experienced in our own day. So, all in all, it was an enjoyable night out with an interesting take on a timeless story.

I love this theater. It is truly beautiful and unique. I wish I could have come here when I had to read Shakespeare for the first time in school. It's the coolest experience to be sitting in a replica of a Renaissance-era theater and watching a play. It really brought the art to life for me. The actors were great, and I loved all the interactive elements incorporated into the play. I hope I get another chance to come back and see more performances.