Fall brings new loves, fierce friendships, and flags aloft at the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, VA. Our repertory turns from sizzling summer to a season where loyalty is tested, love is risky, and rebellion rules. Step into the shared light for Romeo & Juliet, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and the world premiere of The Pirate Ballad of Bonny & Read.
Want a sneak peek?
Watch the Season Trailer and step into a world of first loves, fierce friends, and fearless rebellion.
Whether you’re coming with friends, bringing the family, or sneaking in a treat-yourself night, your fall story begins at the Playhouse.
Your first step into the shared light: Pick up your Fall 2025 Calendar at the Blackfriars Playhouse or the Staunton Visitor Center, or visit our Calendar to browse dates with live links to each show and plan a season of love, laughter, and discovery.
Visit Our Calendar to Explore the Fall Season
WHAT’S ON STAGE THIS FALL
ROMEO & JULIET
By William Shakespeare.
Directed by K.P. Powell.
Shakespeare’s most iconic love story comes of age in the early 2000s. When Romeo crashes a party and sees Juliet across the room, everything else disappears. One glance. One touch. And suddenly nothing matters more than holding on to that feeling. Urgent, tender, and impossible to ignore, this production unfolds in shared light—close enough to feel every heartbeat.
- Performance Run: August 29 – November 15
- Pay-What-You-Will Preview: Thursday, August 28 at 7:30 PM
- Opening Night: Friday, August 29 at 7:30 PM
(Outfit by HEARD, Modeled by Olivia Pyanoe. Photo by Kvvian Durrett)
Fun fact: the Blackfriars Playhouse opened in 2001 — the same year groups of students walked through the doors in butterfly clips and JNCO jeans to see Shakespeare performed live in shared light for the very first time.
To celebrate that spirit, we’re inviting audiences of every age to dress the part. Pull out your best Y2K look, or stop by our Staunton neighbors at HEARD (@heardthestore @heardandfriends), the vintage shop keeping sustainable style iconic, to find the perfect throwback fit for Preview and Opening Night.
We’ll be filming our Audience Reaction Video on Preview Night — and we’ll be looking for standout Y2K looks and first impressions to feature. This is your chance to be part of the story we’ll be telling all fall.
THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
By William Shakespeare.
Directed by Aidan O’Reilly.
Friendship meets folly in this early Shakespearean comedy of disguise, devotion, and dramatic betrayals. Expect disguises, confusion, and a whole lot of heart in this story of young love tested by loyalty.
And this fall, the scene-stealer just might be four-legged. Each performance features a live dog on stage—yes, an adoptable pup—thanks to Friends of Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Animal Shelter.
Click the link to meet the four-legged cast members (and other pups ready for their next role: family). Cats are in the wings too… even if Shakespeare forgot to write them in.
- Performance Run: September 11 – November 15
- Pay-What-You-Will Preview: Thursday, September 11 at 7:30 PM
- Opening Night: Friday, September 12 at 7:30 PM
((Actor GEOFFREY WARREN BARNES II AS LAUNCE and Maple Patterson (a Staffordshire-Terrier/Bulldog Mix, a former resuce dog adopted in 2021 from the Humane Society in Savannah, Georgia) as Crab in ASC’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona, 2025.
Photo by Madison Patterson.)
Community Giving: Through Project Goodfellow 2025 (founded by the ASC’s Constance Swain), we’re collecting pet-supply donations for the Augusta Regional SPCA and the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Animal Shelter (formerly Shenandoah Valley Animal Shelter). Bring items to the Blackfriars Playhouse Sept 4–21 during box office hours or at the start of any performance. Give what you can so shelters get what they need: kibble, towels, and safe gear.
THE PIRATE BALLAD OF BONNY & READ
A World Premiere! Written by the creators of the 50/50 Shakespeare Project: Vanessa Morosco & Peter Simon Hilton. Based on an idea by Peter Simon Hilton and Aidan O’Reilly, with Spanish translation by Sara Linares.
Directed by Allie Babich.
Raise the colors! This fall, the Playhouse hosts its first-ever pirate musical—a bedtime story for grown-ups, sung with swagger, swordplay, and Spanish flair. Join real-life legends Anne Bonny and Mary Read as they fight, flirt, and sail their way into history.
- Performance Run: October 16 – November 16
- Pay-What-You-Will Preview: Thursday, October 16 at 7:30 PM
- Opening Night: Friday, October 17 at 7:30 PM
Looking for a night out in Staunton, VA?
Halloween Night at the Blackfriars Playhouse
Skip trick-or-treating and join us on October 31 for a special performance of The Pirate Ballad of Bonny & Read. The night will be packed with daring exploits, bold outlaws, and high-seas legends. Perfect for ages 7 and up who love pirates, theatre, and Halloween fun. Put on your finest pirate shirt and gather your crew for an unforgettable night. Dressing up is optional but always encouraged.
Bard & Bites
A show-worthy spread from North Ridge Café, available before select Sunday matinees. Pre-order required ($17).
- August 31 – Romeo & Juliet
- September 14 – The Two Gentlemen of Verona
- October 5 – The Two Gentlemen of Verona
- October 26 – The Two Gentlemen of Verona
- October 31 – The Pirate Ball of Bonny & Read| Halloween Night
- November 2 –The Pirate Ball of Bonny & Read
- November 9 – Romeo & Juliet
Savor a Charcuterie box filled with salted cured meats from Endless View Farms in Crimora, VA (contains pork, beef, lamb), local cheeses and dried fruits from The Cheese Place in Dayton, VA including their aged cheddar (contains dairy), dates, figs and mango. This shareable delight also includes Kalamata olives, French macarons (contains egg, dairy, tree nuts, wheat) and house-made French baguettes (contains wheat) from North Ridge Café.
Shakespeare Uncorked
Elevate your theatre experience with Shakespeare Uncorked, a pre-show wine and beer-tasting event at the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse. In partnership with Virginia’s top wineries and breweries, we bring you a premium tasting experience before select performances at the world-renowned Blackfriars Playhouse.
These tastings sell out quickly—reserve your spot today!
- Saturday, October 4, 2025 – 6:30 PM – Ciders from Mars – Pair it with Romeo and Juliet
- Saturday, November 8, 2025 – 6:30 PM – Blue Mountain Brewery – Pair it with The Pirate Ballad of Bonny & Read
Lights ON Blackfriars
Lights ON Blackfriars offers live discussions with expert panels, immersive workshops, and behind-the-scenes insights into Shakespeare and theatre.
Select Fridays | 5-6 PM | Blackfriars Playhouse
Join Shakespeare scholars, theatre industry experts, and the artists who bring ASC’s productions to life for in-depth discussions before performances. These events provide deeper context on productions, performance techniques, and literary themes, making them perfect for theatre lovers, educators, and curious minds.
September 5 – A conversation with Costume Designer Elizabeth Wislar
October 3 – Pirates and Bandits and Drug Dealers: O, Dear! with Dr. Ralph Alan Cohen on Romeo & Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona
October 10 – Gentlemen-like Dogs: Directing Two Gentlemen of Verona with Aidan O’Reilly. A history of the story that inspired Two Gents, its staging across centuries, and how it became one of Shakespeare’s most controversial plays.
October 24 – A conversation with Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper Professor of Shakespeare Studies, King’s College London, and Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library. Special thanks to Mary Baldwin University for making this Lights ON Blackfriars possible.
- November 7 – A “Pirate Panel” featuring Peter Simon Hilton, Sara Linares, and Chris Seiler – Come hear all about the writing, Spanish translation, and music for this world premiere musical featuring the artists who made it happen!
Whether you’re looking for a thought-provoking night out, a pre-show deep dive, or an engaging cultural event in Staunton, Lights ON Blackfriars brings you behind the scenes and into the story.
Queen City Mischief & Magic (QCMM)
September 27–28, 2025 | Free Event
At QCMM Festival, the ASC’s Education Team conjures hands-on fun for wizards of all ages:
Wizarding Duel Workshops – Practice classic spells like Expelliarmus and Protego
Yule Ball Dance Sessions – Hogwarts-inspired dances set to modern Muggle music
Join a Theatre Club and Make New Connections
Looking for a way to meet people, share ideas, and dive deeper into Shakespeare? The ASC’s clubs bring theatre lovers together in Staunton for conversation, creativity, and community. From book clubs and student groups to hands-on workshops, you’ll find a place to connect, learn, and belong.
ASC Drama Club Junior (ages 8–13)
Build confidence and expand creativity with the ultimate team sport: theatre. The ASC Drama Club’s 13-week class will explore Shakespeare’s language and stagecraft through play, culminating in a final performance of an original, abridged Shakespeare play at the Blackfriars Playhouse on Sunday, December 7.
ASC Drama Club Senior (ages 14–18)
Develop a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s language and stagecraft through performance. Participants will work on a variety of pieces throughout the 13-week class, culminating in a final performance of scenes at the Blackfriars Playhouse on Sunday, December 7.
NO KIDDING DRAMA CLUB (Adults 18+)
Why let the kids have all the fun? The No Kidding Drama Club is American Shakespeare Centers Drama Club designed to let adults get in on the fun too! It will rehearse on four consecutive Saturdays, and the program will conclude with a Sunday staged reading at the Blackfriars Playhouse. Classes are “low stakes, high fun” with the primary aim of building a community around enthusiasm for all things theatrical. Included in the cost of the No Kidding Drama Club is a ticket for each participant to join the group on a field trip to the Blackfriars Playhouse. All skill levels are welcome.
No Kidding Shakespeare Book Club (Adults 18+)
Free at Staunton Public Library, 2nd & 4th Saturdays. Read, listen, and discuss Shakespeare, his contemporaries, and Renaissance nonfiction.
YOUR SEAT IS WAITING
Love, laughter, pirates, and more—the Blackfriars Playhouse is alive with adventure this fall. Watch the trailer, download your calendar, and join us for a season you’ll never forget.
Planning a Group Outing?
Groups of 10 or more—book clubs, girls’ night out, summer camps, or social groups
Contact groupsales@americanshakespearecenter.com for personalized support and discounted group rates.