This fall at the American Shakespeare Center, our stories stretched far beyond the stage. While Romeo & Juliet, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and The Pirate Ballad of Bonny & Read filled the Blackfriars Playhouse, the ASC family was across Staunton building something equally powerful: community.
Here’s how your support helped the ASC connect with our neighbors, lift up local partners, and carry shared light into new spaces this season.
Walking Out of the Darkness Together
On November 8, ASC staff, volunteer ushers, and Board members gathered at Gypsy Hill Park for the Greater Shenandoah Valley/Charlottesville Out of the Darkness Walk. Nearly four hundred participants came together, each carrying love, remembrance, and hope.
The Walk held special meaning for the ASC this year. Sharing Romeo & Juliet with our audiences means engaging with a story that encompasses both profound grief and youthful love. Showing up at the Walk allowed us to meet that story with care for the people in our community who have lived experiences of loss.
The ASC participated as a Prevention Sponsor and also formed a fundraising team. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the ASC team raised $850, exceeding our initial goal. As of December 1, the Walk has raised $63,158 toward its $70,000 regional goal.
If you would like to help the region close the final gap, you can give through the ASC team page.
Showing up together reminded us of something essential. The same people who gather under our chandeliers gather beside us in the park, offering support, encouragement, and presence.
Crab, Canines, and Community Care
Our fall production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona featured the unforgettable role of Crab the dog. This season, Crab was played by a rotating group of adoptable shelter pups from our partners at Friends of the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Animal Shelter and the Augusta Regional SPCA. And Staunton showed up for them.
Angel, Shine (now Russell), Diana, Luigi, Fry, and several others were adopted after audiences cheered for them onstage. Some adoptions came directly from patrons who saw a pup at the Playhouse and reached out to the shelter that same week.
Our audience members also brought supplies for the animals. Bags of dog and cat food, treats, toys, and other essentials were collected at the Playhouse and delivered to the new location of the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Animal Shelter and the Augusta Regional SPCA. The shelter team expressed deep appreciation for the generosity.
In a season themed around first loves and fierce friendships, some of the strongest bonds happened between our patrons and the very good dogs making their debut on the ASC stage.
Project Goodfellow is happening from December 4–7! The ASC is excited to gather stocking stuffers for preschool children through our wonderful partnership with Augusta County Preschools. Let’s work together to bring joy to local kids and spread the warm spirit of giving during this festive season.
Showing Up for Staunton Pride
In October, the ASC joined the celebration at Staunton Pride 2025 in Gypsy Hill Park. Surrounded by music, art, and families of every kind, our team welcomed visitors with warmth and enthusiasm.
Representing the ASC at the table were:
Maggie Lengerich, Acting Fellow
Kara Hankard, Group Sales Coordinator
Cori McDaniel, Database Manager
Stephanie Cabacoy, Director of Marketing and Development
Aubrey Whitlock, Director of Education (not pictured)
Throughout the day, they spoke with longtime patrons, introduced newcomers to the Playhouse, handed out stickers, and shared stories about upcoming shows and programs.
Pride affirmed a core truth at the ASC. Everyone deserves a place in the story. Everyone deserves to feel welcomed, seen, and celebrated under shared light. The joy in the park that day felt like an extension of what we hope audiences feel the moment they step into the Blackfriars Playhouse.
Community at the Center
Theatre does not end when the final bow is taken. It lives in the conversations after the show, in the parks where our community gathers, and in every moment when people choose connection.
Thank you to everyone who walked with us, donated supplies, adopted a pup, visited our table, and carried this season’s spirit of community throughout the Shenandoah Valley. You helped make this fall shine both inside the Blackfriars Playhouse and throughout Staunton.
Your presence, your kindness, and your belief in what the ASC stands for made you the heart of this season’s story. If you’d like to see the full picture of what you made possible, explore our 2024–2025 Donor Impact Report.