Wonder & wild hearts take center stage this summer at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA. In 2026, we’re celebrating 25 years of stories shared at the Blackfriars Playhouse, and this summer, our stage turns toward a season of forest adventures, hometown memories, and the wonder of finding community in unexpected places.

Step into the shared light for William Shakespeare’s As You Like It and Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. Make a day of it with Shakespeare Saturdays in our anniversary season.

 

Want a sneak peek?

Watch the Summer 2026 Season Trailer and step into a season made for shared light.

Visit the calendar 

What’s On Stage This Spring

As You Like It 2026

Nick Ericksen as Orlando and Summer England as Rosalin in ASC's 2026 As You Like It, Directed by Jose Zayas. Photo by Madison Patterson.

By William Shakespeare
Directed by José Zayas

Escape to the Forest of Arden, where Rosalind takes charge, Orlando carves love into trees, and Shakespeare lets comedy run wild with moments that remind us sometimes you have to lose yourself to find yourself.

Our Town 2026

ASC's Our Town, 2026, featuring Isabel Sanchez

By Thornton Wilder
Directed by K.P. Powell 

Life, love, marriage, loss—and the moments in between. In Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, the people of Grover’s Corners remind us that the smallest details often carry the deepest meaning. A timeless American classic that asks: Do we ever realize life while we live it?

Make It a Shakespeare Saturday in Staunton

Shakespeare Saturdays at the Blackfriars Playhouse transform a trip to the theatre into a full-day experience—featuring backstage tours, artist and scholar conversations, and unforgettable performances, all under shared light in our 25th anniversary of the Playhouse.

Start with a Playhouse Tour at 10 AM, go deeper with Lights ON Blackfriars at 11 AM, stay for the matinee (or make it a double feature), and on select dates, add Shakespeare Uncorked for the perfect evening cap.

Shakespeare Saturdays Experiences

Renaissance Supper 2026

Red graphic with food background for ASC's 2026 Renaissance Supper, hosted by Garry Walton & Sally Walton. Catered by Aaron Gardner of Gardner's Harvest. Includes a ticket to AS YOU LIKE IT.

Step onto the Blackfriars Playhouse stage for an unforgettable evening of food, history, and fellowship during ASC’s Renaissance Supper.

Hosted by longtime ASC supporters Garry and Sally Walton and catered by Aaron Gardner of Gardner’s Harvest, this three-course dining experience pairs Renaissance-inspired cuisine with stories, historical context, and a matinee performance of As You Like It on June 13th or 14th, directed by José Zayas.

🗓️June 13, 2026 7:00 PM

📍Blackfriars Playhouse, Staunton, VA

🎟️RSVP by May 29 to reserve your seat at the table.

 

Sorry, Most Sorry

Poster with a teddy bear peeking from behind a door. Large title text reads: “SORRY, MOST SORRY.” Smaller text below reads: “An adaptation of The Winter’s Tale for young audiences. By Devlin Ford.” This is a family-friendly Shakespeare production at the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, Virginia.

Sorry, Most Sorry invites you to step into a world where a single act of jealousy sets an entire kingdom adrift, and only a brave heart can bring it back home.

This lively, 30-minute adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale follows Perdita and Millie, two sisters with a box of fairy gold and a mission to mend the past. Along the way, they face tricksters, towering forests, and the simple truth that saying “I’m sorry” can be the most magical spell of all.

This special event features a dedicated cast engaged specifically for this production. It is presented outside of our mainstage season, so you can enjoy a unique, one-of-a-kind performance designed with young audiences in mind. This is a free event perfect for ages 3 and up (and for the young at heart, too). Be sure to get your tickets early to reserve your spot and join in the fun.

Written and adapted by Devlin Ford

🗓️June 20, 2026 10:00 PM

📍Blackfriars Playhouse, Staunton, VA

🎟️Free Tickets, Just Reserve Your Seat Online

 

Playhouse Tours

Patrons line up outside the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, Virginia, waiting to attend a live performance at the American Shakespeare Center. Caption reads:Patrons line up outside the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, VA. Photo by October Grace Media.

Step behind the scenes and take a walk through time with a guided playhouse tour of our beloved Blackfriars Playhouse—the first-ever re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre—now celebrating its 25th anniversary.

 

Blackfriars Playhouse Tour Times:

Wed. Thu., Fri – 2:00 PM

Sat. – 10:00 AM

 

Lights ON Blackfriars

Dr. Peter Kirwan and Director Raphael Emmanuel at Lights ON Blackfriars for The Winter's Tale 2025. Photos by Madison Patterson.

Now on Saturdays, the Lights ON Blackfriars series is reinvigorated for the thrill of an inside look at Shakespeare and Theatre making. 

 

Select Saturdays | 11 AM – Noon | 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.

 

Shakespeare Uncorked

Attendees at Shakespeare Uncorked 2023 sit at a long table with small beer samples and snacks, listening to a beer expert discuss Devil’s Backbone brews at the American Shakespeare Center.

Select Saturdays | Pre-show Event 6:30 PM | Blackfriars Playhouse

 

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.

 

Shakespeare Saturdays Event Lineup

The Blackfriars Playhouse Box Office now opens on Saturdays at 10 AM for walk-up tickets, gift shop perusing, and more!

 

Saturday, May 30, 2026 

 

Saturday, June 6, 2026

 

Saturday, June 13, 2026

 

Saturday, June 20, 2026

 

Saturday, June 27, 2026

 

Saturday, July 11, 2026

 

Saturday, July 18, 2026

 

Saturday, July 25, 2026

 

Saturday, August 1, 2026

 

Saturday, August 8, 2026 7:30 PM 

 

PLAN YOUR SUMMER TRIP TO STAUNTON, VA

Make the Blackfriars Playhouse part of your summer visit to Staunton, Virginia.

Located in the heart of historic downtown Staunton, the American Shakespeare Center is an easy anchor for a summer getaway, group outing, or day trip in the Shenandoah Valley. See As You Like It or Our Town, add a Saturday Playhouse experience, then explore downtown restaurants, local shops, nearby hotels, and mountain views before or after the show.

Whether you’re visiting Staunton for live theatre, Shakespeare, a weekend getaway, or a memorable night out, the Blackfriars Playhouse offers something you won’t find anywhere else: stories shared under the lights of the first-ever re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre.

Come for the performance. Stay for Staunton.

 

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.