On January 9, the American Shakespeare Center opened its fifth annual Actors’ Renaissance Season at the world-renowned Blackfriars Playhouse. The special experimental season offers five productions running in rotating repertory through the end of March.

In the Actors’ Renaissance Season, the ASC goes even further than we normally do into the staging practices of the English Renaissance, cutting out the directors, designers, and the months of rehearsals that Shakespeare’s company never knew. This year’s ARS offers Shakespeare’s most popular and magical play, one of his powerful but neglected history plays, and three titles by contemporaries of Shakespeare -- all in productions mounted with very few rehearsals and with the actors making the production choices.

“More than an exercise in theatre history,” said ASC Artistic Director Warren, “the ARS aims to create an even stronger bond between actor and audience and an even greater level of fun and excitement by unleashing the raw energy of Renaissance drama.”

Our first production, A Midsummer Night's Dream, has already been enchanting audiences. 

"Now, THAT'S entertainment," said reviewer Clifford Garstang. "The audience loved it, laughing more than any audience I can remember for Shakespeare, and demanding an extra curtain call...when it was all over...This is a spectacular production that shouldn't be missed. "  Read more »

We'll be opening a new production every few weeks during the ARS:

Fri, Jan. 2	A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare
Thurs, Jan. 15	The Revenger's Tragedy by Thomas Middleton
Thurs, Jan. 29	Henry VI, Part 1 by Shakespeare
Thurs, Feb. 19	The Changeling by William Rowley and Thomas Middleton
Wed, Mar. 11	The Blind Beggar of Alexandria by George Chapman

For the best seats, reserve your tickets now.

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