1988

Richard III

Jim Warren and Ralph Alan Cohen form Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, a professional traveling troupe. SSE opens Richard III and tours VA.

1989

The Taming of the Shrew

In May, SSE embarks on its first spring tour, taking The Taming of the Shrew to DE, PA, VT, NH, and NY.

1990

Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night's Dream

SSE moves to a repertory format and performs Julius Caesar at the annual meeting of the Shakespeare Association of America in Philadelphia.

1991

Measure for Measure, Twelfth Night,  A Midsummer Night's Dream

SSE's first summer season features an extended Valley Season in Harrisonburg, VA, and extended runs in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy funds SSE's first grant award, "Bringing Shakespeare Home - A Seminar for Teachers."

1992

Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice,  The Comedy of Errors

A sold-out run on the Elizabethan stage at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. is followed by SSE's first overseas tour:  two weeks at the Shakespeare Globe Museum in London, two weeks at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. The National Endowment for the Arts awards general operating support.

1993

Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Washington Post and The Boston Globe print rave reviews of SSE shows. The company performs at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC.

1994

Othello, Much Ado about Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew

SSE makes its first visit to Canada with a weeklong residency at the University of Ottawa. The Virginia Commission for the Arts awards general-operating support.

1995

The Tempest, Twelfth Night, Hamlet, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

SSE performs in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, and Scotland; conducts the Center for Renaissance and Shakespearean Staging (C.R.A.S.S.), a six-week institute supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. To meet increased demand, SSE establishes an autumn tour (with the new "James" troupe) that runs concurrently with the original twelve-month ("Elizabeth" troupe) tour.

1996

Henry V, As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors, Julius Caesar

 A tour coordinated by the International Shakespeare Globe Centre takes SSE into primary and secondary schools in England.  The Virginia Commission for the Arts features SSE in the VCA Tour Directory.  The James troupe doubles its number of performances from the previous year.

1997

Love's Labour's Lost, 1 Henry IV, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth

SSE performs its fourth extended run at the Folger Shakespeare Library to sell-out crowds.  The first Young Company Theatre Camp (YCTC) introduces high school students to SSE-style Shakespeare, complete with classes, workshops, and a production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

1998

Measure for Measure, Richard III, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet

The Washington Post touts SSE for its "shamelessly entertaining Shakespeare." The James troupe produces Shakespeare Para Todos, a bilingual outreach performance of Shrew that targets Hispanic audiences in the Shenandoah Valley. The Shubert Foundation awards general-operating support.

1999

The Merchant of Venice, The Knight of the Burning Pestle, Macbeth, Much Ado about Nothing, Hamlet

SSE officially changes its name to Shenandoah Shakespeare (S2); moves to Staunton, VA; and begins work on phase one of a three-part plan to create an indoor theatre called the Blackfriars Playhouse, a Center for Education and Research, and a Globe Theatre.

2000

Richard II, Much Ado about Nothing, Doctor Faustus, Othello, Twelfth Night, The Roaring Girl

S2 conducts a successful capital campaign and begins construction on the Blackfriars.  By year's end, S2 has performed in 46 states and D.C., 5 foreign countries, and one U.S. territory.

2001

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, The Alchemist, The Winter's Tale, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, An American Christmas Carol: 1852

The Blackfriars Playhouse, the world's only re-creation of Shakespeare's indoor theatre, opens in September.  The first Blackfriars Conference for Shakespeare scholars draws the world's most prominent authorities on Shakespeare in performance, including a keynote address by Andrew Gurr, the first Academic Head of Shakespeare's Globe in London.  Partnered with Mary Baldwin College in creating the world's only masters degree program for the teaching, acting, and directing of Shakespeare.

2002

Henry V, The Comedy of Errors, Saint Joan, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Love's Labour's Lost, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Richard III, Twelfth Night, A Christmas Carol

S2 casts its first Resident Troupe to perform in the Blackfriars Playhouse.  The NEH sponsors an institute for Theatre and English professors from across the U.S., "Shakespeare's Playhouses, Inside and Out," which is held at the Blackfriars Playhouse and in London at Shakespeare's Globe.

2003

The Tempest, Coriolanus, The Taming of the Shrew, The Knight of the Burning Pestle, Much Ado about Nothing, King Lear, Tartuffe, A Christmas Carol

The second Blackfriars Conference brings leading Shakespeare scholars and practitioners back to Staunton; keynote speakers include Stanley Wells, Tina Packer, Tiffany Stern, and Andrew Gurr.  Arlo Guthrie headlines the Blackfriars Concert Series.

2004

A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1 Henry IV, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Merchant of Venice, Falstaff, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Santaland Diaries, A Christ­mas Carol

S2 Advisory Board member Dame Judi Dench visits the Blackfriars Playhouse to accept an award on behalf of her late husband, actor Michael Williams.  S2 hosts the annual Shakespeare Theatre Association of America conference.  The NEH sponsors a second summer institute at the Blackfriars and Globe - and awards Shenandoah Shakespeare a major matching grant.

2005

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), The Taming of the Shrew, The Tamer Tamed, A King and No King, Measure for Measure, She Stoops to Conquer, Twelfth Night, The Three Musketeers, The Comedy of Errors, Hamlet, All's Well that Ends Well, The Santaland Diaries, A Christmas Carol

Artist Jeff Stockberger paints the frons scenae of the Blackfriars Playhouse as S2 continues its efforts to explore the conditions of the original Blackfriars.  S2 changes its name to the American Shakespeare Center.  The first Actors' Renaissance Season debuts, which includes actors delving deeper into Renais­sance rehearsal practices as they mount shows with few group rehearsals and no directors or designers.

2006

Greater Tuna, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, Romeo and Juliet, Eastward Ho!, The Brats of Clarence, Richard III, Return to the Forbid­den Planet, Much Ado about Nothing, Macbeth, As You Like It, The Tempest, Othello, The Santaland Diaries, A Christmas Carol

The second Actors' Renaissance Season draws even larger audiences than the previous year and includes performances of a new play written for the Blackfriars, The Brats of Clarence, which picks up after Richard III ends. Terry Teachout praises ASC, the Blackfriars, and Staunton as a Shakespeare destination in The Wall Street Journal.

2007

The Duchess of Malfi, Hamlet (First Quarto), Pericles, The Brats of Clarence, The Devil is an Ass, Cyrano de Bergerac, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, The Winter's Tale, Romeo and Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost, Antony and Cleopatra, The Santaland Diaries, A Christmas Carol

ASC Board of Trustees approves a five-year strategic plan which includes careful and deliberate planning for Globe II in Staunton, VA, a re-creation of Shakespeare's second Globe theatre. The Virginia state legislature supports ASC's vision of creating a national Shakespeare campus by awarding grant seed funds for Globe II planning.  Due to popular demand, the Actors' Renaissance Season expands to five plays.

2008

Volpone, Macbeth, The Jew of Malta, Cymbeline, The Witch, The Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, Henry V, King Lear, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, Richard II, The Santaland Diaries, A Christmas Carol

After eleven years at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and serving two terms as the President of the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America, David Dreyfoos joins the ASC as Managing Director.  The ASC partners with Shakspeare's Globe in London for a year-long conference (2008 at the Globe, 2009 at the Blackfriars) celebrating the work of Andrew Gurr, who was the chief academic advisor in the rebuilding of the Globe.  ASC hosts our fourth NEH Summer Institute for university professors. "Shakespeare's Playhouses Inside and Out" takes place over five weeks in July and August at the Blackfriars Playhouse.  VA Governor Tim Kaine awards Ralph Cohen and Jim Warren the Virginia Governor's Award for the Arts.

2009

The Revenger's Tragedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Change­ling, 1 Henry VI, The Blind Beggar of Alexandria, Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Comedy of Errors, Much Ado about Nothing, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Titus Andronicus, 1 Henry IV, The Rehearsal, The Santaland Diaries, A Christmas Carol

Due to popular demand of rarely (or never) performed Renaissance plays, the ASC adds an early modern title to the Fall Season, bringing our total of yearly plays up to 15.  This year the Actors' Renaissance Season expands to run into April while the Spring Season stretches further into June.  The New York Post names Staunton as number 42 in its Top 100 Summer Destinations.  The New York Times again plugs the ASC and the Blackfriars in its Summer Stages-Theatre section.  Terry Teachout returns to the Blackfriars and praises the ASC again in the Wall Street Journal.

2010

Doctor Faustus, Twelfth Night, The Alchemist, 2 Henry VI, The Roman Actor, The Knight of the Burning Pestle, All’s Well That Ends Well, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Othello, Wild Oats, 2 Henry IV, The Fair Maid of the West, The Twelve Dates of Christmas, The Santaland Diaries, A Christmas Carol

The ASC adds another holiday title to the December rotation, bringing our total of yearly plays up to 16.

2011

The Comedy of Errors, The Malcontent, Look About You, 3 Henry VI, A Trick to Catch the Old One, As You Like It, Macbeth, Measure for Measure, Hamlet, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Tempest, Henry V, Tamburlaine the Great, The Twelve Dates of Christmas, The Santaland Diaries, A Christmas Carol

The Blackfriars Playhouse celebrates its 10th Anniversary. The ASC hosts the Sixth Blackfriars Conference, welcoming more than 200 scholars from around the world.  

2012

Much Ado about Nothing; Richard III; Philaster, or Love Lies a-Bleeding; A Mad World, My Masters; Dido, Queen of Carthage; The Winter's Tale; 'Tis Pity She's a Whore; A Midsummer Night's Dream; The Merchant of Venice; The Lion in Winter; The Two Gentlemen of Verona; Cymbeline; King John; The Twelve Dates of Christmas; The Santaland Diaries; A Christmas Carol

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