a destination like no other
BIG TIME CULTURE; SMALL TOWN COOL

“[Blackfriars Playhouse is] a jewel-box theater…in an every hipper Shenandoah Valley town…”

— Peter Marks, The Washington Post

From our home in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, ASC illuminates the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, classic and new, refreshing the individual, fostering civil discourse, and creating community in the Blackfriars Playhouse and beyond. We are Virginia’s premier classical theatre and the heart of a thriving Shakespeare Ecosystem smack-dab in America’s heartland.

When you visit the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia, you are visiting a destination like no other. Staunton delivers big-time culture and small-town cool – year-round. Staunton is the perfect base from which to explore Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The city’s charming downtown is home to a vibrant arts and music scene, a sizzling reputation for local food and dining, and a cool array of independent shops and galleries clustered along the historic Main Street – all just blocks from the incredible Blackfriars Playhouse.

American Shakespeare Center in gorgeous mountain town Staunton is your one-stop-shop for the perfect weekend getaway!

THE BLACKFRIARS PLAYHOUSE

Welcome to the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre, the Blackfriars Playhouse. Situated in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse has delighted hundreds of thousands of audience members from all over the world.

Our embrace of early-modern theatre approaches like performing without elaborate scenery in shared light, and our emphasis on the power of the actor, the word, the hand-made, and the acoustic all contribute to ASC being uniquely suited to safely adapt to the variety of conditions presented by this challenging new time.

This summer, American Shakespeare Center returns to its roots to produce a single season with a versatile troupe of actors, capable of performing their repertory on the stage of the Blackfriars Playhouse as well as around the region, following CDC guidelines and our ASC SafeStart protocols.

READ THE ASC SAFESTART VISITOR’S GUIDE TO ATTENDING A PERFORMANCE AT THE BLACKFRIARS PLAYHOUSE THIS SUMMER >>

PHOTO GALLERY

Much Ado About Nothing, 2020 Actors' Renaissance Season at the Blackfriars Playhouse.

Nighttime Skyline Photo Credit: Warren Faught

The cast of THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, 2018/19. Photo by Marek Kunicki

Staunton’s Beverley Street Photo Credit: Woods Pierce

Audience members at the Blackfriars Playhouse, winter 2020.

Staunton Courthouse Dome at Dusk Photo Credit: Woods Pierce

Staunton City Skyline Photo Credit: Jean Boyd

STAUNTON IN THE PRESS

ASC’s NEIGHBOR, THE SHACK, RECOGNIZED AS AN “EXCELLENT” RESTAURANT BY THE WASHINGTON POST – “WORTH THE DRIVE” >> READ IT

BRAND NEW: Southern Living magazine just named Staunton one of “The South’s Best Mountain Towns” >> READ IT

USA TODAY NAMES STAUNTON ONE OF “THE 50 BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN THE U.S. >> READ IT

“Why This Region of Virginia Could Be the South’s New Foodie Hot Spot” ACCORDING TO VOGUE MAGAZINE >> READ IT

Official "Visit Staunton" Site

WHAT TO EAT AND DRINK

Staunton is home to a number of award-winning restaurants, hidden-gems, and local hotspots and the surrounding Shenandoah Valley is filled to the brim with vineyards, craft breweries, distilleries, and cideries. Each eatery and drinkery has its own unique atmosphere and selection of offerings. Explore why Staunton and the Shenandoah Valley have become a destination for foodies and craft beverage lovers all over the country!

A FEW OF OUR SUGGESTIONS INCLUDE…

NEW! “DINE OUT IN DOWNTOWN”

Starting on June 5th, Beverley Street in Downtown Staunton will be closed to vehicular traffic to allow for additional outdoor restaurant seating. Through September 7th, more than a dozen local favorites are offering outdoor dining between 6pm on Friday and 8pm on Sunday through the Dine Out in Downtown program. This is the perfect opportunity to safely enjoy the flavor of Staunton before attending an ASC performance. >> LEARN MORE HERE

WHERE TO STAY

The Blackburn Inn and Conference Center

• This fabulous, historic boutique hotel is the host of our Summer 2020 SafeStart Season “Shakespeare Under the Stars” performances. Located on 80 sprawling acres of manicured grounds, the Blackburn Inn is the perfect setting to host ASC’s outdoor performances of Shakespeare in the twilight.
  • The Blackburn Inn and Conference Center is offering ASC Fans a VIP Package this Summer.The package includes: one overnight stay at the Historic Blackburn Inn (based on double occupancy), a reserved space (up to 4 people) on the Blackburn Inn lawn for the performance, and The Shakespeare Picnic Basket – perfect for dinner on our lawn before the performance. Parking and Continental Breakfast are also included.
    CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW >>

“THE HOTEL NEXT DOOR”

• This hotel is located literally steps away from the Blackfriars Playhouse! Currently under-going a name change, the hotel formerly known as the Stonewall Jackson Hotel (located at 24 South Market Street, Staunton, Virginia) was originally built in 1924. A member of Historic Hotels of America, this modern yet refined Virginia gem underwent a complete top to bottom renovation in 2005 and has been lovingly restored to it’s original grandeur.
  • CLICK HERE TO VISIT THEIR WEBSITE >>

FREDERICK HOUSE, A SMALL HOTEL

• Frederick House is a twenty-three room hotel located in downtown Staunton, Virginia, voted one of the best small towns in America by Smithsonian Magazine. Convenient to a myriad of Shenandoah Valley historic and cultural destinations, Frederick House offers the amenities and privacy of a luxury hotel with the personal service of a bed and breakfast.
  • CLICK HERE TO VISIT THEIR WEBSITE >>

Official "Visit Staunton" Site