Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Drama, Driving, Dinners, and Discussions (US)
Dates: 4/7 – 4/12
Location: Domestic
Price Range: $2,000-2,500
Theme: Theatre
Faculty Contact: Duncan, Ian
All the world’s a stage in Ashland! Come to bright, sunny, southern Oregon and sit in dark theaters at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival! This is our inaugural Upper School Ashland, Oregon EBC trip! We will be seeing four plays over five days. We will be seeing William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” a play about power, politics, and persuasion. We will then see Oscar Wilde’s uproariously funny comedy, “The Importance of Being Ernest,” a play about the fluidity of identity and intention. Next, we will see August Wilson’s “Jitney.” August Wilson has been called “America’s Shakespeare”. A Jitney is an unofficial taxi cab that was used by Black Americans in the 1970s due to the fact that “normal” taxis often refused to drive in predominately Black communities. It is a play about struggle, resistance, and a communities ability to persevere.
Finally, we will be seeing James Ijames’ newer play Fat Ham. Ijames creates a new take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet by introducing us to a young queer black man who must navigate the meanings of revenge, violence, and justice. When not in the theater, we will be enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Southern Oregon with visits to Jacksonville, known for its small-town shopping center, Medford, where we will experience some mini-golf, and Ashland itself, including the gorgeous Lithia Park as well as the small but beautiful art museum at Southern Oregon University. We will also have ample opportunity to discuss the plays we see and reflect on the continuing relevance of theater and art. So come along and experience brilliant theater, brilliant weather, and brilliant ideas!