American Shakespeare Center's Blackfriar Players

If you are in the Staunton, Virginia area, The American Shakespeare Center is a must-see. The Blackfriars perform Shakespeare's works under the original staging conditions -- on a simple stage, without elaborate sets, and with the audience sharing the same light as the actors. My husband and daughter (17) went to a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor there and they both loved it. The ticket price of $20 per person for balcony/general admission is very reasonable for theatre. The musical performances at intermission were modern pieces, which in some ways seems out of place, but is in keeping with giving the audience a similar experience as in Shakespeare's day, because the musical pieces would be currently known works.