The Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Beyond, 2023

Background

There were more Shakespeare-related plays in Oregon’s Rogue Valley in 2023 than plays written by him, a ratio of four to two. Shakespeare is normal at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) in Ashland, but Shakespeare-afterlife plays are rare at other local theaters.[1]

OSF underwent more changes in 2023. Executive Director David Schmitz resigned early in the year. The OSF Board added Interim Executive Director duties to Artistic Director Nataki Garrett’s workload, and why not? The demands of a five-play season seem to be less than half those of the eleven-play norm prior to Schmitz and Garrett’s 2019 appointments, so Garrett should have the time.

This did not go well. The OSF Board relieved Garrett of her executive duties in late April and she resigned shortly after. OSF has not explained either resignation.

Garrett’s first public act as Interim Executive Director was to announce a fundraising campaign, claiming that 2.5 million was needed or the 2023 season would be cancelled. More than one wag characterized this as, “Pay the ransom, or we’ll shoot the season.” 3 million was received. After Garrett was gone, patrons were asked for another 7.3 million to prevent cancellation. What, no demand for unmarked bills? Recent fundraising campaigns provoked sarcasm from many in the community, yet that second fundraising goal was exceeded in the first week of August.

Ticket income is 50-60% for most theaters. Before Schmidt and Garrett, ticket sales were 70-80% of OSF’s income. Ticket prices were cut to attract younger and…