Shameless entertainment at Blackfriars

Shakespeare enthusiasts and others no longer have to travel far to experience the Bard's plays as they were performed in Elizabethan England.

Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, an indoor theater modeled after the same-named playhouse where Shakespeare himself once performed in London, opened for regular performances in September. Four plays are currently being performed at the 300-seat theater, including Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, and King Lear as well as Molière's Tartuffe, and Francis Beaumont's The Night of the Burning Pestle.

At the playhouse, plays are performed as authentically as possible, so they are similar to the way they would have been performed in Shakespeare's day. They use such techniques as universal lighting, in which the audience and actors can see each other; doubling, in which one actor plays several different roles; and simple sets. The stage is also authentic to Shakespeare's era, surrounded by the audience on three sides.

Blackfriars Playhouse is not only open for theatrical performances of Shakespeare's plays, but also for other theatrical and musical performances as well as workshops, tours, and educational programs.

Construction of Blackfriars Playhouse began in 2000, and the first performance at the playhouse occurred in 2001.

The playhouse is a part of the Shenandoah Shakespeare Theater Company, which began in 1988. According to its website (www.ishakespeare.com/index.htm), since its inception, the company has performed Shakespearean plays in over 40 states and in 5 foreign countries. While Shenandoah Shakespeare produces plays performed at Blackfriars Playhouse, the company also has traveling acting troupes that bring Shakespearean drama into communities around the country, performing in colleges and high schools, as well as performing arts centers. In addition, Shenandoah Shakespeare has also produced many Spanish performances for the growing Latino community in the Valley.

Shenandoah Shakespeare also sponsors many educational programs. According to the company's website, "For over a decade, the educational goal of [Shenandoah Shakespeare] has been to eliminate 'Shakes-fear' for audiences of all cultural and academic backgrounds." One of the programs that the theater company hosts is a three-week acting camp for 14-18-year-old high school students.

Currently, Shenandoah Shakespeare is constructing a second theater to accompany the Blackfriars Playhouse at the company's home in Staunton. The new 1,500-2,000 seat outdoor theater will be a reconstruction of Shakespeare's famous Globe Theater as it appeared in 1614.

Nestled in the heart of the Valley, Shenandoah Shakespeare and Blackfriars Playhouse provide an opportunity for one to see "shamelessly entertaining" productions at affordable prices.