Oregon
A Feast for the Senses: Ashland and the Art of Theater
Program No. 19886RJ
See what Ashland is famous for by attending local theater performances, and discover the city’s thriving art, food and wine scenes through the eyes of local artisans.
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
12 meals (
5B, 4L, 3D
)
10 expert-led lectures
2 expert-led field trips
3 performances
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation, Lecture
Location:
Ashland, OR
Meals:
D
Stay:
Ashland Springs Hotel
Activity Note
Hotel check in available from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any up-updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Lecture topics vary according to schedules and availability at the time of the program. Possible topics include costume design, stage management, Shakespearean language and literary history, the life of an actor, or sound design and engineering. Most mornings will begin with two (2) lectures. Our second morning class — Theatre Reflections — will be taught by an Oregon Shakespeare Festival actor, who will meet with us daily to provide context for the theater experience and performances we’ll attend, lead review discussions, and introduce us to more theater professionals. This program includes tickets to three Oregon Shakespeare Festival performances. If you would like to attend additional Oregon Shakespeare Festival shows on your own, we recommend advance reservations. Call OSF’s box office directly at (800) 219-8161. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
In our private dining room at the hotel.
Evening:
We'll close the evening with an illuminating lecture by a local theatre expert that will expand on the program theme.
Day
2
Theatre Tour, Winery Tour & Tasting, Expert Lecture
Location:
Ashland, OR
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ashland Springs Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 40 miles, approximately 1 hours total riding time. Walking up to several blocks at a time on sidewalks, gradual hills, sometimes uneven terrain; some steps; standing for up to 1 hour at a time during field trips.
Breakfast:
In the hotel’s Palm Room, we’ll have a breakfast buffet with items including pastries, cereal, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, and yogurt plus milk, juice, organic coffee, tea, water.
Morning:
We'll set out on foot and make our way to the Thomas Theatre where we'll meet an OSF company member. From there, we'll enjoy an informative “walk and talk” created by OSF especially for Road Scholar. We’ll explore OSF’s three theatres: the indoor Angus Bowmer and Thomas theatres, and the outdoor Elizabethan theatre. We'll have a chance to engage with the hands-on exhibits of props, costumes, scenic design and more.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll board our private motorcoach and travel to Oregon’s oldest grape-growing region. We’ll stop at a local winery to explore. As we walk among the vineyards, we’ll learn from winery staff about how the unique terrain of the Rogue Valley produces the conditions for a wide range of popular grape varietals. We’ll conclude with a wine tasting. After our tasting, we will board the motorcoach and return to the hotel where a local theatre expert will give an illuminating lecture that will expand on the program theme. We’ll have independent time to explore the city before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local favorite restaurant.
Evening:
Returning to our hotel meeting room, a local theatre expert will provide an illuminating lecture that will expand on the program theme.
Day
3
Theatre Class, Free Time, OSF Performance
Location:
Ashland, OR
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Ashland Springs Hotel
Activity Note
Walking several blocks up to 1/2 mile; city sidewalks; some inclines/steps.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
In our hotel meeting room, a local theatre expert will provide an illuminating lecture that will expand on the program theme. We’ll continue the conversation and catch any announcements from our Group Leader during a brief break. We’ll resume with our Theatre Reflections class. Our OSF instructor will lead an in-depth discussion of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival plays. Today, we’ll also hear from a special guest.
Lunch:
In one of Ashland’s popular meeting spots, we’ll have a boxed lunch.
Afternoon:
At leisure. If you would like to attend other Oregon Shakespeare Festival shows on your own, we recommend advance reservations. Call OSF’s box office directly at (800)-219-8161.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
We’ll walk as a group to the Angus Bowmer Theatre where we’ll see The Importance of Being Earnest. From the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s website, “Director Desdemona Chiang transports Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy of manners to the British Malay Peninsula, a colonial melting pot of South Asian, Chinese, and English communities. Two rakish young men, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, opt to navigate Victorian-era expectations of courtship simply by evading them. But when their personas and egos begin to collide, the pair get caught up in a wit-fueled whirlwind of mistaken identities and romantic snafus. This “trivial comedy for serious people” reveals the absurd lengths that humans will go to in pursuit of acceptance, love, and truth.”
Day
4
Theatre Class, Free Time, OSF Performance
Location:
Ashland, OR
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Ashland Springs Hotel
Activity Note
Walking several blocks up to 1/2 mile; city sidewalks; some inclines/steps.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
Back in our meeting room, we’ll learn more about theater from company members, instructors from Southern Oregon University, or visiting and local experts. Subjects vary according to schedules and availability at the time of the program. We’ll have a brief mid-morning break then resume with our Theatre Reflections class. Our OSF instructor will lead another in-depth discussion of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival plays. Today, we’ll also hear from a special guest.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
At leisure. If you would like to attend other Oregon Shakespeare Festival shows on your own, we recommend advance reservations. Call OSF’s box office directly at (800)-219-8161.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
We’ll walk as a group to the Angus Bowmer Theatre where we’ll see Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. From the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s website, “Julius Caesar returns to the heart of Rome victorious from war. But as he ascends to power, Brutus and the conspiring Cassius join forces to murder Caesar and save the great city from a dangerous dictator. In Shakespeare’s famed political thriller, upheaval begets more upheaval, and traitorous actions threaten the very stability of Rome. Known for their dynamic, physical storytelling, upstart crow collective returns with a bold all-female and nonbinary cast, which, under the direction of Associate Artistic Director Rosa Joshi, illuminates this tale’s ancient themes of power, loyalty, and betrayal.”
Day
5
Theatre Class, Free Time, Farewell Dinner, OSF Performance
Location:
Ashland, OR
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ashland Springs Hotel
Activity Note
Walking several blocks up to 1/2 mile; city sidewalks; some inclines/steps.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
Back in our meeting room, we’ll learn more about theater from company members, instructors from Southern Oregon University, or visiting and local experts. Subjects vary according to schedules and availability at the time of the program. We’ll have a brief mid-morning break then resume with our Theatre Reflections class. Our OSF instructor will lead another illuminating lecture that will expand on the program theme. Today, we’ll also hear from a special guest.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
At leisure. If you would like to attend other Oregon Shakespeare Festival shows on your own, we recommend advance reservations. Call OSF’s box office directly at (800)-219-8161.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We’ll walk as a group to the Thomas Theatre where we’ll see Shakespeare’s As You Like It. From the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s website, “The Forest of Arden comes to life in the Thomas Theatre when Rosalind and her cousin Celia escape an oppressive uncle and take to the wilderness. Disguised as a man, Rosalind searches for her true love, Orlando--who doesn’t recognize her in her new persona. But anything can happen in the forest, including poems in the trees, star-crossed shepherds, and a band of exiles who become family. Identities are lost and true selves are found in Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, bringing its magic to our most intimate theatre in this song-filled, 1960’s-infused production by director Lisa Peterson.”
Day
6
Theatre Class, Program Concludes
Location:
Ashland, OR
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel Check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
We’ll gather for our final Theatre Reflections class to review the week's performances and meet another special guest. Our OSF actor instructor will also provide a glimpse of the festival’s upcoming season. Before we head home, we’ll share our favorite moments from the program with our instructor, Group Leader, and each other. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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Please Note:
This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 17, 2025
Jun 08, 2025 - Jun 13, 2025
Jun 22, 2025 - Jun 27, 2025
Jul 13, 2025 - Jul 18, 2025
Sep 14, 2025 - Sep 19, 2025
Sep 21, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
Oct 05, 2025 - Oct 10, 2025
Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 17, 2025
Oct 12 - Oct 17, 2025 Itinerary Differences:
Please note that the performances seen for this program date are: The Importance of Being Earnest (OSF), Julius Caesar (OSF), and As You Like It (OSF).
