Production history of plays performed by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, .
The early years (1930s) In the early years, OSF only produced works of Shakespeare. +OSF Production History: 1935–1940YearPlayDirectorTheatre1935The Merchant of VeniceAngus L. BowmerElizabethan TheatreTwelfth NightAngus L. Bowmer1936Romeo and JulietAngus L. BowmerElizabethan TheatreThe Merchant of VeniceAngus L. BowmerTwelfth NightAngus L. Bowmer1937Romeo and JulietAngus L. BowmerElizabethan TheatreThe Taming of the ShrewAngus L. BowmerTwelfth NightAngus L. Bowmer1938HamletAngus L. BowmerElizabethan TheatreThe Taming of the ShrewAngus L. BowmerTwelfth NightAngus L. BowmerThe Merchant of VeniceAngus L. Bowmer1939As You Like ItAngus L. BowmerElizabethan TheatreThe Taming of the ShrewAngus L. BowmerHamletAngus L. BowmerThe Comedy of ErrorsAngus L. Bowmer1940As You Like ItWilliam CottrellElizabethan TheatreThe Comedy of ErrorsWilliam CottrellThe Merry Wives of WindsorWilliam CottrellMuch Ado About NothingWilliam Cottrell In July 1939, OSF was invited to present their production of The Taming of the Shrew at the Golden Gate International Exposition. The performance was broadcast nationally over NBC Radio. The interest drawn up by the national broadcast may have been the necessary exposure that allowed the Festival to return following World War II.
The post-war years (late 1940s and 1950s) The festival did not present any productions from 1941 to 1946. This was due to World War II and a fire that burned down the festival's original Elizabethan Theatre.
In 1951, actors from the summer acting company formed the Vining Repertory. This "edition" of the festival was created to present plays in indoor venues that allowed the season to utilize more of the year when winter weather would prohibit outdoor performances. They performed for three seasons in a local venue known as the Lithia Theatre before a fire destroyed the stage, stock, and records. The name "Vining Repertory" was in honor of the brothers who founded the Lithia Theatre and who had died just before the creation of this "sub-company".
+OSF Production History: 1947–1959YearPlayDirectorPlaywrightTheatre1947HamletFrank Lambrett-SmithWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreLove's Labour's LostAngus L. BowmerWilliam ShakespeareMacbethAngus L. BowmerWilliam ShakespeareThe Merchant of VeniceAngus L. BowmerWilliam Shakespeare1948King JohnAllen FletcherWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreLove's Labor's LostAngus L. BowmerWilliam ShakespeareOthelloAngus L. BowmerWilliam ShakespeareThe Merchant of VeniceAngus L. BowmerWilliam Shakespeare1949A Midsummer Night's DreamJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreOthelloAllen FletcherWilliam ShakespeareRichard IIJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareRomeo and JulietRichard GrahamWilliam ShakespeareThe Taming of the ShrewAllen FletcherWilliam Shakespeare1950Antony and CleopatraJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreAs You Like ItAngus L. BowmerWilliam ShakespeareHenry IV, Part IAllen FletcherWilliam ShakespeareThe Comedy of ErrorsRichard GrahamWilliam Shakespeare1951King LearAngus L. BowmerWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreMeasure for MeasureJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareHenry IV, Part IIPhilip HansonWilliam ShakespeareTwelfth NightRichard GrahamWilliam ShakespeareFall 1951AntigoneWilliam OylerJean Anouilh Adapted by
Lewis GalantiereLithia Theatre Vining RepertoryOn Monday NextRichard GrahamPhilip KingTen Little IndiansPhilip HansonAgatha ChristieThe Late Christopher BeanH. Paul KlissSidney HowardSpring 1952Arsenic and Old LaceBarbara CurtisJoseph KesselringLithia Theatre
Vining RepertoryClaudiaPhilip HansonRose FrankenDeath of a SalesmanH. Paul KlissArthur MillerThe Importance of Being EarnestRichard GrahamOscar Wilde1952Henry VPhilip HansonWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreJulius CaesarAllen FletcherWilliam ShakespeareMuch Ado About NothingAngus L. BowmerWilliam ShakespeareThe TempestRichard GrahamWilliam ShakespeareFall 1952DraculaPhilip HansonHamilton Deane John L. BalderstonLithia Theatre Vining RepertoryThe Glass MenagerieRichard GrahamTennessee WilliamsThe Show-OffJohn E. TaylorGeorge KellyThe Vinegar TreeH. Paul KlissPaul Osborn1953CoriolanusAllen FletcherWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreHenry VI, Part IJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareThe Merchant of VeniceRichard GrahamWilliam ShakespeareThe Taming of the ShrewPhilip HansonWilliam Shakespeare1954Henry VI, Part IIJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreHamletAngus L. BowmerWilliam ShakespeareThe Merry Wives of WindsorAllen FletcherWilliam ShakespeareThe Winter's TaleH. Paul KlissWilliam Shakespeare1955A Midsummer Night's DreamJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreAll's Well That Ends WellRobert B. LoperWilliam ShakespeareHenry VI, Part IIIJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareMacbethH. Paul KlissWilliam ShakespeareTimon of AthensRobert B. LoperWilliam Shakespeare1956CymbelineB. Iden PayneWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreLove's Labor's LostAllen FletcherWilliam ShakespeareRichard IIIAllen FletcherWilliam ShakespeareRomeo and JulietHal J. ToddWilliam ShakespeareTitus AndronicusHal J. ToddWilliam Shakespeare1957As You Like ItAngus L. BowmerWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreHenry VIIIRobert B. LoperWilliam ShakespeareOthelloJames SandoeWilliam ShakespearePericles, Prince of TyreRobert B. LoperWilliam ShakespeareThe Two Gentlemen of VeronaJames SandoeWilliam Shakespeare1958King LearRobert B. LoperWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreMuch Ado About NothingRobert B. LoperWilliam ShakespeareThe Merchant of VeniceJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareTroilus and CressidaJames SandoeWilliam Shakespeare1959Antony and CleopatraJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreKing JohnRichard D. RissoWilliam ShakespeareMeasure for MeasureJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareThe Maske of the New World First non-Shakespeare production
in the Elizabethan TheatreJerry TurnerCarl RitchieTwelfth NightAngus L. BowmerWilliam Shakespeare
The 1960s The 60s confirmed the demand for an indoor venue that permitted performances in colder months. Vining Rep continued for another year in a new venue: a local movie theatre called the Varsity Theatre with the dressing rooms in a trailer behind the venue. Later in the decade, the festival used the Varsity for matinee performances of Ballad Operas, but were soon able to raise enough money to build a new indoor space: The Angus Bowmer Theatre. +OSF Production History: 1960–1969YearPlayDirectorPlaywrightTheatre1960Julius CaesarJerry TurnerWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreRichard IIRichard D. RissoWilliam ShakespeareThe Taming of the ShrewRobert B. LoperWilliam ShakespeareThe TempestJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareThe Tragedy of the Duchess of MalfiJames SandoeJohn Webster1961A Midsummer Night's DreamB. Iden PayneWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreAll's Well That Ends WellCharles G. TaylorWilliam ShakespeareHamletRobert B. LoperWilliam ShakespeareHenry IV, Part IRichard D. RissoWilliam ShakespeareThe AlchemistEdward S. BrubakerBen JonsonLate 1961Night of the AukCarl RitchieArch ObolerVarsity Theatre Vining RepertoryRashomonWilliam KinsolvingMichael Kanin Fay KaninThe Boy FriendWilliam KinsolvingSandy WilsonThe MiserDorothy StolpMolière1962As You Like ItJerry TurnerWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreCoriolanusJ. H. CrouchWilliam ShakespeareHenry IV, Part IIEdward S. BrubakerWilliam ShakespeareThe Comedy of ErrorsRod AlexanderWilliam ShakespeareA Thieves BalladCarl RitchieCarl Ritchie Les Carlson1963Henry VJerry TurnerWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreLove's Labor's LostRod AlexanderWilliam ShakespeareRomeo and JulietRobert B. LoperWilliam ShakespeareThe Merry Wives of WindsorEdward S. BrubakerWilliam Shakespeare1964Henry VI, Part IJerry TurnerWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreKing LearAngus L. BowmerWilliam ShakespeareThe Merchant of VeniceRod AlexanderWilliam ShakespeareTwelfth NightRobert B. LoperWilliam ShakespeareThe Knight of the Burning PestleEdward S. BrubakerFrancis Beaumont John FletcherLovers Made MenCarl RitchieBen JonsonVarsity Theatre1965Henry VI, Part IIEdward S. BrubakerWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreMacbethRichard D. RissoWilliam ShakespeareMuch Ado About NothingJames MollWilliam ShakespeareThe Winter's TaleHugh C. EvansWilliam ShakespeareVolponeNagle JacksonBen Jonson1966OthelloRichard D. RissoWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreA Midsummer Night's DreamHugh C. EvansWilliam ShakespeareThe Two Gentlemen of VeronaNagle JacksonWilliam ShakespeareHenry VI, Part IIIJerry TurnerWilliam ShakespeareThe Beggar's OperaCarl RitchieJohn GayVarsity Theatre1967Antony and CleopatraJerry TurnerWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatrePericles, Prince of TyreNagle JacksonWilliam ShakespeareRichard IIIHugh C. EvansWilliam ShakespeareThe Taming of the ShrewRichard D. RissoWilliam ShakespeareThe Maid of the MillCarl RitchieSamuel ArnoldVarsity Theatre1968As You Like ItWilliam KinsolvingWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreCymbelineJames SandoeWilliam ShakespeareHamletPatrick HinesWilliam ShakespeareHenry VIIIRichard D. RissoWilliam ShakespeareLock Up Your DaughtersCarl RitchieHenry FieldingVarsity Theatre1969King JohnEdward S. BrubakerWilliam ShakespeareElizabethan TheatreRomeo and JulietPatrick HinesWilliam ShakespeareThe TempestRichard D. RissoWilliam ShakespeareTwelfth NightHugh C. EvansWilliam ShakespeareVirtue in DangerCarl RitchiePaul Dehn James BernardVarsity Theatre
The 1970s The 1970s began with the first season in the new Angus Bowmer Theatre. In 1977, after being used for company-only play performances and staged readings, the Black Swan Theatre became another venue presenting shows as a part of the main OSF season. The Black Swan was used for more experimental or intimate productions. +OSF Production History: 1960–1969YearPlayPlaywrightDirectorTheatre1970Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are DeadTom StoppardAngus L. BowmerAngus Bowmer TheatreAntigoneJean AnouilhLarry OliverThe FantasticksTom Jones Harvey SchmidtPeter NybergThe Imaginary InvalidMolièreRaye BirkThe Merchant of VeniceWilliam ShakespeareAngus L. BowmerYou Can't Take It with YouGeorge S. Kaufman Moss HartPat PattonThe Glass MenagerieTennessee WilliamsLarry OliverJulius CaesarWilliam ShakespeareLarry OliverElizabethan TheatreRichard IIWilliam ShakespeareJackson NagleThe Comedy of ErrorsWilliam ShakespeareJackson Nagle1971A Man for All SeasonsRobert BoltPat PattonAngus Bowmer TheatreArsenic and Old LaceJoseph KesselringPhilip DavidsonA Midsummer Night's DreamWilliam ShakespeareRaye BirkUnder Milk WoodDylan ThomasLarry OliverThe Glass MenagerieTennessee WilliamsLarry OliverU.S.A.John Dos Passos Paul ShyreJerry TurnerHenry IV, Part IWilliam ShakespearePat PattonElizabethan TheatreMacbethWilliam ShakespearePhilip DavidsonMuch Ado About NothingWilliam ShakespeareLarry Oliver1972Room ServiceAllen Boretz