Ashland 2011: conference info and schedule

Ashland 2011: conference info and schedule

ATCA’s 2011 conference, July 6-10, features the famous, Tony-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the attractive Ashland and surroundings. The variability of our schedule allows free time during the week. Mornings will include ATCA meetings, theater panels, a session on the digital critic and a Perspectives on Criticism talk. Afternoons and evenings include 8 shows – 4 Shakespeare, 4 not. NOTE that the schedule is unchanged by the mishap at the Bowmar Theater: it’s shows continue in alternate (if inferior) venues.

Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, Love’s Labor’s Lost, Henry IV Part 2, Julius Caesar

Gilbert & Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance

Moliere, The Imaginary Invalid

Tracy Letts, August: Osage County

Tony Taccone and Jonathan Moscone, Ghost Light (world premiere based on the assassination of San Francisco mayor George Moscone)

First, make your reservation ASAP at the historic Ashland Springs Hotel by calling 888-795-4545, x1000 (cite American Theatre Critics Association). Our rate is $149 for a queen (single or double) or $169 for a king or twin. This includes breakfast and the hotel is very close to the festival’s three theaters, saving us the expense of vans, and it provides free meeting rooms. The result is the lowest registration fee (members $99; guests $109) of any ATCA conference in recent memory.

After making your hotel reservation, print our and return the attached Registration Form with your registration fee. Print and return the attached Play Selection Form only after you have made your travel plans.

The airport at Medford, Oregon (symbol MFR) is just 15 miles (24 minutes) from Ashland. Medford is served by United (from Portland, San Francisco, Denver); Delta (from Salt Lake City); and Horizon/Alaska (from Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles/LAX). Try kayak.com for comparative pricing. For transport from the airport to Ashland, Cascade Airport Shuttle (888-760-7433) charges $28 for the first passenger and $5 for each additional one to the same address. There are also taxis and rental cars. If you send he will try to group you, as possible.

Officially, our conference runs from a welcoming dinner given by OSF, Wednesday, July 6, through a Saturday night party given by us, concluding Sunday noon, July 10. During this time you can see seven shows. To see all eight, you have to arrive in time for the matinee Wednesday or stay for the matinee on Sunday.

Or you could do both, leaving you one free afternoon along the way. You could also choose to see fewer than eight shows, giving you even more time to relax or see the sights. And for those who have to leave Saturday or earlier, we have a few seats available Tuesday.

Here’s our outline schedule:

We don’t list here which shows play when, because every show is available at least twice, and we have to ticket you for specific performances according to your arrival and departure times, depending also on the schedules of others. Just give us the necessary info on the separate Play Selection Form and trust us. If you have already arranged your travel, send that form now; otherwise, wait until your travel is booked.

We look forward to seeing you in Oregon!

Chris Rawson, ATCA chair
Jay Handelman, Vice-Chair
Barry Gaines, Administrator