Free outdoor entertainment series features increased environmental focus, first-ever online streaming performances and an entire month dedicated to local artists.
Free outdoor entertainment returns to the “Bricks” June 7, coinciding with the official opening of the outdoor Allen Elizabethan Theatre. The Green Show season continues, four nights a week at 6:45 p.m., through September 28. The full schedule of free performances by local, national and international acts is available at osfashland.org/greenshow.
“This year’s Green Show series focuses on the cultural richness of our community, our country and our world, through a lens of social and climate justice,” said Cassie Fetty, community producer and curator for the Green Show. “We’re also making the Green Show even greener by taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint and increasing accessibility to our performances through the use of livestreaming technology.”
For the entire month of August, the Green Show will feature all local performers as a way of highlighting the rich pool of artists from surrounding communities, and also recognizing the environmental impact for acts traveling substantial distances to OSF.
Kicking off the Green Show season on June 7 is Ashland Danceworks, a youth dance group specializing in hip hop, jazz and contemporary dance. Throughout the summer the series will feature music, dance, circus and theatre by artists new to the Courtyard Stage as well as Green Show returning favorites.
Furthering the use of technology to create a “greener Green Show,” OSF will introduce “Throwback Thursday” performances, as part of a pilot program presented via livestream, featuring special guests such as Embodiment Project (August 22) and Infinite Flow—An Inclusive Dance Company (August 29). These performances will highlight footage from previous Green Show performances from the featured artists and the opportunity for patrons engage in with the artists via online platforms. Patrons will be able to access the livestream at osfashland.org/greenshow, to see the performances and join the conversation from wherever they are in the world.
OSF Repertory Producer Mica Cole said, “This pilot represents the Festival’s ongoing exploration of what it means to present and produce outdoor performances in the context of climate change, and our ongoing commitment to continue to serve our artists, our audience, and our planet.”
Be sure to keep an eye on the Green Show’s Facebook page for performance schedules and day-of updates on other livestreamed performances.
2019 Green Show Partners are Ogden Roemer Wilkerson Architects (June), Avista (July), Lithia Auto Stores (August) and The Standard (September).
In addition to Fetty and Cole, the Green Show is presented thanks to the efforts of Technical Manager Benajah Cobb.