While you’re in Ashland, why not treat yourself to a night off from studying? Or send your family to a show while you’re in class?

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, located in downtown Ashland, is a Tony Award winning regional professional repertory company with a season running from February to November. Eleven plays ranging from Shakespeare to contemporary world premieres are offered in rotation each season in their three theatre complex, with matinee and evening performances every day but Mondays. Backstage tours, lecture series, and free nightly Green Shows (summer season only) round out their offerings.

If you prefer dinner theatre (the good kind, with gourmet dinner and professional theatre), Oregon Cabaret Theatrepresents off-Shakespeare musicals on Thursday-Monday evenings and Sunday matinees.

If community theatre is your thing, Camelot Theatre Company is inaugurating their new facility this summer only 5 miles from Ashland with a production of my favorite show, Sweeney Todd. I know where I’ll be when I get the chance.

For movie fans, Ashland-based Coming Attractions Theatres operates two cinemas in Ashland, the art deco Varsity Theatre (166 E. Main St.), and multiplex Ashland Street Cinemas (1644 Ashland St.). Both run the latest popular films, and the Varsity also showcases art house, indie, and foreign films.

Ashland Parks & Rec Commission has a movies in the park program on the 2nd & 4th Friday of the month at the Butler Bandshell in Lithia Park.