I hope you are as thrilled as I am about our 2022 season—my first full season since joining as OSF’s Artistic Director in April 2019. It has been an extremely challenging time for OSF and theatres across the country—but our community is resilient. As we continue to rebuild and reimagine the possibilities, we are now in the midst of an expansive repertory season full of exciting, timely work and classics beautifully interpreted through a 21st-century lens. This season features eight on-stage plays and musicals, from classic Shakespeare to works by some of today’s most exciting playwrights. I am also thrilled to debut an expansion into digital projects that explore the future of theatrical storytelling.
Among this season’s gems is William Shakespeare’s King John, directed by premiere Shakespeare interpreter Rosa Joshi and co-produced by Seattle’s beloved upstart crow collective. This rarely performed play tells the story of a corrupt monarch who faces an unruly court and fights to hold onto the crown at all costs. Under Joshi’s innovative direction, King John features a cast of female and non-gender-binary performers—speaking directly to our current polarized political landscape and breathing new life and meaning into Shakespeare’s timeless play about power itself.
This performance is the epitome of tradition with a twist—something many of our longtime supporters will recognize throughout this season. Audiences will find what they have long loved about OSF, the unparalleled artistry and magic that emanates from this historical theatre with productions such as King John. But there are new things as well. On the fourth weekend of every month, OSF, for the first time, offers live American Sign Language translation plus audio describing services, closed captioning, and audio augmentation. We have also strengthened our commitment to centering BIPOC stories and artists, more equitable and sustainable theatre-making practices, and a simplified ticketing pricing and structure.
Through our digital and in-person offerings, we are creating art that engages people where they are. We are building systems that enable us to reach more people, engage more minds, and touch more hearts in a way that only artists and theatre can.
We are more than halfway through the season and are already well into our planning for our next year. Thank you, artists and audiences, for being part of this triumphant moment with us.