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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Taste of Ashland starts today Talking trains in Talent Independent Media Week starts Sunday Schneider Children's Center set to close Annual Science of Wine fundraiser coming to Ashland Springs Hotel Education Schneider Children's Center set to close Ashland School District seeks volunteers for Educators' Appreciation Luncheon Planning meeting set Wednesday for farewell party Ashland Middle School to perform "Shrek Jr." musical Earth Day at Bellview Elementary School garden Environment Students at Walker Elementary School in Ashland get hands dirty for Earth Day Ashland Fire & Rescue Alarm Box: There are good fires and there are bad fires Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan Frontier Taqueria Picaro takes over Tabu space Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Owner of Mix and Amuse to bring Flip burger joint to Ashland Ride & Drive: 2015.5 Volvo V60 Cross Country Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable State News Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics Oregon lawmakers begin minimum wage debate Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries F. Jane Hooper Laurence G. (Larry) Corbin William (Bill) Huett Death Notices Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Two Raiders place seventh in CCC Multis Brick city, baby Neal, Reitman lead SOU at multi-event championships NFL draft: the great unknown Grizzlies chomp out 2-0 series lead High school Two Raiders place seventh in CCC Multis Neal, Reitman lead SOU at multi-event championships Ashland Karate Academy racks up trophies in Medford Ashland drops eight-inning pitchers' duel SOU swept, but gets help in playoff race Southern Oregon University Two Raiders place seventh in CCC Multis Neal, Reitman lead SOU at multi-event championships SOU's Maguin pockets fourth CCC honor SOU swept, but gets help in playoff race For Raiders, a homecoming Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, April 25 Herb Rothschild Jr.: 'Right to rest' misguided Matthew T. Mangino: Faulty hair analysis has far-reaching implications Granlund cartoon: Paging Dr. Oz Our View: Fun with university funding formulas Editorial Our View: Fun with university funding formulas Our View: Passion vs. practicality spelled demise of Ashland theater company Our View: Raises raise eyebrows Our View: Close gun-sale loophole Our View: Help fill empty bowls in Ashland Letters Letters to the Editor, April 25 Letters to the Editor, April 23 Letter at Length, April 22 Letters to the Editor, April 20 Letters to the Editor, April 14 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: A good day to act Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Columns Herb Rothschild Jr.: 'Right to rest' misguided Guest Opinion: A good day to act Jeffrey Gillespie: Bad cops vs. smartphones My comic adventures City looking for ways to create a healthy Ashland for all ages Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Workshop on writing and craft Ashland Middle School to perform "Shrek Jr." musical A Taste of Ashland returns Five picks for entertainment this week Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Theater Ticket Availability Ashland Middle School to perform "Shrek Jr." musical Ashland New Plays Festival is ready to grow, says new director Ticket Availability Free film fest celebrates OSF 'raconteur' Music The Farr Side: Slow disappearance of physical music On TV: Your guide to the Academy of Country Music Awards The Farr Side: Intriguing time on the Hot 100 Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Movie review: ‘Ex Machina’ is the droid you’re looking for Movie review: Fairly smooth sailing for ‘The Water Diviner’ Movie review: ‘Age of Adaline’ is sweet but a little sloppy Movie review: Powerful, tense kidnapping story ‘24 Days’ delivers a strong message Movie review: Crowe’s historical drama ‘The Water Diviner’ isn’t divine, but it’s pretty darn good Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Inner Peace: Creating peaceful relationships Looking Up: Enjoying the bright Moon Costa Living: Basking in flower power Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan Frontier Best apps for dog lovers Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: 'Right to rest' misguided ... Annual Science of Wine fundraiser coming to Ashland Springs Hotel ... Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: 'Right to rest' misguided ... Annual Science of Wine fundraiser coming to Ashland Springs Hotel ... LOCAL TAKE Do you go to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival shows? Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 21, 2015 at 8:26 PM Updated Apr 21, 2015 at 8:27 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 21, 2015 at 8:26 PM Updated Apr 21, 2015 at 8:27 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Will the gender pay gap ever disappear? • What was your favorite film? • Should background checks apply to private gun sales? • Should workers be paid at least $15 an hour? • Ashlanders respond to controversy raised by Indiana law » Social News With the opening of "Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land" at Oregon Shakespeare Festival last Sunday, six of this year's 11 plays are underway. The other five open in June.  The theater attracts about 400,000 people a year and is widely considered among the top theaters in the world in quality, innovation, costumes, sets, actors and, of course, its lovely setting in idyllic, scenic, small-town Ashland, which has parking and is packed with wonderful restaurants. Eighty years old this summer, OSF has endured the test of time through economic feast and famine, albeit setting many to wonder how it could thrive in the lagging Ashland of 40 years ago, when robust tourism was a distant dream and many downtown shops were boarded up. The festival, Chamber of Commerce, community-minded volunteers and town residents buckled down and decided to transform all that — and they succeeded. Without sprawl and ruination, the town has grown mightily in a broad array of culture and liveability points and makes all the top-ten places lists for theater, moviemaking, spiritual diversity, recreation and just about anything else you can name, including a top place to just hang out and live. Amid this near-embarrassment of riches, sometimes the festival is compared to the Statue of Liberty, which New Yorkers take for granted and rarely visit. But is it true? Is OSF just part of the cultural wallpaper? Or do Ashlanders actively bring this gem into their lives? Darlene Beckett — I don’t see every show, just what’s really interesting, according to what I hear on the street. If they say it’s really great, I’ll go. I heard “Fingersmith” is great this year. I let everyone else take the risks and find out. I get comp tickets and will buy some when guests come into town, but I say "wow, that’s a lot of money." I never regret spending it, though. We’re lucky to have this great resource and the Green Shows too, free. The diversity of the Green Shows now helps draw in the community more. Elaine Heiman — (declined photo) Yes, we go. We get flex tickets early every year. They’re for local people, like $125 for five and they’re front row, too. We like both Shakespeare and modern. Some years we see all 11 plays. If you lived anywhere else, you’d pay a fortune. We love the Green Shows and the quality of theater. We’re so lucky to have this. It’s such a great theater town.  Carol Lunt — Yes, we go to about four plays a year. Sometimes I like them, sometimes not. They can be very moving and transformative. We get tickets at the start of the season, at $20 or $25, if you become a member. We moved here in the late '70s. We go to the occasional Green Show. It’s all very educationally and culturally uplifting. Nancy Philipps — Yes, about three times a season, we go to see what kind of stories they’re telling and what the effects are and to watch really professional theater. The talks are all well done and presented with humor and enthusiasm. We’ve been here 40 years and it’s part of the whole thing of what Ashland is. When we moved here it wasn’t so much like that. John Fisher-Smith — We see all of the plays. I’m a volunteer with the Welcoming Center. We become knowledgeable about all the plays. We spread (viewing) out through the whole season. I got uplifted by “Pericles” already this season ... It’s about Hermetic healing from Diana’s Temple at Ephesos in ancient Greece. “Guys and Dolls” was terrific, full of wonderful old tunes and masterful dancing. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 21, 2015 at 8:26 PM Updated Apr 21, 2015 at 8:27 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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