think carefully about the full slate — not just in terms of logistics ( which are complex ) but also in terms of how the various stories speak to each other . The creative team selection and casting follow suit quickly . Designs come in somewhere between three and six months in advance of rehearsals so that their brilliant creations can hit the ground running . The rehearsal periods at OSF vary from two to three months , and the audiences , of course , are the last collaborators to join the fray .
A real festival atmosphere is created on the OSF stages . The production crew has had a long history of presenting classics — centered on Shakespeare , new works by living writers , and musicals . “ That mix of styles , content , and artistry is what drew me to OSF in the first place ,” Odcikin says . “ Around our repertory theatre programming , we present music , dance , conversations , tours , and a popular gift shop . OSF is a paradise for long-time theatre lovers who want to become immersed in art , and it ’ s a wonderful gateway for first-timers to find their love . Specifically , our education department serves thousands upon thousands of students each year , and the impact of our work on the next generation of theatre-makers and theatre lovers is deep .”
Other special innovations include a mobile game experience named “ Hella Iambic ,” which is available to ticket holders to play on their smartphones during the on-stage production . This unique game experience explores the space between live theatre and immersive play .
The game takes Director Nataki Garrett ’ s artistic vision of a West Coast-influenced “ Romeo and Juliet ” and transports players to the streets of Verona . During key moments of the play , they will be invited to become citizens of Verona , join the characters ’ group chats , rewrite some of the play ’ s most famous lines , and pen their own sonnets at intermission . Glow Up Games created the app in partnership with OSF .
A wealth of information is laid out in an easyto-use format on the OSF website . A history of the festival , a description of special features and opportunities , and a place to purchase tickets to its productions can all be found in the virtual pages . Included are links to videos , in-depth articles and descriptions , and photos and videos of the people involved in past and present OSF productions . Descriptions of original adaptations of well-known stories , coupled with all the online capabilities , can draw the visitor into hours of enjoyable and informative viewing .
" OSF is a paradise for longtime theatre lovers who want to become immersed in art , and it ' s a wonderful gateway for first -timers to find their love ."
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