Know Before You Go
It's not your grandmother's Shakespeare theatre...
At Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, we do things a bit differently. CSC began in 2002 with a small group of artists committed to changing how people think about Shakespeare, by producing shows that allowed audiences to connect to classic works in whole new ways—ways that are fresh, innovative and sustainable. CSC is devoted to exploring the question “What makes Shakespeare so great?” The assumption is that this quest will probably never be resolved. That is why we invite the audience along for the journey. Tights optional.
PFI Historic Park is Chesapeake Shakespeare Company's original "summer home" for outdoor Shakespeare. It's where we grew up, and where we always go back to.
The Adventures of Pericles runs approximately 80 minutes, without intermission.
We sure hope not! We’re not cicada experts, but we planned the timing around expert information that says we can expect to see the cicada numbers decrease in late June. While we can’t guarantee there won’t be any at your performance, their numbers should have reduced significantly, making your PFI experience as pleasant as possible.
Park gates open 90 minutes prior to a performance. We recommend that you arrive at least 15-20 minutes prior to a show to enjoy our pre-show entertainment (offered at most performances). Patrons who arrive after a performance has started are seated at the discretion of the House Manager.
We will exchange your tickets for another available performance so that you don't miss a second of great theater.
You can call our box office (410-244-8570) or email the box office at boxoffice@chesapeakeshakespeare.com to make the exchange. If for some reason an exchange is not possible, we'll present other options at that time.
We sure hate canceling a performance, though! Click here for our developed-over-18-summers-and-extremely-thorough rain policy. We have only canceled for heat two times in our history but we will always exchange your tickets if the heat level is medically unwise.
As we try to keep up with CDC recommendations and government regulations for outdoor events, at this time masks are optional.
Due to COVID-19 safety protocols we will be operating at limited capacity this year.
CSC is following all COVID-19 regulations and guidelines issued by both state and county officials in Maryland to ensure your visit to the PFI is a safe and pleasant one.
If you prefer to socially distance yourself from others, please let a CSC usher know how many seats you will need in total—even if your entire party has not arrived--and you will be guided to seats for your entire group. The usher will then remove any chairs next to your party, allowing you to be distanced from other patrons.
We will do our best to accommodate individual preferences.
SEATING CHART
Your seats will be adjusted by a CSC usher to ensure your group is socially distant from others.
Seating plans subject to reevaluation as COVID-19 protocols change.
Yes, you may reserve a picnic table for $68. Date night tables, however, have been suspended for this summer.
We are hopeful that we will be able to accommodate blankets, but this is subject to social distancing and practicalities.
The program for this production will be online. A link to the program will also be sent in your performance reminder email and QR codes will be available at the PFI to scan with your mobile device for access. A limited number of printed programs will be available for guests upon request.
To preview the program, click here.
Directions
- Navigation apps: Use 3691 Sarah’s Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21043.
- From D.C., Columbia, and points south: Take Route 29 North to Route 40 East. Turn right at Rogers Avenue. After 1 mile, where Rogers Avenue splits off on the right, bear left and continue straight on the main road, which becomes Courthouse Drive. This road ends at the large Courthouse parking lot.
- From Baltimore and points north: Take Route 70 West to Route 29 South (exit on the left). Then take Route 40 East and turn right onto Rogers Avenue. Proceed as above. After 1 mile, where Rogers Avenue splits off on the right, bear left and continue straight on the main road, which becomes Courthouse Drive. This road ends at the large Courthouse parking lot.
- From points west: Take Route 70 East to Route 29 South. Take Route 40 East and turn right onto Rogers Avenue. After 1 mile, where Rogers Avenue splits off on the right, bear left and continue straight on the main road, which becomes Courthouse Drive. This road ends at the large Courthouse parking lot.
Parking
Follow signs for Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and walk up the hill about 1/5 mile to the ticket gate. For everyone’s safety, please walk on the sidewalk or on shoulders designated by reflective cones. Please note: The PFI entrance is NOT across from Church Street where the large sign is – please continue up the hill. To reach the ticket tent, continue up the hill to the PFI private driveway and ticket gate.
As determined by Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, due to COVID-19 the vans that normally take patrons from the courthouse parking lot to the PFI will not be available this year.
The walking distance from the parking lot to the PFI is approximately .2 miles (comparable to other area outdoor venues like Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia or Wolf Trap in Virginia).
If needed, guests may drop off passengers and belongings at the PFI entrance at the top of the hill prior to parking in the courthouse lot. There is limited handicapped accessible parking at the park entrance.
When you arrive, you can follow the signs up to the top of the hill to drop off passengers and picnics. The PFI Parking Guardian at the top of the hill will allow you to drive through only if you have a handicapped placard.
There will be no food vendors this year, but we welcome you to bring your own meals and snacks.
The PFI is a lovely spot for picnicking. Gates open 90 minutes before the show, come have a meal prior to the performance!
Beer and wine are permitted in the park. Cheers!
Folding chairs for the audience will be set up as usual; if you prefer, you are welcome to bring your own.
Yes, assuming we aren’t sold out (we’ll post on our website if we are) but we do recommend purchasing your tickets in advance. Gates and ticket tent open 90 minutes prior to showtime. Online ticket sales turn off three hours prior to showtime.
No cash will be accepted at the park. All purchases must be made electronically.
No, but you must Identify number of seats you will need in total to a CSC usher so you can all comfortably be placed in socially distant seating.
We know what the weather is, but know not what it may be! We do our best to complete every performance, but sometimes, to ensure the safety of our guests and staff, we may need to cancel a performance. If the performance has already begun, and the weather radar shows the storm will pass, we will pause the show for up to 45 minutes. If the storm is not likely to pass quickly, we will cancel the performance. Only rarely is a storm so big that we cancel before showtime—and never more than two hours prior.
Sundays are our Family Fun Days, with preshow activities for all ages including crafts and storytime, beginning at 4:30pm. Picnics welcome! Use our folding chairs or bring your blanket.
Free Shakespeare for kids: for every 1 paid adult ticket, 1 child under 18 years old gets in free by reservation. (This is a change from previous years due to our limited capacity.)
You know your child best and we recommend you read the synopsis to understand the adult themes in this play. There will be no extreme violence or overt sexuality in the production. It will be very lively and energetic and suitable for many children.
Absolutely! If you have tickets on account from a canceled performance of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Hamlet, or Much Ado About Nothing, they may be exchanged for The Adventures of Pericles. Please contact our box office. If you'd prefer to save your tickets for a future show, you may do that as well.
PFI Historic Park is Chesapeake Shakespeare Company's original "summer home" for outdoor Shakespeare. It's where we grew up, and where we always go back to.
As we try to keep up with CDC recommendations and government regulations for outdoor events, at this time masks are optional.
While getting vaccinated in general is highly recommended, we do not require guests to be vaccinated or to provide proof of vaccination.
Yes! All CSC actors and staff members will have received COVID-19 vaccination.
No. It’s pretty warm outdoors in the summer and after you climb Mount Ida, your temperature may well be elevated! If you have any reason to suspect that you might be unwell, we ask that you stay home and contact our box office to exchange your ticket with no hassle for a different performance.
If you do not feel well the day of the performance, we ask that you stay home. Simply contact our box office and we will be happy to exchange your ticket for a later date.
Yes. Hand sanitizer will be available and can be found at the ticket tent, near the portable restrooms, and at various other locations around the PFI.
Due to COVID-19 safety protocols we will be operating at limited capacity this year.
CSC is following all COVID-19 regulations and guidelines issued by both state and county officials in Maryland to ensure your visit to the PFI is a safe and pleasant one.
If you prefer to socially distance yourself from others, please let a CSC usher know how many seats you will need in total—even if your entire party has not arrived—and you will be guided to seats for your entire group. The usher will then remove any chairs next to your party, allowing you to be distanced from other patrons.
We will do our best to accommodate individual preferences.
SEATING CHART
Your seats will be adjusted by a CSC usher to ensure your group is socially distant from others.
Seating plans subject to reevaluation as COVID-19 protocols change.
Artists will not be wearing masks during the performance but will be at least six feet from the closest audience members.
As determined by Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, due to COVID-19 the vans that normally take patrons from the courthouse parking lot to the PFI will not be available this year.
The walking distance from the parking lot to the PFI is approximately .2 miles (comparable to other area outdoor venues like Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia or Wolf Trap in Virginia).
If needed, guests may drop off passengers and belongings at the PFI entrance at the top of the hill prior to parking in the courthouse lot. There is limited handicapped accessible parking at the park entrance.
When you arrive, you can follow the signs up to the top of the hill to drop off passengers and picnics. The PFI Parking Guardian at the top of the hill will allow you to drive through only if you have a handicapped placard.