PFI Historic Park
Chesapeake Shakespeare Company-In-The-Ruins
PFI Historic Park
Join us for Shakespeare under the stars in our summer home in Ellicott City. In the summer, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company performs outdoors at the PFI Historic Park in Howard County, Md. The park, home to the ruins of a 19th-century girls’ school, is located on a picturesque hillside above Ellicott City’s historic Main Street. Bring a picnic, a bottle of wine, and your whole family. Use our chairs or your blanket. Feel free to wander in the ruins and on the well-landscaped grounds.
Address: 3655 Church Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Parking address: 3691 Sarah's Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21043
All tickets are for general admission seating except for reserved tables or preferred seating for ‘Friends of CSC.’ The ticket tent and the gates will open 90 minutes before the performance for picnics, family-friendly activities. The ticket tent is open only on performance dates; all advance ticketing is handled online or through our Box Office in Baltimore. Call 410-244-8570 or email boxoffice@chesapeakeshakespeare.com.
Use 3691 Sarah's Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21043 for your GPS
From Columbia and the 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 the 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 the 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.
Free parking is available in the Courthouse parking lot.
Follow the signs for Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and walk up the hill to the ticket gate. For everyone’s safety, please walk on the sidewalk or on shoulders designated by reflective cones. Please note: The NEW PFI entrance is now across from Church Street at the large sign. The shuttle is no longer needed. Accessible parking with a placard or license plate is still available at the top of the hill. And yes, you can still unload you picnic goodies before parking in the Courthouse lot.
Take a Virtual Tour of Our Summer Home
PFI Historic Park FAQs
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-20-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.
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.
Recreation and Parks has created a much shorter, prettier, and safer path to the top of the hill and the PFI at the intersection of Sarah's Lane and Church Road. The result is that the shuttle is not longer offered and all patrons will walk to the site. If you have a passenger (and no handicapped placard) or a heavy cooler or picnic basket, you may still drive your car to the site at the top of the hill, drop off the people or items, and then park in the large parking lot at the bottom of the hill.
Yes! You may reserve a picnic table for $68 or a date night table for $41. We also have blanket seating. Please note that you must purchase a ticket to the performance for yourself (and all guests in your party) in addition to your table.
There will be an abbreviated printed program available as well as a full digital online program. A link to the full 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.
We do not have a food truck this year. Thankfully Main Street has a ton of dining options! Click here to see all of your yummy options!
The PFI is a lovely spot for picnicking. Gates open 90 minutes before the show, come have a meal prior to the performance! Come early and bring a picnic, sit under the trees, and enjoy the beautiful stone ruins. Food, beer, and wine are permitted. Eat, drink, and be merry!
Folding chairs for the audience will be set up as usual; if you prefer, you are welcome to bring your own.
Unfortunately, the PFI Historic Park does not allow pets onto the grounds. Only documented service animals are allowed.
Yes. The PFI has accessible porta potties available for public use.
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 3 hours prior to showtime.
No cash will be accepted at the park. All purchases must be made electronically.
No, but you must check in with the box office tent so they can anticipate the rest of your party.
Sundays are our Family Fun Days, with preshow activities for all ages including crafts and storytime, beginning at 5:30pm. Picnics welcome! Use our folding chairs or bring your blanket.
Free Shakespeare for kids: Kids tickets are still free! That's right! We said free. Shakespeare is for everyone, and that includes kids! With each adult ticket, up to two (2) children (ages 18 and under) get in for free by reservation. *Limit of 4 Free Kids tickets per household.
You know your child best and we recommend you read the synopsis to understand the adult themes in the play.