There is a long list of lovely, quaint, or historic small towns around Washington, D.C., some famous for their charm, some for having some of the best-tasting water in the world, and some even for their pancakes, but this Virginia town has something that can’t be found anywhere else in the world!
The historic town of Staunton, Virginia, is renowned as one of America’s premier small arts towns, boasting a walkable downtown, numerous boutique shops, and, of course, the only recreation in the world of Shakespeare’s famous Blackfriars Playhouse.
A Hidden Arts Capital In The Shenandoah Valley
Located in the Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains, Staunton is a fairly remote ‘mountain’ town flanked by rolling hills and lush farmland.
Staunton has a strong connection to the arts as the home of the American Shakespeare Center (ASC), which constructed the world’s first modern recreation of Shakespeare’s famous Blackfriars Playhouse, which was demolished in London in 1655.
The construction of the Blackfriars Playhouse recreation began in the late 90’s, and it was completed in September of 2001 with its first full performance season featuring some of Shakespeare’s most iconic works, including:
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- Hamlet
- Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead
- The Alchemist
Seeing Shakespeare As It Was Meant To Be
The Blackfriars Playhouse was recreated based on what is known about the original Blackfriars, Shakespeare’s stage directions, and the design of surviving 17th-century English theatres.
The recreation features space for an audience of 300, and the stage with the same lighting that Shakespeare’s plays were originally performed in during the 17th century, creating an intimate and authentic experience.
Currently, the theatre has three rotating shows performing for the Fall 2025 season:
- Romeo and Juliet – Through November 15th, 2025
- The Two Gentlemen of Verona – Through November 15th, 2025
- The Pirate Ballad of Bonny and Read (Not a Shakespeare original play) – Through November 16th, 2025
More things to see and do in Staunton
While the recreation of the Blackfriars Playhouse is the main draw that attracts visitors to the small town of Staunton, it also has a notable museum dedicated to the United States’ 28th President, Staunton native Woodrow Wilson.
If you’re not that interested in American history, no worries! There is still an excellent food scene for you to explore, with farm-to-table dining destinations like The Shack and Zynodoa to check out.
Once you’ve explored the local food scene, it’s worth venturing out in the surrounding area to see some of Virginia’s incredible vineyards.