FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
We believe theatre is inclusive, communal, and for everyone. We welcome you to our neighborhood and hope you enjoy your time here. You are encouraged to dress to your style, bring your authentic self to our home, and allow others to do the same.
THEATRE POLICIES
Box Office & House Open
The Box Office opens one hour before curtain, and tickets may be purchased or picked up at that time. House seating begins 30 minutes prior to curtain. Patrons may wait in the lobby prior to House open.
Late Seating
To preserve the integrity of the performance and the experience of all guests, there is no late seating. Our venues are intimate, and entering after the performance begins disrupts both the actors and the audience.
Doors close promptly at the scheduled start time.
Guests who arrive after the doors close will not be admitted.
Arrive Early
Parking in the Paseo can be limited. We encourage guests to arrive 20–30 minutes early to allow time for parking and seating. Enjoy a beverage at The Mermaid Tavern before the show — it’s part of the experience.
Missed Performances
Tickets are valid only for the performance date and time selected at purchase.
Missed performances are considered forfeited.
We do not offer refunds or complimentary exchanges for missed performances.
If you know in advance that you cannot attend, you may request a ticket exchange through our website. All requests must be submitted at least 24 hours before curtain, and a per‑ticket exchange fee applies. All exchanges are processed pending availability.
During the Performance
For the comfort of all guests, patrons who leave their seats during the performance may be asked to wait until House Management identifies an appropriate moment for re‑entry.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
No Outside Beverages or Beverage Containers
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests, outside beverages and beverage containers are not permitted in our venues.
Shakespeare Gardens
Guests are welcome to bring the food of their choice to enjoy during outdoor performances. Outside beverages, including water bottles and personal drink containers, are not allowed. Drinks purchased from The Mermaid Tavern may be enjoyed in the Gardens.
Indoor Venue
Food and outside beverages are not permitted inside our indoor performance space. Drinks purchased from The Mermaid Tavern may be brought into the theatre.
On‑Site Offerings
The Mermaid Tavern offers a variety of alcoholic and non‑alcoholic drinks, along with light snacks, so you’ll have everything you need on‑site.
Thank you for helping us maintain the comfort and quality of our venues while still enjoying the freedom to picnic outdoors.
OUR COMMITMENT TO ARTISTRY
Shakespeare is universal, reflecting the full breadth of human experience. That’s what makes his work — and the work of all theatre artists — important, relevant, and vital to our shared humanity. OSP embraces this richness in every production we create.
Our programming and casting decisions are guided by artistic vision, storytelling needs, and our commitment to representing the full spectrum of human relationships and identities. These decisions are made by our creative team and are not shaped by individual preferences or requests.
We welcome questions about themes, tone, or age‑appropriateness, and we’re always glad to help patrons make informed choices for their families. However, we do not alter our artistic choices based on personal beliefs about which stories, relationships, or identities should or should not be represented onstage.
CONTENT ADVISORIES
OSP provides content advisories for material that may be intense, explicit, or otherwise unsuitable for younger audiences — such as violence, strong language, or sexual content. Standard theatrical elements, including casting choices and brief, non‑sexual displays of affection, do not fall into this category.
If you have questions about the themes or tone of a specific production, we’re always happy to help you determine what’s best for your family.
YOUNGER PATRONS
We welcome children of any age to The Shakespeare Gardens, but limit admission to those age 7 or older for indoor performances, with the special exception of our Christmas show, for which children of all ages are encouraged to attend.
Please review each show’s Content Advisory for guidance on suitability for younger patrons.
SEATING IN THE SHAKESPEARE GARDENS
Reserved Patio Seating
Chair, cushion, and table provided.
Lawn General Admission
Bring your own lawn chair or blanket, or rent one from us (supplies limited). Chair seating is located toward the rear and sides of the audience; blankets down front, please. While the lawn is general admission, space is limited, so please be mindful of your neighbors and be prepared to adjust your position if requested.
SEATING IN THE INDOOR BLACK BOX THEATRE
Reserved Indoor Seating
Indoor seating is provided on cushioned theatre seats and is reserved.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
Oklahoma Shakespeare does not cancel performances based on the prediction of rain. Performances continue as scheduled unless adverse conditions persist during the scheduled performance time.
If weather becomes unsafe or significantly disruptive, the performance may be paused while we wait for conditions to improve. If a performance cannot continue, Rain Checks will be offered to all patrons in attendance for a future date of the same production, pending availability.
PHOTOS, VIDEO, & ELECTRONIC DEVICES
During the Performance
Out of respect for our performers and your fellow patrons, recording or photographing actors during the performance is not permitted. Violators of this policy may be asked to leave.
Exception: During our Christmas Cracker production, photos are permitted during designated audience‑interaction segments only.
Before and After the Performance
Photos and videos are welcome at other times, and we encourage you to share and tag #okshakespeare.
LOCATION
We are located in the Paseo Arts District in Oklahoma City at 2920 Paseo, Oklahoma City, OK 73103. Our campus includes a 55‑seat indoor Black Box theatre and a 200‑seat outdoor venue, The Shakespeare Gardens, located directly behind our building. Access to both venues is through the front entrance.
PETS
While we love animals, we are not able to accommodate pets in our venues. Only trained service animals are permitted.