Sid and Karen DeBoer donate $250K to Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Oregon Shakespeare Festival sign. Graham Lewis photo
August 8, 2023

Couple challenges others to donate ‘to bring positive change to OSF’

Ashland.news staff report

Oregon Shakespeare Festival on Tuesday announced a recent donation of $250,000 by Sid and Karen DeBoer.

The longtime Ashland couple is challenging other donors, past and present, to join them in helping the Ashland-based theater. The DeBoers told OSF they are excited about the direction of OSF under new leadership, incoming Artistic Director Tim Bond and interim Executive Director Tyler Hokama.

“The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is not just a world-class theater experience, it is a child of Ashland, born and bred here,” said Sid DeBoer, in a statement released via OSF. “It is part of the fabric of our town and a key component of our economy in the region. We are so excited about the recent additions in leadership and the future. We are excited about what is happening and looking forward to the 2024 season. We encourage all supporters who are able to join us in our efforts to bring positive change to OSF and encourage everyone to come and experience world-class theater again.” 

The DeBoers were unavailable Tuesday for additional comment.

As previously reported by Ashland.news, OSF has met two fundraising campaign goals that launched in April and June, the first for $2.5 million, and the second for an additional $7.3 million for a total of $9.8 million.

Reach Ashland.news reporter Holly Dillemuth at [email protected].

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Related Posts...

Women’s basketball: SOU wins handily in first round of national tournament

For the fourth year in a row, the Southern Oregon women’s basketball team is through to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament. In Friday night’s 86-52 first-round win over UC Merced at Lithia Motors Pavilion, the Raiders made it look routine. The task gets taller, literally and figuratively, in Saturday’s 5 p.m. second-round matchup against No. 7 seed Wayland Baptist (Texas).

Read More »

Review: RTC’s ‘Doubt’ is surely thought-provoking

Brilliantly acted and staged at the intimate Richard L. Hay Center at the Grizzly Peak Winery, Rogue Theater Company’s production of “Doubt,” as director John Sipes writes of the play, “serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us to be wary of the narrowness of moral certainty and encouraging us to embrace the ambiguity and uncertainty we so often face.”

Read More »

Our Sponsors

Rogue Gallery and Art Center Medford Oregon
Rogue Theater Company Performance at Grizzley Peak Winery Ashland Oregon
Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon

Latest posts

Women’s basketball: SOU wins handily in first round of national tournament

For the fourth year in a row, the Southern Oregon women’s basketball team is through to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament. In Friday night’s 86-52 first-round win over UC Merced at Lithia Motors Pavilion, the Raiders made it look routine. The task gets taller, literally and figuratively, in Saturday’s 5 p.m. second-round matchup against No. 7 seed Wayland Baptist (Texas).

Read More >

Review: RTC’s ‘Doubt’ is surely thought-provoking

Brilliantly acted and staged at the intimate Richard L. Hay Center at the Grizzly Peak Winery, Rogue Theater Company’s production of “Doubt,” as director John Sipes writes of the play, “serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us to be wary of the narrowness of moral certainty and encouraging us to embrace the ambiguity and uncertainty we so often face.”

Read More >

Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission approves budget request

Ashland Parks & Recreation Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a requested budget for the department slightly higher than budget direction from the city. Senior Analyst Brandon Terry said the budget as directed would give the Parks & Recreation Department a total baseline budget of $22.3 million — $15 million for operations and $7.3 million for capital projects — for the next biennial budget, July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027.

Read More >

Crossword: Watershed Wandering #02

This week’s crossword: more local trails and features in Ashland’s hills. Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next week’s crossword: “Collaborative Theatre 2025 #02.” More crosswords under the Culture menu.

Read More >

Our Sponsors

City of Ashland Public Notice Ashland Oregon
Ashland Parks and Recreation Ashland Oregon
Pronto Printing Ashland Medford Southern Oregon
Ashland.news House Ad

Explore More...

For the fourth year in a row, the Southern Oregon women's basketball team is through to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament. In Friday night's 86-52 first-round win over UC Merced at Lithia Motors Pavilion, the Raiders made it look routine. The task gets taller, literally and figuratively, in Saturday's 5 p.m. second-round matchup against No. 7 seed Wayland Baptist (Texas).
The 12 wineries along the Bear Creek Wine Trail are teaming up to bring their best wines to the table for attendees of the inaugural Bear Creek Wine Trail Festival, with a chance to enjoy the scenic views and backdrop of Naumes Suncrest Winery in Talent.
Brilliantly acted and staged at the intimate Richard L. Hay Center at the Grizzly Peak Winery, Rogue Theater Company's production of “Doubt,” as director John Sipes writes of the play, “serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us to be wary of the narrowness of moral certainty and encouraging us to embrace the ambiguity and uncertainty we so often face.”
This week's crossword: more local trails and features in Ashland's hills. Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next week's crossword: "Collaborative Theatre 2025 #02." More crosswords under the Culture menu.
Herbert Rothschild: Some Lenten sustenance: Currently, nearly 3.5 million Afghan children are suffering acute malnutrition. And on March 1, Netanyahu sentenced the Gazans to starvation.
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.