Tudor Guild is embedded in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s history. Its story began in 1948 when a small group of women, led by Dr. Margery Bailey, came together to discuss fundraising ideas to aid in the financial support of OSF. The Guild quickly grew to 50 women, who spent innumerable hours volunteering their time to raise funds for OSF. In the early years, members sold tarts in the Elizabethan Theatre, babysat actors’ and patrons’ children, found lodging for actors, sold tickets to plays, sewed costumes, and so much more.
Eventually, a booth was set up outside the Elizabethan Theatre where they sold handmade items as well as merchandise donated by local businesses. Hey Day celebrations—English country fairs—were held, as well as fashion shows and book sales. Guild members sold postcards and souvenirs in the Plaza Information Booth. When the cast lists were posted, they held Casting Night parties, and at the end of the season they hosted a Closing Night party.
In the 1963 OSF program, Tudor Guild was touted as “the donors of the greatest number of scholarships.” The scholarships were given to selected actors and technical personnel.
Tudor Guild opened a gift shop in the basement of Carpenter Hall in 1977. A few years later, OSF purchased the structure where the administrative offices are now located, and the Guild was invited to move their shop into a mezzanine area of the building. Subsequently, the Tudor Guild Gift Shop developed into a flourishing business, and in 1978, a full-time gift shop manager was hired.
In November 1997, a gift shop expansion undertaking was completed next door to the administrative offices. This was a volunteer-backed project by Tudor Guild members, who built out a larger space designed specifically for retail business.
In 2022, OSF announced the closing of the Tudor Guild Gift Shop, citing the need for the organization to have full control of its brand image as well as concerns about insurance and affordability. In 2024, an OSF gift shop was opened on the corner of Pioneer and Main in Ashland.
In May of 2022, OSF Campus History Tours were created, with Guild volunteers leading tours of the theatres and sharing the history of OSF. Tours are conducted during the season on Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30. Tickets are available through the OSF Box Office. The proceeds from ticket sales provide revenue to OSF.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 to 1:00, Tudor Guild volunteers also offer the opportunity to do a brass rubbing from authentic reproductions dating back to Shakespeare’s England. Brass Rubbing is located on the park side of the Elizabethan Theatre, just down the stairs from Pioneer Street.
For more information on Tudor Guild’s history, email tgatosf@gmail.com.