THE BELLE’S STRATAGEM: The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Hannah Cowley’s 1780 comedy of manners in the Angus Bowmer Theatre, Ashland. Letitia Hardy is not about to settle for any old conventional arranged marriage. She’s madly in love with Doricourt, the man she has been promised to, but wants him to be equally infatuated with her. To this end, Letitia plans a bold deception—to have love as she likes it. Davis McCallum directs. The show runs through Oct. 29. $29 to $65. Call 482-4331 or see osfashland.org on the Web.

GIBRALTAR: Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents the world premiere of Octavio Solis’ play at the New Theatre. Commissioned by OSF, the play explores the complexity of the human heart. Liz Diamond directs. Play includes mature themes and language. It runs through Oct. 30. $50 and $55. Call 482-4331 or see osfashland.org on the Web.

THE HEIDI CHRONICLES: Camelot Theatre Company presents Wendy Wasserstein’s Pulitzer Prize- winning play which looks at baby-boomer women moving from the activist 1960s to the "Me" decade of the ’80s. The play opens Sept. 2 and runs until Oct. 2. Performances are at 8 p.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. $16/$14. Call 535-5250.

LOVE’S LABOR’S LOST: Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Shakespeare’s comedy on the Elizabethan Stage. Directed by Kenneth Albers, the play traces the comic adventures of four friends who vow to give up women and the world to pursue learning. That is, until four high-spirited, high-bred ladies arrive on the scene. The play runs until Oct. 8. $29 to $65. Call 482-4331 or see osfashland.org on the Web.

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM: Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s production of August Wilson’s play, directed by Timothy Bond, runs through Oct. 30 in the New Theatre. The play takes place in 1927 in Chicago and tells the story of a recording session with blues legend Ma Rainey in a studio run by white producers. $50 and $55. Call 482-4331 or see osfashland.org on the Web.

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NAPOLI MILIONARIA!: Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eduardo De Filippo’s comic drama in the Angus Bowmer Theatre through Oct. 30. The play takes place during World War II in the Naples home of Gennaro Jovine, an unemployed tram conductor. His wife, Amalia, thinks she has the answer for the rationing and poverty that have strapped their family, but it is a solution that causes conflict both within the household and with the authorities. Libby Appel directs. $29 to $65. Call 482-4331 or see osfashland.org on the Web.

RICHARD III: Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Shakespeare’s play, directed by Libby Appel, in the Angus Bowmer Theatre through Oct. 30. The play recounts the story of Richard’s quest for the crown and his willingness to be rid of anyone who stands in his way. $29 to $65. Call 482-4331 or see osfashland.org on the Web.

ROOM SERVICE: Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents John Murray and Allen Boretz’s farce, directed by J.R. Sullivan, in the Angus Bowmer Theatre through Oct. 29. Set in 1937 in a Broadway world of long ago, theatrical impresario Gordon Miller desperately needs financial backers to pay for the play he’s about to open. Tickets range from $29 to $65. Call 482-4331 or see osfashland.org on the Web.

TAPESTRY: THE SONGS OF CAROLE KING: Oregon Cabaret Theatre’s summer show, directed by Jim Giancarlo, pays tribute to the popular singer/songwriter. Performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Monday and at 1 p.m. Sunday through Sept. 4. Gourmet dinners and brunch are available with advance reservations. Appetizers, beverages and desserts are also available — no reservations needed. $21 to $28. Call 488-2902 or see oregoncabaret.com on the Web.

TRAGICAL HISTORY OF DOCTOR FAUSTUS: Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s production of Christopher Marlowe’s poetic tragedy plays on the Elizabethan Stage. Directed by James Edmondson, the play presents the burning question: What does it profit a man if he gains the whole works but loses his immortal soul? Dr. Faustus signs a pact with the devil and sets out on his collision course with destiny. The play runs through Oct. 7. $29 to $65. Call 482-4331 or see osfashland.org on the Web.

TWELFTH NIGHT: Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s production of Shakespeare’s popular comedy takes place on the Elizabethan Stage. Directed by Peter Amster, the play takes audiences to the world of Illyria where would-be lovers pine, languish and mourn until a beguiling castaway livens things up. The play runs through Oct. 9. $29 to $65. Call 482-4331 or see osfashland.org on the Web.

SARA EVANS: Country-music recording artist Sara Evans will perform at 7;30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at the Britt Festivals in Jacksonville. Opening for Evans will be singer/songwriter Tift Merritt. $52, $49 reserved; $29 lawn; and $19 for children up to age 12. Call 773-6077 or see brittfest.org on the Web. Sold Out.

TODD BARTON: Todd Barton, resident composer for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and director of composition studies at Southern Oregon University, will present an hour concert of improvised sonic textures in response to the exhibition of artwork by Robert Emory Johnson from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at the Schneider Museum of Art on the Southern Oregon University campus. Barton will explore sounds using the shakuhachi (a Japanese bamboo flute), synthesizers and various acoustical instruments including the waterphone.

Saturday, September 3

DIANE SCHURR: Diane Schurr "the new First Lady of jazz" will perform with Dave Samuels and the Caribbean Jazz Project at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Britt Festivals in Jacksonville. $44, $41 reserved; $25 lawn; and $15 for children up to age 12. Call 773-6077 or see brittfest.org on the Web.

Sunday, September 4

FOLK CONCERT: Citizens for Peace & Justice and Peace House of Ashland will present a concert of folk music supporting peace and alternatives to military recruitment in our schools from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, at the amphitheater at Bear Creek Park, Medford. Featured performers will be Thistle and Anna Roland from Riot Folk Collective as well as local musicians. The event is free but donations are welcome to help Citizens for Peace & Justice and alternatives to military recruitment at local high schools.

JAZZ SUNDAYS: Boris Cummings and Steve Elmer will perform from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, at Weisingers of Ashland, 3150 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland. Free. This will be the last Jazz Sunday concert of the season. Call 488-5989.

Thursday, September 8

JAZZ IN THE GARDEN: Church of the Blues will perform from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, at Eden Valley Orchards, 2310 Voorhies Road, Medford. $5. Call 512-2955.

Friday, September 9

JONNY LANG: Blues and rock guitar virtuoso Jonny Lang will perform his Acoustic Band Tour 2005 at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at the Britt Festivals in Jacksonville. Lang performed at Britt last year and is back by popular demand. Opening for Lang will be Warner Bros. recording artist Jon Nicholson with his unique hybrid of soul, blues, funk and rock. $46, $43 reserved; $30 lawn; and $20 for children up to age 12. Call 773-6077 or see brittfest.org on the Web.

Saturday, September 10

ANI DIFRANCO: Canceled.

LEONA MITCHELL: Leona Mitchell will perform a one-woman retrospective of her career as a professional entertainer in "Leona, the Flip-Side," at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Temple Emek Shalom, 1800 E. Main St., Ashland. Accompanying Mitchell will be Brent Olstat on piano, Steve Sutfin on drums and Jeff Addicott on bass. $20. Call 488-2909.

Sunday, September 11

TONY BENNETT: Legendary singer and 12-time Grammy-Award winner Tony Bennett will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Britt Festivals in Jacksonville. Bennett continues to release CDs for newer generations of fans. $85, $82 reserved; $46 lawn; and $33 for children up to age 12. Call 773-6077 or see brittfest.org on the Web.