Blackfriars Backstage Pass A fun, informative, off-the-cuff discussion series involving American Shakespeare Center Executive Director Dr. Ralph Alan Cohen and members of the ASC acting troupe as they explore literary devices, characterization, acting and directorial choices, and more for each of the plays currently appearing on the stage of the American Shakespeare Center?s Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, VA. Each edition of Backstage Pass also serves as a useful and enjoyable tool for teachers and students studying Shakespeare and Renaissance drama.