| Lectures | |
April 25–October 16, 2010

Elizabethan Garden Tour

Explore our garden, inspired by herbal references in Shakespeare's plays and also incorporating plants popular in his time, including lavender, creeping thyme, and English ivy; a knot garden; and Shakespearean statues by American sculptor Greg Wyatt. Folger docents offer insights into plantings, Elizabethan customs, and more.

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| Lectures | |
September 18, 2010

Elizabethan Garden Tour

Explore our garden, inspired by herbal references in Shakespeare's plays and also incorporating plants popular in his time, including lavender, creeping thyme, and English ivy; a knot garden; and Shakespearean statues by American sculptor Greg Wyatt. Folger docents offer insights into plantings, Elizabethan customs, and more.

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| PEN/Faulkner | |
September 20, 2010

PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Gala: “Indiscretion(s)”

Nicholas Delbanco, Lisa Grunwald, Jane Hamilton, Maxine Hong Kingston, Walter Kirn, Laura Lippman, Manuel Muñoz, Audrey Niffenegger, Bich Minh Nguyen, Howard Norman, Z.Z. Packer, and Gail Kern Paster read original pieces on "Indiscretion(s)." Followed by black-tie dinner.

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| Special Event | |
September 23, 2010

Exhibition Opening
Vivat Rex!
Commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the Accession of Henry VIII

Celebrate the opening of our latest exhibition with remarks and a reception in the Folger's Great Hall.

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| Exhibition | |
September 24–December 30, 2010

Vivat Rex! Commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Accession of Henry VIII

Rare books, manuscripts, handwritten letters, and prints offer an in-depth look at the real Henry and the machinations of his court in a time of extraordinary change for England. First seen at the Grolier Club in New York.

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| Poetry | |
September 28, 2010

Edward Hirsch

Hirsch, author of the national bestseller How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry, will read from his published works, inlcuding For the Sleepwalkers, Wild Gratitude, and The Night Parade.

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| Music | |
September 29, 2010

Early Music Seminar: Pastime with Good Company

Drawing on 30 years of researching Folger Consort programs, Artistic Director Robert Eisenstein shares his encyclopedic knowledge on the composers and music of the upcoming concert.

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| Music | |
October 1, 2010

Pastime With Good Company

An autumnal feast of music from the court of Henry VIII—the most musical of the Tudors. Henry composed, had a large collection of instruments, and was "much delighted to synge." His chapel singers, including Cornysh and Browne, wrote stunning liturgical music as well. Featuring award-winning vocal sextet Lionheart.

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| Music | |
October 2, 2010

Pastime With Good Company

An autumnal feast of music from the court of Henry VIII—the most musical of the Tudors. Henry composed, had a large collection of instruments, and was "much delighted to synge." His chapel singers, including Cornysh and Browne, wrote stunning liturgical music as well. Featuring award-winning vocal sextet Lionheart.

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| Music | |
October 3, 2010

Pastime With Good Company

An autumnal feast of music from the court of Henry VIII—the most musical of the Tudors. Henry composed, had a large collection of instruments, and was "much delighted to synge." His chapel singers, including Cornysh and Browne, wrote stunning liturgical music as well. Featuring award-winning vocal sextet Lionheart.

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| PEN/Faulkner | |
October 8, 2010

Colum McCann

A reading with Irish-born author McCann, recipient of the National Book Award for his novel Let the Great World Spin.

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| Theater | |
October 12–November 21, 2010

Henry VIII

This compelling revelation of the lives of the royals rivals the intrigue of any current docudrama. Shakespeare's final history play reverberates with power struggles—both political and personal—as Henry's advisors, paramour Anne Boleyn, and Queen Katherine all vie for the favor of the King.

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| Theater | |
October 12–November 21, 2010

Open Captioned Performance: Henry VIII

The script of Henry VIII scrolls on a caption board at the side of the stage simultaneous to the action on stage at the 2pm performance on Sunday, November 14, 2010. Price: $45-55.

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| Lectures | |
October 15, 2010

Folger Friday: Henry VIII Discussion

Get an insider’s view of Folger Theatre’s production of Henry VIII with a panel discussion with the director and designers.

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| Special Event | |
October 18, 2010

Opening Night
Henry VIII

Enjoy the opening night performance of Folger Theatre's production of Henry VIII followed by a reception with the cast and company.

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| PEN/Faulkner | |
October 19, 2010

Nick Hornby & Ben Folds

An exclusive reading from English novelist Hornby’s Juliet, Naked and “musical short stories” from the album Lonely Avenue, with lyrics by Nick Hornby and music by Ben Folds. Folds will play selections from the album while Hornby discusses the collaboration.

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| Poetry | |
October 19, 2010

Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize: Matthew Ladd and Rosanna Warren

Prize recipient Ladd, author of The Book of Emblems, reads with Warren, the Anthony Hecht judge and former Chancellor of the Acedemy of American Poets. Introduced and moderated by Philip Hoy, Editor-in-Chief of Waywiser Press.

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| Special Event | |
October 26, 2010

To Catch a Thief: The Durham First Folio Goes Home

The curator and conservators who identified the priceless book will talk for the first time about the exciting events in this high-profile case.

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| Lectures | |
October 27, 2010

Pre–Show Discussion: Henry VIII

Gail Kern Paster, Director of the Folger and editor of Shakespeare Quarterly, shares her perspective on Shakespeare's Henry VIII in a pre-performance discussion.

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| PEN/Faulkner | |
November 1, 2010

Lan Samantha Chang and Samantha Hunt

Chang, author of Hunger and Inheritance, has been chosen twice for The Best American Short Stories. Hunt is the author of an acclaimed first novel The Seas.

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| Lectures | |
November 4, 2010

Post–Show Discussion: Henry VIII

A conversation with the cast of Henry VIII following the 7:30pm performance.

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| Special Event | |
November 4, 2010

Gallery Talk
Vivat Rex!
Commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the Accession of Henry VIII

Join us for a members-only Gallery Talk with Arthur Schwarz, curator of Vivat Rex!, followed by an after-hours viewing of the exhibition.

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| Lectures | |
November 5, 2010

Henry VIII: Art and Magnificence

Thomas Campbell, Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, delivers a lecture on Henry VIII's tapestries.

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| Poetry | |
November 8, 2010

Vera Pavlova

Moscow-born Vera Pavlova, one of Russia’s bestselling poets, reads from her first English collection, If There Is Something To Desire. Steven Seymour, her husband and professional interpreter, translates in this bilingual reading.

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| Lectures | |
November 19, 2010

Folger Friday: Vivat Rex! Exhibition Tour

Vivat Rex! exhibition curator and rare book collector Arthur Schwarz leads a tour of the Folger’s exhibition on Henry VIII.

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| Lectures | |
November 29, 2010

A Reading by Margaret George, author of The Autobiography of Henry VIII

Margaret George, author of The Autobiography of Henry VIII, reads from her work.

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| PEN/Faulkner | |
December 3, 2010

PEN/Malamud Award Reading: Edward P. Jones and Nam Le

Honored for excellence in the art of the short story are Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Known World, and Le, whose first book, The Boat, was selected as a New York Times Notable Book.

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| Exhibition | |
Ongoing, Monday–Saturday

The Shakespeare Gallery

Explore the Folger through our visitor film, digitally leaf through a First Folio with our touchscreen kiosk, and explore our collection through special exhibitions that connect with current programs.

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