| Theater | |
January 24–March 4, 2012
The Gaming Table
The thrills of the gaming table stylishly play out against the eccentricities of English manners in this hit comedy of the 18th-century London stage.
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| Exhibition | |
February 3–May 20, 2012
Shakespeare's Sisters: Voices of English and European Women Writers, 1500–1700
Virginia Woolf famously evoked Shakespeare’s sister in A Room of One’s Own as she tried to imagine the difficulties women writers faced during the early modern period. In fact, Woolf was not aware of how many women actually were writing during that time, because many of their works were never published, and those that were, lay in relative critical neglect. This exhibition explores those women who were, in fact, writing during Shakespeare's time. It reimagines the “conversations” of these early women writers: with each other as members of families or groups; with the Bible; with spiritual and secular ideas; and with male writers of the time.
Special Sunday viewing hours from noon to 5pm.
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| Lectures | |
February 5, 2012
Women On Stage: A Conversation about Susanna Centlivre
In conjunction with Folger Theatre’s production of Susanna Centlivre’s The Gaming Table, director Eleanor Holdridge and Georgianna Ziegler, the Folger’s Head of Reference, discuss the 18th-century playwright’s theatrical legacy.
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| PEN/Faulkner | |
February 6, 2012
Benjamin Percy & Dagoberto Gilb
Percy’s works have been published by GQ, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications. Gilb’s novel The Magic of Blood received the PEN/Hemingway Award.
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| Lectures | |
February 8, 2012
Pre–Show Discussion: The Gaming Table
Mike Witmore, Director of the Folger, shares his perspective on Susanna Centlivre's The Gaming Table in a pre-performance discussion.
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| Poetry | |
February 9, 2012
Yusef Komunyakaa
Co-sponsored with The Phillips Collection
Yusef Komunyakaa is the author of 13 poetry collections, including Neon Vernacular: New and Selected Poems, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. Komunyakaa will read his poems in response to images from The Phillips Collection exhibition Snapshot.
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| Poetry | |
February 16, 2012
Shakespeare's Sisters: Women Writers Bridge Five Centuries
Rita Dove, Linda Gregerson, Elizabeth Nunez, Jacqueline Osherow, Linda Pastan, and Jane Smiley read their Folger-commissioned poems and essays from the forthcoming Shakespeare’s Sisters chapbook, published in conjunction with the Folger exhibition of the same name. .
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| Special Event | |
February 22, 2012
Gallery Talk
Shakespeare's Sisters:
Voices of English and European Women Writers, 1500–1700
Join curator Georgianna Ziegler for a talk and after-hours tour of Shakespeare's Sisters: Voices of English and European Women, 1500-1700.
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| Lectures | |
February 24, 2012
Arthur Phillips: The Tragedy of Arthur
Arthur Phillips discusses The Tragedy of Arthur, his novel about a newly discovered—and fictional—play by Shakespeare.
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| PEN/Faulkner | |
March 2, 2012
Tilar Mazzeo & Stacy Schiff
Mazzeo is a New York Times best-selling author of books on the history of luxury. Schiff is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Vera (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov).
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| Poetry | |
March 5, 2012
Eavan Boland
Eavan Boland has published ten volumes of poetry, and is the recipient of the Lannan Award for Poetry and an American Ireland Fund Literary Award. She is currently the Bella Mabury and Eloise Mbury Knapp Professor in Humanities at Stanford University where she directs the creative writing program.
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| Special Event | |
March 8, 2012
Acquisitions Night 2012
Browse and perhaps adopt recent additions to the Folger collection during our annual benefit for the acquisitions endowment. More than 70 rare books, manuscripts, and works of art will be on display with Folger curators and librarians on hand to answer questions. Buffet dinner served in Great Hall.
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| Lectures | |
March 14, 2012
Early Music Seminar: The Songbird
Led by Artistic Director Robert Eisenstein, these lively and insightful seminars give music lovers a detailed look at the composers and their world. A light-reception is also included.
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| Music | |
March 16, 2012
The Songbird
As part of Folger's celebration of 1,000 years of women writers, Folger Consort features Francesca Caccini's powerfully dramatic songs and the dazzling string and keyboard music of the early Baroque.
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| Music | |
March 17, 2012
The Songbird
As part of Folger's celebration of 1,000 years of women writers, Folger Consort features Francesca Caccini's powerfully dramatic songs and the dazzling string and keyboard music of the early Baroque.
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| Music | |
March 18, 2012
The Songbird
As part of Folger's celebration of 1,000 years of women writers, Folger Consort features Francesca Caccini's powerfully dramatic songs and the dazzling string and keyboard music of the early Baroque.
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| Special Event | |
March 30–31, 2012
Member Appreciation Weekend
Explore every aspect of this lively library in this annual members-only open house.
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| Lectures | |
April 11, 2012
Early Music Seminar: City of Ladies
Led by Artistic Director Robert Eisenstein, these lively and insightful seminars give music lovers a detailed look at the composers and their world. A light-reception is also included.
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| Music | |
April 13, 2012
City of Ladies
Influential writer Christine de Pizan lived at court in 15th-century France and wrote City of Ladies during this time, in which one of her ballades, Dueil angoisseus, was set to music by Giles Binchois. The concert will also feature haunting works by Guillaume Du Fay and others, performed by vocalists, fiddles, harps, lutes, and winds. With countertenor Drew Minter and multi-instrumentalist Tom Zejac.
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| Family Program | |
April 14, 2012
Shake Up Your Saturdays: Shakespeare in Action
Jump into the active world of Shakespeare’s plays using performance-based techniques that introduce the language to children in grades 1-5. Learn stage combat from Master Swordsman Brad Waller and perform a scene from Macbeth!
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| Music | |
April 14, 2012
City of Ladies
Influential writer Christine de Pizan lived at court in 15th-century France and wrote City of Ladies during this time, in which one of her ballades, Dueil angoisseus, was set to music by Giles Binchois. The concert will also feature haunting works by Guillaume Du Fay and others, performed by vocalists, fiddles, harps, lutes, and winds. With countertenor Drew Minter and multi-instrumentalist Tom Zejac.
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| Music | |
April 15, 2012
City of Ladies
Influential writer Christine de Pizan lived at court in 15th-century France and wrote City of Ladies during this time, in which one of her ballades, Dueil angoisseus, was set to music by Giles Binchois. The concert will also feature haunting works by Guillaume Du Fay and others, performed by vocalists, fiddles, harps, lutes, and winds. With countertenor Drew Minter and multi-instrumentalist Tom Zejac.
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| Shakespeare's Birthday | |
April 16, 2012
Shakespeare's Birthday Lecture 2012: Dr. Sarah Beckwith
Dr. Sarah Beckwith, a Professor of English and Professor and Chair of Theater Studies at Duke University, delivers the 2012 Shakespeare's Birthday Lecture, entitled "What Mamillius Knew: Ceremonies of Initiation in The Winter's Tale."
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| Special Event | |
April 18, 2012
2012 Folger Gala
The Folger Shakespeare Library's annual gala is its most important fundraiser of the year. Proceeds from the event will support the outstanding cultural and educational programming the Folger offers to the greater Washington area and beyond.
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| PEN/Faulkner | |
April 20, 2012
Gary Shteyngart & Adam Ross
Shteyngart, author of The Russian Debutante’s Handbook and Super Sad True Love Story, and Ross, whose debut novel Mr. Peanut received numerous accolades, read from their works.
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| Shakespeare's Birthday | |
April 22, 2012
Shakespeare's Birthday Open House
Celebrate Shakespeare's birthday with jugglers and jesters, music and theater performances, birthday cake, and a tour of the Folger’s reading rooms!
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| Poetry | |
April 30, 2012
Nothing Personal: The Dark Room Reunion Reading Tour
Founded in Boston in 1987 by Thomas Sayers Ellis and Sharan Strange, The Dark Room Collective began as an informal community of African American poets. The esteemed collective reunites for readings in 2012.
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| Theater | |
May 1–June 10, 2012
The Taming of the Shrew
The battle of the sexes wages on as the arrogant Petruchio and the headstrong Kate face off in Shakespeare’s comedic examination of the institution of marriage and the journey toward love.
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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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