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    The World's Largest Shakespeare Collection

    The Folger Shakespeare Library, established on Capitol Hill in 1932 as a gift to the American people, is home to the world’s largest collection of First Folios, the book that gave us Shakespeare. Learn more about the First Folio and see other treasures from the Shakespeare collection.

    About the First Folio Shakespeare Collection

  • Maurice Jones (Mark Anthony), JULIUS CAESAR, Folger Theatre, 2014. Photo: Teresa Wood.

    Lend Me Your Ears

    The Folger’s Shakespeare Unlimited podcast features interviews with scholars, authors, directors, and actors about Shakespeare’s works, his world, and his enduring influence. Want more listening material? Stream excerpts from full-cast audio recordings of seven Shakespeare plays, including Julius Caesar.

    Podcast Audio Excerpts

  • Shakespeare's Theater

    Learn more about the playhouses of Shakespeare’s time, including the Globe, and what it would have been like to see a performance there.

    Shakespeare's Theater Podcast

  • Lloyd Wolf

    Studying and Teaching Shakespeare’s Plays

    Visit The Folger Shakespeare to read the full, searchable text of all of Shakespeare's plays, along with scene summaries, essays, and textual notes. To further support teachers, Folger Education is sharing free resources and ideas for teaching during COVID-19.

    The Folger Shakespeare Teaching During COVID-19

  • Lloyd Wolf

    Magnolia on the March

    The relocation of a massive magnolia tree on the west side of our building marks the start of a renovation that will add exhibition galleries, collaborative research spaces, an education lab, social gathering spots, and more—all supported by the $50 million Wonder of Will campaign.

    Moving the Tree About the Renovation

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STRANGE SHAKESPEARE

Biopic Beginnings

Each generation reimagines Shakespeare in their own image... going all the way back to one of the earliest Shakespeare "biopics," Charles Somerset's 1829 play Shakspeare’s Early Days. This is the fourth blog post in an ongoing series about Shakespeare in the 200 or so years after his death.

Shakespeare Biopics More from the Series

EARLY MODERN LIFE

Recipes from the Archive

Want to try some historical cooking this winter? We’ve created some delicious recipe combinations for you to experiment with over the holidays and beyond. You’ll find 16th- and 17th-century recipes for breakfast, teatime, a fancy holiday meal, and more.

Hot Chocolate Recipe Combinations

INSIDE THE PLAYS

Black Lives Matter in Titus Andronicus

What does it mean to read a play like Titus Andronicus with questions of race in mind? David Sterling Brown, who has been part of Folger Institute's Critical Race Conversations series, discusses the ways such a reading reveals an entire dimension of racial imagery and violence.

Listen to the Podcast Critical Race Conversations

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Like so many who are privileged to work on Capitol Hill, we at the Folger are saddened and shaken by what happened in our neighborhood on January 6. The violent breach of the US Capitol to thwart the election and peaceful transfer of power is an affront to our American democracy and our District community.
Michael Witmore
Folger Shakespeare Library Director
More

  • MLK: Not Just Another Day Off

    A virtual poetic celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 18 at 10am ET features poets Camonghne Felix, Julian Randall, and Joseph Ross—and actors performing excerpts from the speeches of Dr. King and other historical figures. Free event; reservations required.

    Reservations & Info

  • Folger Theatre's 2020/21 Season

    Folger Theatre goes "On The Road" at venues across the DC region, including the National Building Museum, Round House Theatre, and Theater J. Follow us for news & performance dates in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Subscribe today to enjoy all the benefits that come with being a Folger Theatre subscriber.

    Subscriber Info
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    Shakespeare Lightning Round

    Tune in on Instagram Live for a fun, fast-paced, Shakespearean chat show. We ask our guests 30 lightning-fast questions about their favorite—and least favorite—things about the Bard.

    Past and Upcoming Episodes

Upcoming Folger Events & Programs

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Folger Education

Folger Teaching

During the pandemic, supporting teachers is more important than ever. Folger Education has launched its new online home for Teacher Members, Folger Teaching, where teachers can download lesson plans, participate in professional development workshops, and get connected to a wide range of related Folger programs and resources.

 

Folger Teaching