The Folger Spotlight

Q&A with Twelfth Night director Mei Ann Teo
Director Mei Ann Teo shares the vision for Folger Theatre’s production of Twelfth Night. Shakespearean original practice, the soulful pop of local icon composer Be Steadwell, and an ensemble proposition all inform a production that Teo describes as “hilarious, sexy, and devastating.”

Play on!: An interview with "Twelfth Night" composer Be Steadwell
Folger Theatre’s Twelfth Night begins performances May 13. Composer Be Steadwell shares how The Cure, Elizabethan traditional ballads, the underground club scene in Berlin, and queer ball culture all inspire the songs for this production.

'The Death I Gave Him' Resource Guide
On May 1, 2025 the Folger’s virtual book club continues with a discussion of The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu. To prepare for the discussion, we have pulled together a list of resources related to Hamlet, science fiction, and technology.

About 'The Death I Gave Him'
Introductory information on the May 2025 Folger Book Club selection, The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu.

'Twelfth Knight' Resource Guide
On April 3, 2025 the Folger’s virtual book club continues with a discussion of Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth. To prepare for the discussion, we have pulled together a list of resources related to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, gaming, and girlhood.

About 'Twelfth Knight'
Introductory information on the April 2025 Folger Book Club selection, Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth.

Q&A: Peggy O'Brien on The Humanities Lab: Shakespeare 101
In this interview, Peggy O’Brien, the Folger’s Founding Director of Education, shares a first look into the new lineup of adult classes offered through The Humanities Lab program.

'The Tower' Resource Guide
On March 6, 2025 the Folger’s virtual book club continues with a discussion of The Tower by Flora Carr. To prepare for the discussion, we have pulled together a list of resources related to women in Shakespeare and Mary Queen of Scots.

About 'The Tower'
Introductory information on the March 2025 Folger Book Club selection, The Tower by Flora Carr.

Q&A with Karen Ann Daniels
Karen Ann Daniels discusses her hopes for what will happen during the Reading Room Festival’s open rehearsal of her play, a musical exploration of the songs in Much Ado About Nothing and the comedy’s hero, Beatrice.

'Symphony of Secrets' Resource Guide
To prepare for Folger Book Club’s February discussion of Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb, we have pulled together a list of resources related to resources related to Shakespeare, opera, and Morgiane, the first known opera by a Black American composer.

About 'Symphony of Secrets'
Introductory information on the February 2025 Folger Book Club selection, Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb.