Shakespeare in the world
Bernhardt/Hamlet: Inside a new play about Sarah Bernhardt
A new play by Theresa Rebeck, “Bernhardt/Hamlet,” shows Sarah Bernhardt grappling with one of Shakespeare’s greatest roles: Hamlet.
UNESCO gives 'Shakespeare documents' cultural status on its Memory of the World register
Ninety documents relating to Shakespeare’s life, including six from the Folger collection, have been added to the UNESCO International Memory of the World register.
Seven quotes (and a song) from Shakespeare for New Year’s
A bit of Shakespeare to help you reflect on the past year, plan for the next, or just impress your friends or family with a well-placed quote in a New Year’s Eve toast.
Playing Richard Burbage
Austin Tichenor of the Reduced Shakespeare Company shares what it’s like to play Richard Burbage onstage in Lauren Gunderson’s “The Book of Will.”
Sharing a love of Shakespeare with your family
Families share Shakespeare together in so many ways, such as watching his plays, quoting familiar lines, or throwing a Shakespeare birthday party.
Eclipses in Shakespeare's plays
Here are three of the ways Shakespeare used eclipses in his plays and poems. Did you know? In 1598, England experienced a total solar eclipse.
The Astor Place riot: Shakespeare as a flashpoint for class conflict in 1849
In the whole history of Shakespeare in American life, perhaps the most shocking single fact is that 22 or more people once died as a result of a riot in New York over the correct theatrical interpretation of Macbeth.
Duke Ellington's Such Sweet Thunder: Shakespeare and jazz
It’s been 60 years since Duke Ellington recorded Such Sweet Thunder, a jazz suite based on Shakespeare’s plays. Eleven songs are linked to Shakespearean characters like Othello and Lady Macbeth, and the final number is a tribute to Shakespeare himself.
Five women artists: Interpreting Shakespeare through sculpture and book art
This blog post spotlights five female artists whose interpretations of Shakespeare’s works are part of the Folger collection. We decided to highlight three sculptors and two book artists.
Fakespeare: 5 quotes commonly misattributed to Shakespeare
Fake quotes have been in the news lately, from the Republican National Committee’s Abraham Lincoln flub to the bogus Winston Churchill quote about supporting funding for the arts during World War II. Such misattribution is familiar to Shakespeare enthusiasts. Every…
Shakespeare the salesman: Advertising Coca Cola, iPhones, and chewing tobacco
Shakespeare is a familiar sight in the theater and on the movie screen, but he’s permeated many other areas of American life. Advertisers have picked up on the ubiquity of Shakespeare for more than two centuries.
The biggest Shakespeare stories of 2016
Let’s take a moment to revisit some of the biggest Shakespeare stories in the news this year, from the discoveries that grabbed headlines to the spectacular celebrations of the 400th anniversary to the celebrity performances that generated the most buzz.…