The Humanities Lab
Feed your curiosity, grow your mind, and enjoy smart conversation with the Humanities Lab, a two-session course where you can talk with scholars, get up close with the Folger collection, and see a play. It’s fun, and there’s no homework!
Register now for our October course, or keep reading to learn more about the series.
Not your typical class
If you love literature, history, and drama, these courses are for you. Everyone’s welcome, whether you’re completely new to Shakespeare or a total nerd.
And the time commitment for each course is minimal: two Wednesday evenings, with a week in between for all that clever thinking to properly marinate.
Don’t expect a typical classroom setting. We’ll get you up on your feet, speaking Shakespeare’s lines, sticking your nose in books (the really old kind!), hanging out after-hours with librarians, and learning forward at the edge of your seat in our theatre.
Course information
We’re running three courses this season, in October, March, and June. Each one costs $150, which includes the price of your theater ticket. Folger Members get a 10% discount! Become a member
Interested in all three courses? Save $50 with our Humanities Lab package for only $400.
Please note: These classes are for adults. Participants should be at least 18 years old. For programming for students, please visit: https://www.folger.edu/teach/student-programs/
Now accepting registration
Registration is open for our two-day October course on Julius Caesar and Julius X. Space is limited, so claim your spot today. Sign up for our email newsletters to get notified when registration opens for our March and June classes; you can find the course descriptions below.
The Humanities Lab: Julius Caesar and Julius X
Coming soon
Mark your calendar for these upcoming courses, and purchase your discounted three-course package
The Humanities Lab: As You Like It
March 11 & 18, 2026
Enter the Forest of Arden, where you’ll encounter the well-known characters and scenes of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. After talking with scholars and using performance to get a feel for the language, we’ll explore the world of Rosalind and friends through materials in the Folger collection. You’ll walk away with fresh insights and new perspectives about this playful comedy. The course includes a ticket to Folger Theatre’s spring production of As You Like It, which will offer “a love note to DC,” says Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels.
The Humanities Lab: Imagining Shakespeare
June 10 & 17, 2026
Art and theater! Travel back to 1789 London and the opening of an entire museum dedicated to Shakespeare. The Folger exhibition Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era explores how the paintings in London’s influential Boydell Shakespeare Gallery helped to position the Bard as a larger-than-life symbol of British imperialism and power. This course includes a ticket for Folger Theatre’s How Shakespeare Saved My Life by Jacob Ming-Trent.
