in

This Fall, Shakespeare is Literally Everywhere in D.C.

[ad_1]

Seven years after William Shakespeare’s death in 1616, the First Folio of Shakespeare was published, the first major collection of an author’s plays to be published in England. The larger, more expensive folio format designated the works of Shakespeare as subjects worthy of such treatment. Containing 36 of his plays collected by his friends and fellow shareholders in the King’s Men acting company John Heminge and Henry Condell, the First Folio included dedicatory verses by friends, fellow playwrights, and poets, as well as the famous portrait of the balding playwright engraved by the artist Martin Droeshout.  

While many of Shakespeare’s plays had previously been printed in smaller, cheaper quartos during his lifetime, 18 of the works we most revere now—including As You Like It, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, and The Tempest—were not published during his lifetime and only survive because of this 1623 collection. 

Four hundred years after this momentous publication date, Washington, D.C., is celebrating Shakespeare’s works through a series of plays, performances, concerts, lectures, art exhibits, and more during the Shakespeare Everywhere Festival, billed as “12 shows, 12 weeks, 1 city,” from Oct. 7 to Dec. 31. 

“Shakespeare Everywhere gives D.C. audiences the opportunity to experience the myriad ways that self-reflection and expression of humanity is possible with Shakespeare as a point of departure: through song, dance, theater, and more,” explains Karen Ann Daniels, director of programming and artistic director at the Folger Theatre. “It also gives us a chance to appreciate the vastly talented arts ecosystem we are proud to be part of in Washington, D.C. We plan to continue building deeper connections across D.C.’s creative community.”

The Folger Shakespeare Library on Capitol Hill stands as a living monument to the British playwright and poet who has influenced American literature, philosophy, and politics. Home to the largest collection of First Folios—82 of the 235 known extant editions (from an original run of about 750)—the Folger is also the world’s largest collection of Shakespearean archival materials, from rare pre-modern books to theatrical ephemera. 



[ad_2]

Source link

What do you think?

Written by enovate

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings

The Rent Is Too Damn Algorithmic

Josh Lopez Charged for Allegedly Threatening Frat Brother