• T. Charles Erickson

    Watch Shakespeare Online

    Teller (of Penn & Teller) and Aaron Posner present a startling, supernatural Macbeth. Watch the recorded Folger Theatre 2008 performance online for free through Jul 1, along with eight special features.

    Watch Macbeth In Teller's Words

  • Listen to Shakespeare's Plays

    Through July 1, the Folger and Simon & Schuster Audio are making our full-cast audio recordings of seven Shakespeare plays free to stream. Visit The Folger Shakespeare site to read the full, searchable text of all of Shakespeare's plays, along with scene summaries, essays, and textual notes.

    Audio Recordings The Folger Shakespeare

  • Library of Congress

    Abraham Lincoln and Shakespeare

    On our Shakespeare Unlimited podcast, scholar Michael Anderegg discusses true (and fictional) stories of Abraham Lincoln and his passion for Shakespeare, why these anecdotes fascinate us, and what they can tell us about Lincoln and about Shakespeare’s place in the American story.

    Listen More Podcasts

  • Photo: Elman Studio

    The First Folio

    The First Folio is the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s works, published in 1623. Without it, 18 of his plays might have been lost forever. Learn more about this remarkable book—and the Folger's collection of First Folios, the largest in the world.

    About the First Folio About the Folger Collection

  • KieranTimberlake/OLIN

    Building Renovation

    Our historic building is undergoing a major renovation to expand public space, improve accessibility, and enhance the experience for all who come here. The project is supported by the $50 million Wonder of Will campaign.

    About the Renovation The Wonder of Will

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INSIDE THE PLAYS

Shakespeare's Much-Maligned Toads and Frogs

See how the toads and frogs in Shakespeare's plays reflect the assumptions of his day, that these amphibians were venomous and associated with witchcraft.

Read the Blog Post

FOLGER FELLOWS

Translating with a 'Shakespearean Flavor'

Bikang Huang, who came to the Folger Shakespeare Library last summer on an artist-in-residence fellowship, shares a new approach to translating Chinese classics such as The Peony Pavilion.

Read the Blog Post About Fellowships

OFF THE SHELF

Shakespeare in a Divided America

On the Folger's Shakespeare Unlimited podcast, James Shapiro discusses his new book, Shakespeare in a Divided America. Read an excerpt about celebrity couple Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne and The Taming of the Shrew on the American stage.

Read the Excerpt Listen to the Podcast

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Shakespeare is our middle name. We are stewards of a precious resource of world heritage and culture—a living tradition that offers something truly elevating.
Michael Witmore
Folger Shakespeare Library Director
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  • Folger Theatre's 2020/21 Season

    Folger Theatre goes "On The Road" next season at venues across the DC region, with the season opener, A Midsummer Night's Dream, at the National Building Museum on stage this summer. Subscribe today to be the first to know about events and shows, and to enjoy all the benefits that come with being a Folger Theatre subscriber.

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Upcoming Folger Events & Programs

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Folger Education

Teaching During COVID-19

Teachers are invited to join Folger Education's weekly teacher conversations and to use free resources for teaching Shakespeare and other complex texts during COVID-19.

Learn More