• Don Hunstein

    Duke Ellington and Such Sweet Thunder

    How did Duke Ellington come to create Such Sweet Thunder, a suite of twelve tunes inspired by the Bard and his characters? Scholar — and musician — Douglas Lanier shares insights about the suite, the second chapter of Ellington’s career, and how they reflect shifting cultural perceptions of jazz.

    Listen Essay

  • Alison Luff as Nell Gwynn. Photo by Brittany Diliberto, Bee Two Sweet Photography.

    Folger Theatre: Nell Gwynn

    An orange seller steps onto the stage and becomes the darling of the Restoration theater—and a favorite mistress of Charles II. Onstage through Mar 10.

    Buy Tickets The Historical Nell Gwynn

  • Explore the Folger with the Miranda Beta

    We’ve just released an update to our Miranda digital asset platform with more items, new features, and an improved navigation. Explore our collections today!

    Miranda Beta

  • First Chefs: Fame and Foodways from Britain to the Americas

    Just like today, getting food from farm to table in the early modern British world was hard work. First Chefs tells the stories of the named and unnamed heroes of British and American farms, plantations, kitchens, and markets through historic manuscripts, books, and artifacts. On view through Mar 31.

    Learn More Curator's Insights

  • Yassine El Mansouri

    What's On at the Folger

    There's lots to do — and much of it's free! Visit and enjoy tours of our landmark building. Explore our First Chefs exhibition. Check out our free Folger Fridays.

    Tours Programs

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WILL IN THE WORLD

The Pop-Cultural Legacy of Olivier's Richard III

Has any other film of a Shakespeare play left a greater cultural legacy than Laurence Olivier’s Richard III? Austin Tichenor explores why it's inspired so many and been so widely imitated.

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ICONIC MOMENTS

Drawing Shakespeare

Artist Paul Glenshaw takes a close look at Macbeth and the witches as he draws the "toil and trouble" scene from Macbeth depicted in one of the bas-reliefs on the front of the Folger building.

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PICTURING SHAKESPEARE

Five Faces of Shakespeare

One of the many treasures in the Folger collection is a remarkable binding, known as a “Cosway binding,” that includes five miniature versions of works of art that are said to have shown how Shakespeare once looked.

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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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  • Nell Gwynn: Now on stage

    An orange seller from the streets of Drury Lane becomes the darling of the Restoration theater—and favorite mistress of Charles II. Jessica Swale's award-winning comedy from the U.K. makes its East Coast premiere at the Folger. "A romantic comedy of the highest order" (DCist) and "a roaring good time" (DC Theatre Scene). 

    Tickets & Information

  • Confection: March 4 - 24

    The world premiere of an immersive theater piece imagined and performed by New York's Third Rail Projects, highlighting the cost and delight of delicious delicacies. Limited run staged in the Folger Reading Rooms. 

    Tickets & Information

  • Vinegar and Char: Verse from the Southern Foodways Alliance

    The season of O.B. Hardison Poetry Series continues with poetry readings by Sandra Beasley, Sean Hill, and Atsuro Riley. Wine reception and book signing to follow the reading on Monday, March 11 at 7:30pm.

    Tickets & Information

  • Music of Spain and Italy: Mar 29-31

    Folger Consort plays a variety of flavors from 16th-century Spain and Italy—from rustic, courtly, lively dances to some of the greatest wind band repertoire from Spain. With soprano Jessica Beebe and wind ensemble Piffaro, The Renaissance Band. March 29 - 31.

    Tickets & Information

Upcoming at the Folger

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Folger Education

Classroom Resources for Teaching Shakespeare

Folger Education works alongside teachers to develop engaging, effective tools for helping students have successful classroom encounters with Shakespeare and other complex texts.

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