Shakespeare & Beyond
Excerpt: 'Julius Caesar and Me: Exploring Shakespeare’s African Play'
Read an excerpt from actor Paterson Joseph’s book about playing the role of Brutus in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s acclaimed 2012 production of Julius Caesar.
Excerpt: 'Year of the Mad King' by Antony Sher
What’s it like to play the role of Lear onstage? In this excerpt from Year of the Mad King: The Lear Diaries, actor Antony Sher gives us a window into the rehearsal process for the Royal Shakespeare Company production of King…
What's onstage at Shakespeare theaters in March
Every month, we share a snapshot of Shakespeare in performance around America. What plays are onstage this month? We check in with our theater partners.
Folger Director Michael Witmore on his favorite Shakespeare play: The Winter's Tale
What makes “The Winter’s Tale” so compelling? Folger Director Michael Witmore shares spoiler-free insights about this Shakespeare play in three short videos.
What's onstage at Shakespeare theaters in February
Every month, we share a snapshot of Shakespeare in performance around America. What plays are onstage this month? We check in with our theater partners Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Atlanta Shakespeare Company at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse, Brave Spirits Theatre,…
Books on Shakespeare and race for Black History Month
Celebrate Black History Month with five books and one essay about race in early modern Europe and in Shakespeare’s plays.
Valentine's Day: Say it with Shakespeare
Whether you’re giving a valentine to a sweetheart or a friend, why not say it with Shakespeare? We have a new set of beautifully illustrated Shakespeare valentines for you, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
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.
What's onstage in January
Let’s check in with our theater partners with Shakespeare plays onstage in January, sharing a snapshot of Shakespeare in performance around America.
Pageants, banquets, and fireworks: How to celebrate a coronation
These books and documents from the Folger collection show the many ways an English coronation would be celebrated in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Excerpt: Fools and Mortals by Bernard Cornwell
“Fools and Mortals,” a new novel from New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell, tells the story of the first production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in Elizabethan England, from the perspective of William Shakespeare’s younger brother Richard.
Top five Shakespeare & Beyond blog posts of 2017
It’s been a busy year on the Shakespeare & Beyond blog. These were the top five blog posts of 2017, from a pumpkin pie recipe to a quiz about props.