Shakespeare Plus: Ukraine, the Avengers, Summer Block Party, and more from the Folger

 

Shakespeare and Ukraine Director Oleksandr “Les” Kurbas’s 1920 Macbeth was the first production of a Shakespeare play in Ukraine, staged in the midst of the famine and violence of the Russian Civil War. Explore the connections between Shakespeare and Ukrainian national identity.   Listen to the Podcast Will's Avengers The Bard meets the MCU in Ian Doescher’s reworking of the four Avengers films as a Shakespearean play. Read an excerpt from the epic Battle of New York scene from the first Avengers film, which first appeared in theaters 10 years ago this month.   Read the Excerpt         The Folger Brings Shakespeare to the National Building Museum The National Building Museum and the Folger Shakespeare Library, in association with the University of South Carolina, are partnering this summer to present The Playhouse. Starting on Friday, July 1–and running through September 6, 2022–visitors to the National Building Museum can step back in time with the Bard for the latest iteration of the Museum’s annual Summer Block Party. By day, a custom-built theater in the museum's Great Hall will provide a venue for sword-fighting demonstrations, guided tours, and many other hands-on activities. At night The Playhouse transforms into a stage for Folger Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (July 12 – August 28), directed by Victor Malana Maog. Get your tickets now by becoming a Folger Theatre subscriber.   Learn More A Midsummer Night's Dream The Playhouse     Shakespeare's Birthplace Richard Schoch examines the first published image of the Bard's birthplace from 1769, reflecting on the transformation of a humble home into a significant tourist site in Stratford-upon-Avon.   Read the Blog Post Shakespeare Onstage in May We check in with our theater partners to see what's onstage this month across America, including Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of Much Ado About Nothing, pictured above.   See Our Guide Off the Shelf: RSC Complete Works Jonathan Bate traces Shakespeare’s popularity during his lifetime and his posthumous path to global influence, with fascinating insights drawn from Jane Austen and Samuel Johnson.   Read the Excerpt     #FolgerFinds For more encounters with the Folger collection, follow @FolgerLibrary on Instagram.           Building Renovation During Construction Support the Campaign     VISIT | CONNECT | SUPPORT       Folger Shakespeare Library | 201 East Capitol Street, SE Washington, DC 20003   Main (202) 544-4600 | Box Office (202) 544-7077 | info@folger.edu Image Credits: Avengers illustration by Danny Schlitz. © 2021 MARVEL. | The Great Hall at the National Building Museum. Photo credit Alex Erkiletian. | M.L. Roberts (Benedick) and Jonelle Jordan (Beatrice) in Much Ado About Nothing, Seattle Shakespeare Company.