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A 1930s Culture War

On our podcast, we talk with James Shapiro about The Playbook: A Story of Theater, Democracy, and the Making of a Culture War and the impact of the short-lived Federal Theatre Project, including Orson Welles's production of an all-Black Macbeth in Harlem.

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Onstage in July

Shakespeare productions, including As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, and more, are delighting audiences under the stars or in the cool indoors—but for a change of pace, summer repertory at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum includes The Winter's Tale (above).

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From Ancient Egypt to Outer Space, Imprints in Time Documents Our Shared Human History

Serving as the inaugural show in the Folger's new space for special exhibitions is the stunning Imprints in Time exhibition, featuring 52 objects from Stuart and Mimi Rose's collection; all are displayed in a unique setting with one-of-a-kind wallpaper inspired by some of the objects on view. From the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, to the first edition of the first of Frederick Douglass's autobiographies, still in its original wrappers, to other objects from American history, including the advance press copy of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech and an Apollo 11 flight plan that went to the Moon—and much more—join us for this spectacular special exhibition.

Imprints in Time

Quiz: Shakespeare & Travel

During this busy vacation season, our quiz on Shakespeare and travel includes both ordinary and magical travels by his characters and a question about Shakespeare's own travels, too.

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Beach Read Suggestions

Our Summer Reading series offers top beach reading suggestions from the annals of the Folger Book Club, including a number of recommendations with intriguing connections to rare items from the Folger collection.

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Midsummer Outdoors

From Katharine Goodland's book about acclaimed director Tina Packer, this excerpt revisits Shakespeare & Company's memorable A Midsummer Night's Dream in the natural amphitheatre of The Mount in 1978.

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