Folger Theatre

‘Shylock Agonistes’: Howard Jacobson and Aaron Posner at Folger Theatre

On the stage of the Folger Theatre, with the vestiges of the set of Aaron Posner’s just-closed Midsummer Night’s Dream in the background, well-known director and playwright Aaron Posner and Man Booker...

In the Moment: Megan Graves as Snug in Folger Theatre’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Ha! Minor role indeed. It’s only Snug one of the Rude Mechanicals in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But special fan’s props are due to the gentle, shy Snug in the current Folger Theatre...

Review: ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Folger Theatre

What continually impresses me about the Folger Theatre is that it takes on Shakespeare plays and that nothing is off limits from experimentation or adaptation. They are masters at unlocking new levels...

‘The Season Bids Us’ at The Folger Consort

The Folger Consort — this splendid, and lapidary jewel in the crown of the Greater Washington area, and indeed, “all the world’s a stage” when it comes to the Folger — opened its Christmas-season...

Spine: ‘Pericles’ by Oregon Shakespeare Festival at Folger Theatre (Review #2)

The rarely performed Pericles by William Shakespeare, now on stage at Folger Theatre, is that even rarer of manuscripts: a folk play with epic plot, with virtuous storytelling and song, and without a...

‘In the Moment’: Thoughts on Folger Theatre’s ‘Pericles’

Dazzling. Indeed Pericles is quite dazzling in the contemporary creation from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival currently at the Folger Theatre. It possesses a radiance with its modern youthful vigor of...

‘Pericles’ at the Folger Theatre

Pericles is a night of wonder, perfect for a romantic evening or a thought-provoking night out with family or friends. Watching it is like lying in the grass watching clouds move over a beautiful blue...

Dangereuse: An Interview With Playwright Karin Coonrod on ‘texts and beheadings/ElizabethR’ at The Folger Theatre

I asked Playwright Karin Coonrod to talk about her play texts and beheadings/ElizabethR, which ends its run this weekend at Folger Theatre. Sophia: Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us...

Dangereuse: ‘Texts and Beheadings/Elizabeth R: The Heart of a Lonely Queen’

“[I]f I were turned out of the realm in my petticoat I were able to live in any place in Christendom,” said the legendary Elizabeth I: wit, scholar, great Queen, and poet. There is no doubt that this...

The Women’s Voices Theater Festival: ‘texts&beheadings/ElizabethR’ at The Folger Theatre

“The past cannot be cured” is a phrase attributed to Queen Elizabeth I (ElizabethR). But it certainly can be revisited. And that revisit comes some 400 years after her death. It is...

Nibbles and Sips Around Town: ‘America Eats Tavern Holds Inaugural Virginia Festival, Bloomsday Celebration, Blue Duck Tavern Rhapsodizes About Ice Cream, Mitsitam Gets a New Chef, and We Get His Wild Rice Bars Recipe’

As expected tons of events are crammed into the month of June. Why? There seems to be a totally unfounded impression that we are all darting off to faraway lands. We wish! Here’s where we went...

Romell Witherspoon on Playing Rosencrantz in Folger Theatre’s ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead’

In Part 2 of our interviews with the actors playing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern at Folger Theatre, meet Romell Witherspoon. Sophia: Please introduce yourself to our readers. What are your favorite...

In the Moment: A Chat with Director Aaron Posner and Scenic/Properties Designer Paige Hathaway at ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead’ at the Folger Theatre

Walking into the Folger Theatre, I did a double-take. This clearly was going to be a different visual experience for Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead as directed by Aaron Posner....

‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’ at Folger Theatre (Review)

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at the Folger Theatre is a sumptuously original production of the breakthrough play of one of England’s greatest living playwrights. “I write plays” Tom Stoppard...

Spine: ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead’ at Folger Theatre (Article)

I first read Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead back in 1974. It was but one of many plays I devoured as part of my thirst for the absurdist perspective. It’s now playing at Folger...

In the Moment: A Tip of the Hat to Mary Stuart’s Todd Scofield

There is a “minor” character who has a key role in the terrific Mary Stuart production currently at the Folger Theatre. He has only a few moments of visibility. But, I want to call him out with a tip...

Spine: The Enlightened World of Folger’s ‘Mary Stuart’

Frederic Schiller’s historical drama, Mary Stuart (1800), gives us two potent, yet vulnerable women, Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. It gives us religious fanaticism — no, not Sunni versus Shia...

‘Mary Stuart’ at The Folger Theatre

Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells, and cockle shells, and pretty maids all in a row.” This nursery rhyme is often said to be about Mary Stuart. The pretty maids...

Meet the Cast and Director of Shakespeare Theatre Company’s ‘The Tempest: Part 4: Director Ethan McSweeny

In Part Three of a series of interviews with the cast and director of Shakespeare Theatre Company’s The Tempest, meet Director Ethan McSweeny. Michael: I think a lot of people around town know who you...

Spine: ‘Julius Caesar, “et tu Brute?” and You’

Shakespeare, the humanist; Shakespeare, the poet; Shakespeare, the political playwright; Shakespeare, the fatalist. Before he passed away, my 87-year-old father used to quiz members of the younger...

In the Moment: “Julius Caesar’ at Folger Theatre

Let’s be provocative in this column. Let’s imagine a world where the debates within Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar are not between ambitious political people like Brutus, Mark Anthony, Cassius, and...

‘Julius Caesar’ at Folger Theatre

Folger Theatre launches its 2014-15 season with a strikingly imaginative production of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, a play whose contradictions and cruelties mirror the bewildering politics...

In the Moment: An Interview with Tom Teasley on His Live Score for ‘Nosferatu’ on October 25th at Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA

“I invite you to participate in a merging of sight, sound, drama and fantasy. For fifty minutes I will take your imagination on a fantasy journey and return you safely to your seats!” Now that is how...

Globe Theatre’s ‘King Lear’ at Folger Theatre

The power of Shakespeare’s tragedies lies in their ability to speak to both the political and the personal. King Lear is an exemplar in this regard. Not only does the empire collapse and the royal...

‘Making Sparks’: Meet the Managing Director, Cast, and Director of Theater Alliance’s ‘Spark’ Part 2: Sarah Strasser

Spark by Caridad Svich opens this weekend at the Anacostia Playhouse and runs through September 28, 2014. This gritty, powerful drama tells the story of a veteran returning from war, and the ongoing...

Free Screening of Folger Theatre’s 2008 Teller/Posner Directed ‘Macbeth’ This Saturday, 8/23/14 at 8:15 PM at Carter Barron

A free screening of Folger Theatre‘s 2008 magical production of Macbeth will take place on Saturday, August 23 at 8:15 pm at the Carter Barron Ampitheatre in Rock Creek Park. No tickets are required....

Fiasco Theater’s ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’ at Folger Theatre

Girl Crazy Start with Shakespeare. Add some very clever dramaturgy, cut a few characters, and incorporate a gifted group of artists and you have a magical night in the theatre. The D.C. debut of...

Fiasco Theater’s ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’ and ‘Cymbeline’ at Folger Theatre-Part 3: Fiasco Theater’s Co-Artistic Director Noah Brody

In Part 3 of Fiasco Theater’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Cymbeline at Folger Theatre: meet Fiasco Theater Company’s Co-Artistic Director and Co-Founder Noah Brody. Joel: When did Folger contact...

Fiasco Theater’s ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’ and ‘Cymbeline’ at Folger Theatre-Part 2: Fiasco Theater Company’s Co-Artistic Director and Co-Founder Jessie Austrian

In Part 2 of Fiasco Theater’s ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’ and ‘Cymbeline’ at Folger Theatre: meet Fiasco Theater Company’s Co-Artistic Director and Co-Founder Jessie Austrian. Joel: When did Folger...

Fiasco Theater’s ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’ and ‘Cymbeline’ at Folger Theatre-Part 1: Director Ben Steinfeld

In Part 1 of “A Look at Fiasco Theater‘s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” and “Cymbeline’ at Folger Theatre”-meet Director Ben Steinfeld. Joel: Why is the Folger’s performing space a perfect fit for...

‘Richard III’ at NextStop Theatre Company by Sophia Howes

After the discovery of Richard III’s remains in a Leicester car park in August 2012, it was concluded that far from being a hunchback, as some have stated, he suffered from scoliosis, an abnormal...

‘Richard III’ at Folger Theatre by Sophia Howes

Richard, We Hardly Knew Ye Richard III is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, and with good reason. In his fascinating interview posted on the National Theatre’s website, Sir Ian McKellan notes...

Michael Goldsmith on Playing Romeo at Folger Theatre by Joel Markowitz

Michael Goldsmith talks about playing Romeo in Folger Theatre’s production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Aaron Posner. DCMetroTheaterArts’ reviewer Emily Caio wrote in her review of the show that...

Synesthesia: Accessible Theater and Art in DC in November 2013 by Yvonne French

DC is now considered the second biggest theater town in the United States, after New York. It also has one of the biggest deaf communities, which means there is a lot of culture: deaf culture! What...

‘Romeo and Juliet’ at Folger Theatre by Emily Cao

Shakespeare’s iconic star-crossed lovers certainly need no introduction… but Folger Theatre’s energetic interpretation of Romeo and Juliet may indeed herald some much-deserved praise. Director Aaron...

‘Twelfth Night’ at Folger Theatre by Mark Dewey

Folger’s Twelfth Night is Beautifully Conceived It’s a disk, or a lens, or giant kaleidoscope, thirty feet high and thirty feet wide. Or a big round stained-glass window, maybe, slanted like the...

Folger Theatre Announces its 2013-2014 Season Schedule by Peter Eramo

FOLGER THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2013/14 SEASON FILLED WITH SHAKESPEARE PLAYS Shakespeare’s ROMEO AND JULIET Helen-Hayes Award winner Aaron Posner directs the most famous story of “star-crossed” love....

Zachary Appelman on Playing Henry V at Folger Theatre by Joel Markowitz

Zachary Appelman has audiences and critics hailing his royal performance as Henry V at Folger Theatre. He tells us how he prepared for the role and how working with Director Robert Richmond helped...

Robert Richmond on Directing ‘Henry V’ at Folger Theatre by Joel Markowitz

Director Robert Richmond talks about his vision for Henry V at Folger Theatre, which is receiving raves from audiences and local critics alike. Joel: Why did you want to direct this production of...

‘Henry V’ at The Folger Theatre by Mark Dewey

Appelman and Cisek Plumb the Depths of Henry at the Folger Theatre For a long time I’ve associated Shakespeare’s Henry V with men who go to war to come of age, or men who start a war to come of age,...

‘The Conference of the Birds’ at Folger Theatre by Amanda Gunther

“The way is open but there is neither traveler nor guide.” That is the closing statement and tagline of Folger Theatre’s production of The Conference of the Birds. Based on the poem by Farid Uddi...

‘Hamlet’ at Folger Theatre by Natalie McCabe

At the start of Shakespeare’s Globe’s production of Hamlet, the entire cast gathers onstage, with the lights up, playing instruments and singing a variation of “Little Beggar Man.” Later, in Act IV of...

‘The Taming of the Shrew’ at Folger Theatre by Julia L. Exline

Folger Theatre presents William Shakespeare’s classic comedy The Taming of the Shrew, drawing inspiration and influence from the Wild West, circa 1880. Esteemed director Aaron Posner sheds Shakespeare...

Stage Dad: ‘Three Simple Rules’ by Glenn Cook

Everyone has heard horrible stories about stage parents. Reality shows paint the worst pictures in vivid, cable-ready HD. Tabloids are littered with tales of the Lindsays, the Brittanys, the Mileys,...