In honor of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the San Diego Central Library will exhibit First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare during the month of June, the only California stop on the books' national tour.
The First Folio, one of several touring the country, contains 36 of Shakespeare’s plays. It will be on display from Saturday, June 4, until Thursday, July 7.
On loan from the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, the exhibition exclusively features First Folios from the Folger, whose collection of 82 First Folios is by far the largest in the world. The exhibition will bring the First Folio to all 50 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico.
Published in 1623, the book will be available for viewing and open to the page with “To be or not to be” from Hamlet. A multi-panel exhibit exploring the significance of the Folio will accompany the book.
There will also be a display of props, costumes and photographs showcasing The Old Globe Theatre's eight decades of presenting Shakespeare’s works.
The Folio will be located in the Art Gallery on the ninth floor of the library. The exhibition is free and open to the public, but tickets are recommended.
The Old Globe and the library will also have free Shakespeare-related programs such as A Day at Court, featuring jugglers, dancing, music and crafts and Thinking Shakespeare Live!, a 90-minute exploration of the language of Shakespeare as well as others events throughout the summer.
