The Folger Shakespeare Library and Theatre is located right around the corner from the National Archives. This was a decent (free!) museum, but I wouldn't put it at the top of my list if I had a limited amount of time in DC. The Folger family owns 82 out of 235 known copies of the first folio, one of which is on display behind glass in the Founder's Room. However, this area isn't open to the public, so you have to take a guided tour or be escorted by one of the guards in order to see it. The guided tour was an hour but probably could've been a half an hour. Our guide was very knowledgable about the collection, and it was somewhat interesting to learn about the life of Henry Clay Folger, who made his fortune at Standard Oil (not from coffee!). The Reading Room is beautiful; unfortunately, it was closed to the public. It felt a little silly to line up to look through a window at it. There was an exhibit about Shakespeare's influence in America in the main hall. I learned a few things about the Booth family, and the costumes from stage productions were cool. This isn't a bad place to stop if you need to get out of the sun for a bit, but I wouldn't plan to spend a ton of time here, especially since so many areas are closed to the public. Maybe I would've felt more welcome if I came for a show or special event at the theater. You can also relax in the English garden on the side of the building! read more

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Went on a private tour for a conference. This place is fantastic. I loved the exhibit on Jane and Will. We got to see several pieces from the private archives and the theater. A beautiful reading/research room makes me want to be a Shakespeare Scholar. read more

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This gem is often ignored by tourists who glance at it on the way to and from the Capitol - but rarely walk in, sadly. Sort of sandwiched between the main Library of Congress building and the Supreme Court, the FSL - this *supreme* little theatre and manuscript gallery - is a delight. Add to these impressive rooms a creatively landscaped garden (with sculptures depicting Shakespeare plays), a palatial (and exclusive) library, a sweet little gift shop, and you have a perfect mix for Shakespeare lovers. I have seen a play here - set in the Globe Theatre-esque space and was very impressed. Their lecture series is renowned as well (e.g., June will include "Discovering Hamlet" lectures from British actors and directors). Thank you, Folger (and Carnegie Mellon), for making your vision so brilliantly come to light. Note: Founded in 1970, the Folger Institute is a center for advanced study and research in the humanities, which is sponsored by the Folger Shakespeare Library and a consortium of 40 universities in the U.S. and abroad. read more

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I came here during one of the worst heat waves this summer. Narrow it down. I loved the bas-relief depictions of some of the Bard's plays. They are placed along the exterior of the building nearly at eye level. The theater is stunning, providing for excellent acoustics. As Katie noted, it is similar to the Globe Theater, but DC's is much more intricate and intimate than London's hallowed sanctuary of Shakespearean heritage. The reading room is reminiscent of an old English manor with lofty ceilings. A range of tapestries above the cascading bookshelves completes this image. The library boasts many copies of the First Folio and its importance is made abundantly clear to all those who happen to grace these halls. I had arrived on the last day of production for The Taming of the Shrew and so I was unfortunately unable to purchase tickets. My next visit to the Folger Theater will involve better planning. read more

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Wonderful, spur of the moment decision. Turns out, I had an evening free and to myself with not too much work, after a day of meetings. Although I was dead tired, I decided at the last moment to check if any tickets for A Winter's Tale were still available. They had one, full view seat left. I took it--note that if you are flexible and willing to risk it, tickets fall to half price 30 minutes before curtain. This place is special--a replica of Shakespeare's Globe theater. Though the stage and decor inside recall the renaissance, the productions do not. The Folger takes risks, such as using a puppet to stand in for the young prince, and creating a sound track, sung and played by the actors to highlight the drama of this play. Its never a mistake to attend a play, here. read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Spent a small fortune for tickets. Uber driver spent about 20 min. driving around LoC buildings, and could not find the right bldg. Dropped me off at Jefferson Bldg. Tickets did not have a phone number, nor the address of the FT (although I'd given it to the Uber driver). Insanely cold outside. I tried several phone numbers on my iphone, and finally got a real person, who gave me the cross streets, and then hung up - without informing me that there was a lot of construction and that the entrance was not at the intersection he provided. We walked around the bldg and only on our 2nd time around, realized the entrance was below ground level, well-hidden from the street. This put us in the bldg. 10 min. after the performance started. No apology for our troubles, which we reported to the woman at the desk, although she did state that she'd had other people also tell her it was difficult to find. Once in the theater, they refused to seat us in our assigned seats since the performance had started, and instead we had to sit on the side where is was more difficult to see. We won't be back. All in all, very disappointing evening that left a sour taste for FT. Very user unfriendly. All in all, I got the feeling that FT doesn't want people to really visit, that it's really only for the hoity toity. Fine - let them have it. read more

Have seen two plays here and both were very well done. I don't live in the area so I'm really going to miss this venue. The theatre is very small but beautiful, most seats are good with a few exceptions. They also have full accessibility for wheelchair users etc. If you can make sure you take a free tour of the library before seeing get a show. It is quite interesting and gives you an even better appreciation of the work that guests on there. I didn't get out to the gardens but here they are beautiful as well. read more

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I love antiquey thangs. Leather bound books, dark lighting, mahogany panels, anything to make me feel like an old white guy for a day. What else? I bought a QUILL at the gift shop. Say something. read more

I explored the Folger Shakespeare Library during my lunch break recently and enjoyed the English lawyers exhibit. It was very interesting to read about the courts of chancery and the Magna Carta and see some original books and manuscripts behind glass cases. I also got to view the Shakespeare Theater (it was under construction and kind of in shambles at the time of my visit) from up in the balcony, which was interesting. What I was disappointed about is that the general public does not have access to the Reading Room, which seems to be one of the main attractions. I asked at the front and was told to come back in April (Shakespeare's birthday) for their Reading Room open house. I was disappointed to not be able to see it. Also, you can't visit the Founder's Room without being on a tour. Since I was on my lunch break and I was told the tours take an hour, I couldn't view the Founder's Room either. I still think this place is nice and it's conveniently located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, but it's disappointing that so many of the interesting areas are not accessible to the general public. I ended up only being able to view the theater from above and explore the tiny English lawyers exhibit. I'd visit again, but I wouldn't have my hopes up and would expect to only see 1-2 sections of the building. read more

The Folger Shakespeare Library is a must-see destination for those who love the classic books canon. It has the First Folio, the original plays, as well as exhibits that provide a context for Shakespeare's times. On the exterior, there are beautiful marble bas reliefs of scenes from the Bard's plays. Interestingly, they go for lesser known scenes, such as Hamlet in his mother's chamber, or Romeo and Juliet parting ways after their wedding night (instead of the balcony scene). The Folger is a must-see in the Capital City! read more

Get thee to the Folger! Great place to catch an intimate little show -- and not just Shakespeare plays, but works by his contemporaries and modern playwrights, too. Have seen some really wonderful productions here, two of the most memorable were a classic interpretation of "King Lear" (one of my fave Shakespeares to begin with) and a modern interpretation of "Midsummer Night's Dream" that incorporated the Mafia and used a pizza joint as the setting. The theater is small and cozy which means most seats are great ones. There are, however, these giant columns/pillars providing structural support? I guess? And woe to the play goer whose seat is behind one. Your neck will break from the craning around those things. Be sure you know your seat is not anywhere near those bohemoths! The library itself is Gothically (or maybe it's Medievally?) inclined and includes pieces and works from Shakespeare's time period, like school primers and religious texts. It's not a Shakespeare *museum*, so don't go expecting to learn all about the life and works of the Bard. No visit is complete without a stop by the awesome gift shop, either. read more

Wow! I've lived in D.C. 20 years & today was the 1st time I visited this place - why did I take so long? That said, I've never been a huge fan of Shakespeare, but my impetus to visit the Library was to see "Very Like A Whale" (An exhibition of books & objects, with photographs by Rosamond Purcell). I had seen a picture (on the last page of the Sept./Oct. 2012 issue of "Audubon" magazine) of a beautiful piece of hematite in the shape of a bird's wing. To my surprise, it said this object would be on view at this Library, hence my visit today. And like I said above, wow! This exhibit is AMAZING. There is so much to look at & read & most of it deals with fantasy, fairy tale & myth (all of which I love). It's so detailed that I couldn't possibly write about it all here. You just have to see it. And of course, it's free! And the hematite bird wing is incredible! (Though it doesn't look as pink in color as the magazine picture made it out to be). There is also a gift shop with various interesting items for sale (though unfortunately, no book accompanying the exhibit). And downstairs, by the restrooms, there is a Queen Elizabeth I costume that was worn during one of the plays at the attached theatre. Speaking of, we got to go upstairs in the viewing gallery to see actors rehearsing the upcoming play "The Conference Of The Birds." So, in a nutshell, highly recommended! read more

Tour guides are excellent and informative; they are passionate and knowledgeable and it showed in their excitement on each of the three tours I did this past Saturday: Elizabethan Garden Tour at 10 am, docent led tour at 11 am, and the Folger Reading Room tour at noon. My one criticism is really based on my expectation. I had expected to receive a tour and instead for each of the three, we didn't really go anywhere. The garden tour wasn't extensive but the docent did talk about interesting details such as the Art Deco grilles on the front doors and the tall windows above the bas-reliefs and the neoclassical exterior of the Library/Theater which blends in with its neighbors. All of this can be found and read about online. I did like that the docent pointed out the shape of the boxwood plantings (serpent) and the ivy to keep rats and mice hidden. She also tied in plants and designs inspired by Shakespeare plays. The docent led tour was filled with facts but again we stuck to a very limited section of the vast building: the foyer and a room that houses the first folio. On the third tour, I had two docents, one who led the old reading room and one who led the new. It's pretty spectacular how ornate and detailed the paintings, stained glass, and tapestries are in the old reading room. On this tour, we were only in two rooms, but again, docents were friendly and incredibly detailed in their discussions. For the Folger Reading room, you do need to make a reservation, although after walking out, I heard one of the docents say that my tour was supposed to have 20 people, and I think 10-12 were present. She also hinted there wasn't anyone signed up for a 3 pm tour. read more

Four stars for the setting, and zero stars for the performance. A Captiol Hill Treat, surely, but if you go for the theater, it had better be good. And to the extent, it's hit and miss, we missed. As You Like It just plain stunk. I was snoring before the intermission. Embarrassed? Sort of. One would think a library and Bard museum of the caliber of the Folger would have theater to match the caliber of the collection, but not so. The collection is phenomenal. The novelty of Shakespeare as a human and artist and writer and historian are all conveyed beautifully through the collection here, but the theater performance was just, well...yuck! read more

Scholars travel here (not Britain!) to study the largest Shakespeare collection in the world. Visitors come to gawk at the First Folio, among other rare artifacts. The library hosts PEN/Faulkner author events (Coming this spring: Walter Mosley, Ian McEwan, and Isabel Allende). And anyone who's ever had an English class may be familiar with the Folger Editions of Shakespeare's plays, which this library has produced since the 1950s. But what I love most about this place is its small Elizabethan Theatre. It's mostly wooden, with oak columns that make you wonder if you're at a Medieval jousting tournament. Folger's "Measure for Measure," staged with puppets a few seasons ago, remains one of the best plays I've ever seen in DC. Last night we watched Anne Washburn's clever translation/adaptation of Euripedes' Orestes. The script was so full of wit and humor, I hesitate to call it a tragedy. Helen of Troy was played in drag (just like in olden times?). Orestes' original Greek descriptions of her were helpfully translated as "Slut!" And there's a terrific surprise ending, with Lynn Redgrave as the (recorded) voice of Apollo. Tips: The balcony side seats will require you to lean forward to see the action. If that bothers you, get tickets for the center balcony or ground floor. read more

Ditto Gayle, this is a vastly overlooked cultural institution of Washington. My fiance and I have been season ticket holder nearly since we moved to Capitol Hill 7 years ago. This may be the best intimate theater space in Washington. I always feel like a part of the production. The season is usual three plays, two by the Bard, often with very different interpretations. They third is often a modern playwright who has depth and humor like Shakespeare. You can often find discounted tickets at ticket place, or online with them. read more

The theatre was built in the 1930s. It feels very similar to Staunton, VA's American Shakespeare Center, which is modeled after Shakespeare original theatre in Stratford upon Avon. The Folger is small, and square, with seats around the sides of the theatre. We sat in the balcony on the side and it was difficult to see without leaning over the railing, but you have to be careful not the block the person next to you. That didn't take away from the experience - the quality of the theatre is strong and it is such a wonderful setting to see a Shakespeare play. You can also see a copy of the First Folio in the library! read more

I saw a play....of sorts...at the Folger recently. I took my 7th graders on a field trip here for their "Bill's Buddies" program, where four actors host a 2 hour workshop with students to get them interested in Shakespeare, acting, and just feeling comfortable on stage. Corny, yes, but my kids - who are loathe to be without their phones and Hot Cheetos and Nicki Minaj music for more than a second - actually loved it. And for that, I love it! The space and decor are beautiful. I know most of my students have never been in a professional theatre such as the Folger before. They were literally in awe of the setting. I hope to come back here for an actual performance, and take it all in without having to play chaperone. read more

This is one of the places recommended to me by my English Literature professor in college. I enjoy the exhibits; however, the books and folios are only for students actually attending class and special approval. However, still a great place! read more

Great play! The staff there however was extremely off-putting. I understand it's not good to have your phone out during a show. My husband is deployed to another country and I turned to my phone for a moment (while hiding it under my jacket) to let him know I couldn't respond because I was at a show shortly after intermission and someone turned to me that was sitting there watching the show and said "Everyone can see that." I later saw he left and discovered he worked for the place. Why was he watching the show if he was working there? It was extremely embarrassing because I couldn't say anything back to him since it was quiet in the room and then I couldn't enjoy the rest of the show. Be careful what you say to your patrons or they might not come back. I'll add that I've been to this theater many times before and never had an issue but this warranted a negative review. read more

What is Folger's? It is a library. It is a theatre. It is a research center and gallery. If you are a fan of the Bard, you need to go to here. It Folger's houses the world's largest and finest collection of Shakespeare materials. If there is one thing that makes a trip to Folger's worthwhile, it is the seventy nine (!!) the approximately 240 surviving copies of the First Folio. The First Folio is the first published collection of Shakespeare's plays. Right now, A Midsummer Night's Dream is playing in the theatre through December. Typically, if you catch a preview performance you can save some cash on the ticket price. read more

TOP TIP: There are locally-made chocolates from a chocolatier available at concessions. They are AMAZING, are different and themed for each performance. Take it from me, an 'extreme couponer' -- it's well worth it! Love the Folger. Great performances; there are other options beyond the theatre and include poetry readings and PEN/Faulkner talks. I have been to many performances and readings -- too many to count. The exhibit hall inside is small but they pack in a great deal of information and knowledge into the space. I highly recommend. At Shakespeare's Birthday celebration (celebrated on a Sunday in April) they offer 50% tickets at the box office. The birthday celebration itself is a joy and well-suited for various age groups, including kids. Might as well take advantage of the half-off tickets while being able to select the seats you'd prefer! read more

The Folger Shakespeare Library is an AMAZING tribute to one of the most brilliant authors in history! I love the whole story behind its founding and find it wonderful that so many documents from Shakespeare, his time, and his peers have survived for so long and are collected in one place! I recommend going on a guided tour of the library and the rotating exhibits....you get to see a bit more than if you came yourself! You CANNOT go into the actual library unless you have a research grant, fellowship, or a very specific reason to be in there and have requested it in advance, however on guided tours the tour guide can pull back a curtain from one of the full-length windows so that you can peek inside! It's absolutely beautiful and the ENTIRE building was designed specifically by Mr. and Mrs. Folger to look as it would during Shakespeare's lifetime. They also put on plays (both Shakespeare and non) which I haven't had a chance to check out yet but definitely want to!! They also have a GREAT little gift shop with various Shakespeare memorabilia. Being an English major and very interested in literature in general, this library is a great place for me to go to explore, see some history that is related to the many Shakespeare plays I've read/studied, and to reflect in when I need some inspiration! read more

I hate to say it but I was seriously disappointed. I didn't see one thing related to Shakespeare other than a copy of Shakespeare translated into Chinese in 1967. The only audio tour is achieved by calling a number on your cell phone using up your minutes. Not sure what that is about. It was a big disappointment. I don't recommend going if you are not planning to see a show. The Main Hall exhibition was not worth the metro fare. read more

My gf and I went to the library for their Shakespeare exhibit - It was very well put together but just one hall to see, so it was very small. That being said, at the end of the hall is Folger Theatre, and we were very excited to see that they were (still are) showing A Midsummer Nights Dream on select nights for a few months. We decided to buy tickets and returned to the theatre last night. What an amazing performance - it's very clear that the performers are professionals and have been doing this for a long time. They were very engaging with the audience and I would highly suggest going to see a show there. They have the "District Merchant" coming up next in their queue and I bet it will be just a great! read more

Folger is a nice museum to see off the beaten path in DC. It is right next to the Capital and Library of Congress however it is in an amazingly quiet area. It is a small museum however they have a lot of very interesting things on display and i am sure the shows they have on their stage are great. read more

Well, during our visit up to DC, my GF along with her sister were big fans of Jane Austen's work. So, logically, it brought us to the Jane Austen exhibit that was on display at the time. We came here on a Sunday, so it was pretty quiet and at the time, well I guess it would be quiet no matter what due to the fact that it's a library. The exhibit was pretty small, just one hallway, and it displayed famous artifacts/movie props from the movie Pride and Prejudice and Jane Austen's collection and also had historical facts about Jane Austen and her comparison to Shakespeare. I thought this place was perfect for the exhibit. I didn't see anything else of the theatre or library, but what little part I did see I enjoyed every bit of it. I would suggest to check this place out for any shows or exhibits that are in town or on display during the time you're in town! read more

A gem of a museum for lovers of Shakespeare and of Elizabethan history. Docents provide wonderfully informative tours of the exhibits and of the lovely building and theatre. I recently had an excellent tour of the Age of Lawyers exhibit by John Finecore. I would suggest asking for him if you plan to see this excellent exhibit. read more

This is such a unique place. It helps to read up on it in advance to know more about how the library came to be. It has a lovely theater, interesting exhibits and some good events throughout the year. The Reading Room is a private library and not open to the public. However, they do have a website with images of their art and the first folios. Check it out: https://folgerpedia.folger.edu/Main_Page read more

I came for a RSC screening of Love Labour's Lost. The theatre is adorable, and I want to come back for a live show!

While I tend to find the exhibits a bit lackluster, the productions are incredible. Seriously, the best theater in DC. And the library is beautiful, if you have the chance to see it. read more

It is a very fine library, I have never seen anything like it before. There is a very interesting exhibition about book binding. And some very exquisite old books are on display. Unfortunately I had not much time to wait for the guided tour. But the guide was very kind and had take me a glimpse of the theatre, which is very beautiful. There is an Elisabethan garden, too, referring to plants mentioned in the works of shakespeare. Unfortunately it was closed at that time because of renovation work. read more

I want to like the Folger Theater more than I do. I think the space is really nice and intimate and I like their mission, but I've just never loved what they do. I've probably been to 8 shows at the Folger in my life. I'll continue to keep going, but it isn't one of those companies where I just feel like I have to go to everything they put on. The building, however, is particularly beautiful. read more

The Folger Shakespeare Theater is a great place to see a Shakespeare play in a real Elizabethan theater. I'm biased because I usher there. I've ushered for two seasons now and they always have two plays from Shakespeare and one play from another writer. The plays are usually 3 hours long with a 15 minute intermission. The theater is clean and metro accessible. The ONLY reason I didn't give it the full 5 stars is because their adaptation of Shakespeare may be too modern for some folks who are not looking for a modern adaptation of his plays. read more

I've always loved the Folger editions of Shakespeare's plays so I actually went here with the intent of buying some paperbacks from the gift shop. The people were very helpful and friendly and the exhibition was pretty interesting. This place is a little hidden gem! I didn't go to see a play so I can't rate that, but I think it's a great little place overall. I also love the fact that its exterior architecture fits with the neighboring buildings, but when you go inside it's as if you take a step back into Shakespearean time - awesome! And the best part about this is its price - free! Yay! read more

My fiancé and I enjoyed our date night here, patronizing the arts in this beautiful historic theater. The Victorian-era theater has a transportive quality to it, echoing theaters past. We saw The Way of the World, a new comedic play that's (very loosely) based on the play from the 1700's by William Congreve. It's set in the Hamptons and takes a satirical look at the lifestyle and relationships of the one percent. This is far from a Shakespearian play, with adult themes and language (not suited for kids). During the intermission, you get to pursue a small Shakespeare exhibit in the large hall connecting the theater to the Folger Shakespeare Library - an added bonus. read more

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." If you're a fan of the Bard, the Folger Shakespeare Library and Theatre is the place to be. I studied Shakespeare in both high school and college, and I've always enjoyed reading his plays. So of course when Shakespeare's 400th birthday rolled around on Saturday and I heard that Folger was having a birthday celebration for him on Sunday, I knew I had to partake. The Folger Shakespeare Library/Theatre is home to the world's largest Shakespeare collection and home to other major collections of Renaissance books, manuscripts, and artwork. Not only is Folger a dwelling for the preservation of rare books and manuscripts and a theatre for plays and readings, it is also a dedicated research library for advanced scholarly programs. There are about 160,000 printed books; 60,000 manuscripts; 90,000 prints, drawings, photographs, paintings, and other works of art housed in this building. Very extensive and world-renowned. It is a gorgeous building both inside and out. Located just a block from the Capitol, the white marble neoclassical exterior is in perfect sync with the other nearby buildings. The gorgeous interior design evokes Tudor England, with oak paneling, ornate floor tiles, and high baroque ceilings. My favorite rooms were the theatre and the Reading Room. The cozy theatre has three-tiered balconies, carved oak columns, and a canopy that resembles the sky. The perfect place for Folger Theatre productions, readings, concerts, and student performances. My absolute favorite, though, has to be the Gail Kern Paster Reading Room. When you walk in, you can't help but let out an audible gasp or "wow." The room, with its carved oak paneling and high ceilings, features tapestries, portraits, chandeliers, and Nicola d'Ascenzo's famous, beautiful stained glass window of the "Seven Ages of Man." There's also a bust of Shakespeare based on the one that's at his grave in Stratford-upon-Avon. A couple of long tables sit in this room where scholars from around the world come and use Folger's collection. The Reading Room is limited to scholars and researchers, and it is only open to the public for Saturday tours and for their annual Shakespeare's Birthday Open House in April. During Shakespeare's Birthday Open House, Folger arranges a day of activities for families. You can see the Reduced Shakespeare Company perform, tour the Reading Room, hear musical performances, perform a soliloquy on stage, check out swordfighting demos, and lots more. You can tour the building and the grounds any day of the week. They offer free, docent-led tours Mondays to Saturdays at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. On Sundays, they offer tours at 12pm and 3pm. read more

Well, if you are not taking a tour, there really is nothing to see. Sorry Folger Shakespeare Libarary. We did not have enough time to wait for a tour but was looking for an interesting time kill at the Library after reading the description online. Nothing in the description is available to see for the general public without a tour I assume. read more

Much Ado is the current production running at the Folger Theatre, and I highly *highly* recommend getting out to see it before it closes on the 29th. Set in DC on the eve of the Caribbean festival, the entire piece is infused with a Caribbean flair that really *works*. I was skeptical, but it's *wonderful*. The charm and the fun that the theme adds makes for a wonderful evening. We laughed, we cried... ya know the drill. The acting is exceptional, the sets and costumes are beautiful... I can't complain about a thing. And that is including sitting in a seat that was on the side so that one of the columns on stage blocked my view of any action on the staircase on set. It didn't matter. The evening was wonderful and I recommend everyone go see it before it closes. read more

This theatre is a real treat to have so close to home. It show not only Shakespeare, but also his contemporaries and later playwrites who were inspired by him. The setting invokes a traditional Shakespeare theatre and is fun to experience. There are author readings and various other performances. The museum part is not extensive, but carries over the same atmostsphere. In my experience the exhibits follow the theme of the play, and are worthwhile to check out during intermission. There's a tiny gift shop too for the truely Will devoted. read more