Folger Book Club: 'The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf' by Isa Arsén

Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era

Oct 4 – Aug 2

If you're interested in literary history, Romantic-era aesthetics, or how canonical works get reinterpreted by different generations, this is essential. It's less essential for those seeking straightforward character studies or plot illustrations, but valuable for anyone curious about the visual culture surrounding Shakespeare and the politics of artistic adaptation.

On View: Mandy Cano Villalobos

Feb 20 – Apr 5

This is essential for viewers who appreciate conceptual rigor and aren't looking for decorative art. If you're interested in how contemporary artists engage with colonialism, environmental justice, or the politics of domestic space, this will reward close looking. Skip it if you prefer work that declares its meaning upfront.

As You Like It

Mar 10 – Apr 12

Perfect for Shakespeare enthusiasts who appreciate linguistic playfulness over heavy drama, and for anyone curious about gender and performance in early modern comedy. If you're drawn to romantic entanglement but tired of heavy-handed emotion, this is your play—the humor is sharper than the heartache.

The World to Come

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company · Feb 3 – Mar 1

This is for audiences who prize character work and understated emotional truth over plot mechanics. If you're drawn to plays about overlooked populations and find beauty in small moments, you'll connect here. Skip this if you need broad comedy or dramatic fireworks—the rewards are in observation and nuance.

On Beckett

Shakespeare Theatre Company · Feb 11 – Mar 15

If you've always found Beckett's reputation for bleakness a barrier to entry, Irwin's physicality and genuine warmth might be your gateway. Skip this if you want conventional narrative momentum, but if you appreciate watching a master performer think through complex ideas in real time, this is essential.

Safety Not Guaranteed

Signature Theatre · Mar 3 – Apr 12

If you love character-driven comedies with genuine emotional stakes and don't mind theatrical logic that favors the heart over plausibility, this lands squarely in your wheelhouse. This isn't for audiences needing everything explained or characters they can easily pin down—it requires a willingness to meet the material's gentle weirdness halfway.