Shakespeare's Birthday Lecture with Dr. Emma Smith

All the Folger’s a Classroom: Teacher Weekend Intensive on Shakespeare’s Comedies

Mar 13 – Mar 14

Essential for high school and middle school English teachers who regularly teach Shakespeare but want to deepen their understanding of comedic technique and classroom engagement strategies. Skip this if you're looking for entertainment; attend if you're responsible for making *Much Ado About Nothing* come alive for teenagers.

An English Garden

May 8 – May 10

If you're drawn to early music but find traditional concerts static, this literary-musical hybrid offers genuine novelty. It's ideal for anyone curious about how Elizabethans actually experienced their gardens—neither a botanical lecture nor a music recital, but something more textured. Skip it if you prefer straightforward narrative or need a concert that prioritizes virtuosic display.

As You Like It

Mar 10 – Apr 19

If you love language-forward comedy and don't need everything spelled out for you, Rosalind's disguise plot will delight. This is ideal for Shakespeare-curious audiences who've been put off by heavier tragedies; it's also perfect for anyone who appreciates seeing gender roles interrogated through wit rather than lecture.