
The Humanities Lab: As You Like It
Folger Theatre · Capitol Hill
This is for people who want to understand *why* a play matters, not just experience it passively. If you've ever left a Shakespeare production wishing you'd caught more layers, or if you're the type to linger in museum galleries reading every placard, this Capitol Hill intensive will satisfy that hunger. Skip it if you prefer entertainment divorced from intellectual engagement.
The Folger Theatre transforms Shakespeare's most philosophical comedy into a genuine learning experience. Rather than passive audience members, you'll become active participants—spending two days with scholars who'll unpack the play's gender politics, pastoral escape, and meditation on performance itself. You'll handle rare texts from the Folger's renowned collection, discovering how Renaissance audiences encountered these ideas. The production itself becomes the culmination of your exploration rather than the sole event. This approach treats Shakespeare not as untouchable masterpiece but as a living text worthy of rigorous, joyful investigation.
Last updated April 5, 2026 · Summaries written by Theaterloop editors with AI assistance




