San Diego Celebrates Shakespeare Through July 7
Shakespeare’s First Folio has arrived in San Diego, and it goes on public display on Saturday, June 4.
the First Folio
The San Diego Library and The Old Globe are co-sponsoring this exhibition of this compilation of Shakespeare’s works, which was put together by his colleagues after his death. The publication of the First Folio is credited with saving for posterity the texts of several of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.
San Diego is the only California stop for the exhibition’s tour, which will be centered at the downtown library through July 7. Exhibition hours are Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Friday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday 12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. There’s no charge, but due to expected popularity, visitors are urged to obtain tickets in advance at FirstFolioSanDiego2016.org.
For its part, the Old Globe is sponsoring a series of events, including lectures, readings, and film showings. On opening day, the Globe is presenting a program featuring actors, celebrities and dignitaries reading from Shakespeare’s works. The free event will take place on the Globe’s campus, and reservations are required. Click here to go directly to the reservation site.
At a media preview for the exhibit, actor Richard Thomas compared the significance of the First Folio to the Rosetta Stone. Mr. Thomas, who appeared at the Globe recently in Shakespeare’s Othello, is currently portraying President Jimmy Carter in the Globe’s production of Camp David.
from The Old Globe
Old Globe artistic director Barry Edelstein noted the cornucopia of events that will occur in Balboa Park and elsewhere during the exhibit. He also took note of The Old Globe’s stature as a leading presenter of Shakespeare. Much of that history is documented in the exhibit, in the form of programs from various productions, photos, and costume displays.
The Central Library, which is located at 330 Park Blvd., will host the exhibition on the 9th floor, though other Shakespeare-related exhibits will be available throughout the building. Parking is free and is located in a garage underneath the library building.
In addition to reviewing theatre for San Diego Story, Bill also reviews for TalkinBroadway.com. He is a member of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle and the American Theatre Critics Association. Bill is an emeritus professor in the School of Journalism and Media Studies at San Diego State University.