First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare – Wisconsin

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First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare was a touring exhibition from the Folger Shakespeare Library that visited one location in all 50 United States, Puerto Rico, and Washington DC in 2016 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.


This article provides highlights from the exhibition’s visit to Wisconsin


Exhibition Location: Madison, Wisconsin

Exhibition Venue: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Exhibition Dates: November 3, 2016 – December 11, 2016


Partner Organizations:

  • UW-Madison Arts Institute
  • UW-Madison Friends of the Library
  • UW-Madison Libraries
  • Chazen Museum of Art
  • American Players Theatre
  • Young Shakespeare Players
  • Wisconsin Union Directorate
  • Wisconsin Book Festival
  • Madison Shakespeare Company
  • Madison Opera Company


Complementary Exhibition:

  • Presenting Shakespeare: Posters from Around the World, October 14, 2016 – December 11, 2016
    • To create the first-ever curated collection of international Shakespearean theatrical posters, designers Mirko Ilic and Steven Heller assembled around 1,500 examples. Their 2015 book, Presenting Shakespeare, includes 1,100 “historically significant, aesthetically desirable, and conceptually intelligent [posters] produced over nearly two centuries, in many countries and by varied artist, designers, and illustrators.”


Event List:

  • October 6, 2016 – Film Screening: Shakespeare Uncovered
  • October 7, 2016 – Film Screening: Shakespeare Uncovered
  • October 7, 2016 – English Music from the Renaissance & Baroque – Madison Bach Musicians
  • October 8, 2016 – Film Screening: Shakespeare Uncovered
  • October 9, 2016 – English Music from the Renaissance & Baroque – Madison Bach Musicians
  • October 14, 2016 – Opera Novice: Shakespearean Opera
  • October 18, 2016 – Lecture: Holding History, Prof. Joshua Calhoun
  • October 18, 2016 – Film Screening: Shakespeare Behind Bars
  • October 21, 2016 – The Pleasure of His Company: Our Love Affair with William Shakespeare and the First Folio with Randall Duk Kim and Anne Occhiogrosso
  • October 22, 2016 – Andrea Mays talk on The Millionaire and the Bard
  • October 22, 2016 – Wisconsin Book Festival talk on Big Ideas, Busy People: Shakespeare’s Genome? By Joshua Calhoun
  • October 23, 2016 – Much Ado: A Summer with a Repertory Theater Company
  • October 23, 2016 – Wisconsin Book Festival talk on Performing New Lives by Jonathan Shailor
  • November 2, 2016 – Wisconsin Shakespeare Legacy Tour – talk by Brenda DeVita
  • November 3, 2016 – Opening Reception for First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare
  • November 4, 2016 – Musical: Return to the Forbidden Planet by Laconia High School
  • November 4, 2016 – Gounod’s Romeo & Juliet performed by Madison Opera
  • November 5, 2016 – Art Spin Community Day
  • November 5, 2016 – Virgins to Villains, by Robin Goodrin Nordli
  • November 5, 2016 – Musical: Return to the Forbidden Planet by Laconia High School
  • November 6, 2016 – Gounod’s Romeo & Juliet performed by Madison Opera
  • November 6, 2016 – Musical: Return to the Forbidden Planet by Laconia High School
  • November 10, 2016 – Cinematheque at the Chazen Shakespeare Special – Hamlet, 1948
  • November 11, 2016 – Verdi’s FALSTAFF by University Opera
  • November 13, 2016 – Cinematheque at the Chazen Shakespeare Special – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1935
  • November 13, 2016 – Verdi’s FALSTAFF by University Opera
  • November 14, 2016 – Verdi’s FALSTAFF by University Opera
  • November 17, 2016 – Wisconsin Shakespeare Legacy Tour – with Brenda DeVita
  • November 17, 2016 – Madison Shakespeare Company Performance
  • November 17, 2016 – Cinematheque at the Chazen Shakespeare Special – Strange Brew, 1983
  • November 17, 2016 – Madison Shakespeare Company Performance – Gallery XIII
  • December 1, 2016 – Screening of Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch
  • December 11, 2016 – Madison Youth Choirs’ Winter Concert: Shakespeare 400


Click here to learn about the First Folio that visited Wisconsin.