First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare – Illinois

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 Illinois.

Exhibition Location: Wauconda, Illinois

Exhibition Venue: Lake County Discovery Museum

Exhibition Dates: February 3, 2016 – February 28, 2016


Partner Organization:

  • Kirk Players
  • Northern Illinois First Folio Theatre Ensemble
  • College of Lake County
  • Wauconda High School
  • Preservation Foundation
  • Bristol Renaissance Faire


Event List:

  • February 3, 2016 – Opening Reception, The First Folio: What It Gives Us, What Would Have Been Lost
  • February 6, 2016 – Shakespeare the Man presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 6, 2016 – Sounds and Sweet Aires: A Shakespeare Collage presented by the Kirk Players
  • February 7, 2016 – Lecture, What the Music in Shakespeare’s First Folio Tells Us About His Plays by John Nygro
  • February 7, 2016 – Music and Dance of the Renaissance, presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 10, 2016 – Small Discoveries: Be My Valentine
  • February 11, 2016 – First Folio Teacher Training Workshop
  • February 13, 2016 – Renaissance Spies presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 13, 2016 – Intro to Shakespeare Workshop with the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 13, 2016 – Inside The Tempest: Performance Review with the College of Lake County
  • February 13, 2016 – Advanced Shakespeare Workshop with the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 14, 2016 – Lecture, Shakespeare on Love, and the Afterlives of Shakespearean Lovers, by Professor Verna Foster
  • February 14, 2016 – Elizabethan Faire presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 17, 2016 – Homeschool Companion: Shakespeare’s First Folio
  • February 18, 2016 – Shakespeare and Religion presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 20, 2016 – Weapons and Armor Interactive Display, presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 20, 2016 – How Weapons Work, presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 20, 2016 – Lecture, The History of the First Folio by Richard Mallette, Distinguished Service Professor of English, Emeritus, Lake Forest College
  • February 20, 2016 – Navigation in the Age of Exploration, presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 21, 2016 – Fiber Arts and Clothing presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 21, 2016 – Barber Surgery presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 27, 2016 – Wauconda High School Performance
  • February 27, 2016 – First Folio Method Workshop
  • February 28, 2016 – Shakespeare in Context presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 28, 2016 – Bring Us Good Ale! Historic Brewing presented by the Bristol Renaissance Faire
  • February 28, 2016 – How Not To Die by the Bristol Renaissance Faire


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