First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare - Minnesota

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 Minnesota.


Exhibition Location: Duluth, Minnesota

Exhibition Venue: University of Minnesota – Duluth

Exhibition Dates: October 3, 2016 – October 26, 2016


Partner Organizations:

  • UMD Art History Dept
  • Duluth Art Commission
  • UMD Art & Design
  • Tight Squeek Press
  • Duluth Art Institute
  • Karpeles Museum
  • Duluth Public Schools
  • Duluth Edison Charter Schools North Star Academy
  • Harbor City International School
  • UMD Art Dept
  • UMD Education Dept
  • UMD Engineering Dept
  • UMD English Dept
  • CSS Education Dept
  • Duluth Public Library
  • Lake Superior Writers
  • UWS Library
  • CSS Library
  • CSS English Dept
  • UWS English Dept
  • UMD English Dept
  • UMD History
  • WDSE/WRPT (Member PBS)
  • KUMD
  • UMD Statesman
  • Zeitgeist/Theatro Zuccone
  • CSS Center for Early Music
  • Duluth-Superior Shape Note Singers
  • CSS English Dept
  • Low
  • UMD Music
  • Twin Ports Choral Project
  • Kathryn A. Martin Library
  • Wise Fool Shakespeare
  • Duluth Playhouse
  • UMD Theatre
  • UMD Theatre Costume Shop
  • Tweed Museum
  • UMD Alumni


Complementary Exhibitions:

  • Reframing Ophelia - June 9, 2016 – Summer 2017
    • Anticipating the arrival of the First Folio at the Tweed in October, this exhibition introduces audiences to a selection of themes from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, specifically those embodied by the character of Ophelia. Reframing Ophelia is comprised of contemporary artwork from the Tweed’s permanent collection (in addition to many new acquisitions) and includes paintings, photographs, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. There is a strong focus on the artworks of female artists, and it also includes works by Native American and non-Western male artists.
  • Costumes and Stagecraft for Shakespeare – October 4, 2016 – December 31, 2016
    • The Gurthrie Theater, located in Minneapolis, lent costumes from various Shakespeare plays for display at the Tweed Museum of Art to accompany the First Folio! exhibition.


Event List:

  • October 3, 2016 – My Mind’s Eye: Duluth Artist Imaginings of Shakespeare’s characters – Opening reception at the Duluth Art Institute
  • October 3, 2016 - Shakespeare on Film at Cloquet Public Library: Much Ado About Nothing
  • October4, 2016 – Secret Shakespeare – Film Screening
  • October 6, 2016 – First Folio Grand Opening
  • October 6, 2016 –Shakespeare Uncovered: A Midsummer Night's Dream with Hugh Bonneville
  • October 6, 2016 - Shakespeare Uncovered: King Lear with Christopher Plummer
  • October 7, 2016 – Shakespeare in Shackles: The Transformative Power of Literature in Prisons
  • October 7, 2016 - Folio Fridays, Duluth Public Library
  • October 7, 2016 - Wise Fool Shakespeare Presents: Othello by William Shakespeare
  • October 7, 2016 - ‘Words, words, words’: How to Think Like Shakespeare
  • October 8, 2016 – Duluth All-Day Sacred Harp Singing
  • October 8, 2016 - Wise Fool Shakespeare Presents: Othello by William Shakespeare
  • October 8, 2016 - ‘Constant to Eternity’: Loving Chaucer (and Shakespeare) in Two Noble Kinsmen
  • October 8, 2016 - Music from Shakespeare's Time and Plays
  • October 9, 2016 - Wise Fool Shakespeare Presents: Othello by William Shakespeare
  • October 10, 2016 – Shakespeare Global Showcase
  • October 10, 2016 - Shakespeare on Film at Cloquet Public Library: Hamlet
  • October 11, 2016 - TWEEVENING with Jamie Ratliff
  • October11, 2016 – Secret Shakespeare – Film Screening
  • October 12, 2016 – Shakespeare's First Folio: the Art and Technology of Early Print
  • October 12, 2016 - Pericles
  • October 13, 2016 – Shakespeare Uncovered: The Taming of the Shrew with Morgan Freeman
  • October 13, 2016 - Shakespeare Uncovered: Othello' with David Harewood
  • October 13, 2016 - History of the Book: Explore the history of the printed word with English Professor Krista Sue-Lo Twu
  • October 14, 2016 – Folio Fridays – Free showing of Hamlet (1996) at the Duluth Public Library
  • October 15, 2016 – Tweed First Folio Family Day: Book arts activities for elementary students and their families
  • October 15, 2016 - Wise Fool Shakespeare Presents: Othello by William Shakespeare
  • October 15, 2016 – Maker's Space: Elizabethan Engineering
  • October 16, 2016 - Wise Fool Shakespeare Presents: Othello by William Shakespeare
  • October 16, 2016 – Maker's Space: Elizabethan Engineering
  • October 17, 2016 – Cloquet Library Reading Club: The Tempest with Krista Sue-Lo Twu
  • October 17, 2016 - Lecture by Doug Stewart, The Boy Who Would be Shakespeare
  • October 18, 2016 – Shakespeare on Film at Cloquet Public Library: Forbidden Planet
  • October 18, 2016 – Write Fight: Eight writers enter – only one can win
  • October 20 – 23, 2016 – Shakespeare In Motion – UMD Theatre’s fall dance concert illuminates the Bard’s connection to dance
  • October 20, 2016 – Shakespeare Uncovered: Anthony and Cleopatra with Kim Cattrall
  • October 20, 2016 - Shakespeare Uncovered: Romeo and Juliet with Joseph Fiennes
  • October 20, 2016 - Tweed First Folio Family Day with Alison Aune
  • October 20, 2016 – Lecture: Shakespeare's England – Presented by Dr. Steve Matthews
  • October 21, 2016 – Acting Shakespeare’s First Folio in Today’s Theatre
  • October 21, 2016 - First Folio Fridays – Free showing of Twelfth Night (1996) at Duluth Public Library
  • October 21, 2016 - Making Shakespeare’s Books: A Printing Workshop
  • October 21, 2016 - Minnesota Council of Teachers of English Workshop and Reception
  • October 21, 2016 - Shakespeare for the Centuries: Dr. Michael Witmore, Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library
  • October 22, 2016 – Letterpress Printing Hands-On Workshop
  • October 22, 2016 - Remixing Shakespeare - with original music by Low
  • October 24, 2016 – All Shakespeare Nerd Night
  • October 25, 2016 – Shakespeare on Film at Cloquet Public Library: Julius Caesar
  • October 25, 2016 – Secret Shakespeare - Film Screening
  • October 31, 2016 – Shakespeare on Film: Macbeth


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