Bard in the Yards (2015)

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Folger Theatre and the Capitol Riverfront BID celebrated Shakespeare's 451st Birthday with three of Hollywood's best takes on his plays for a free weekend of outdoor films from April 24 to April 26, 2015. The screenings were held in Yards Park at sundown, between 7:30 and 8:00 pm each night. Actors from Folger Theatre’s production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead introduced the screenings.

Friday, April 24th: Much Ado About Nothing (1993) An all-star cast (Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, Robert Sean Leonard, and Kenneth Branagh) brings a fresh, hilarious take to this romp of mistaken identity and intrigue. As two young lovers prepare to marry, a group of friends set a "lover's trap" for arrogant bachelor Benedick and the feisty Beatrice. All the while, the evil Don John sets a plot of his own to stop the wedding and break up this merry band of friends. Will he succeed, or will love conquer all?

Saturday, April 25th: Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (1996) The mind behind Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby presents Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in the timeless roles of these "star-cross'd lovers" with a modern twist. Set in Verona Beach, this new classic from 1996 features beautiful visuals, breathtaking performances, and a kinetic energy that brought Shakespeare’s play to a new generation.

Sunday, April 26th: The Taming of the Shrew (1965) Famous for their stellar acting and tumultuous off-screen romance, Hollywood legends Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor light up the screen in a comedy of sibling rivalry, fortune-hunting, and lessons learned. Appealing Bianca is the object of many affections in Padua, but her father will not allow her to marry before her sharp-tongued, man-hating older sister, Katherine. All seems hopeless until greedy, charismatic Petruchio arrives in town seeking a wealthy wife, and Bianca's suitors point him toward a horrified Katherine. Have these two scoundrels met their match? Can they ever truly be tamed?