A Season of Sumptuous Plays
Any time spent inside the Folger’s enchanted walls is time well-spent. METRO WEEKLY
OUR 2019/20 SEASON SEP 3 – OCT 13
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE DIRECTED BY ROSA JOSHI
NOV 5 – DEC 22
BY PETER SHAFFER DIRECTED BY RICHARD CLIFFORD
JAN 14 – MAR 1
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE DIRECTED BY AARON POSNER
Cover photo of Ian Merrill Peakes by Brittany Diliberto, Macbeth, 2018
Photo by Strato Ariel
rom murderous royals to whip-smart lovers, Shakespeare wrote compelling characters whose ambitions and antics have echoed through centuries. Chief among them, full of irrepressible spirit and mischievous schemes, is that timeless example of exuberance and a lust for life: Sir John Falstaff. Harold Bloom wrote that Falstaff “is Shakespeare’s wit at its very limits.” We share that brilliant wit with two Falstaffian plays—1 Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor. Balancing Shakespeare’s extraordinary creations is the contemporary classic Amadeus. Mozart’s genius and his own disregard for society’s rules inspire a dark rivalry with Salieri. Experience these outsized characters and all the Folger offers ahead of an exciting expansion that will take Folger Theatre on the road after next season. Join us in 2019/20 for a year of theater to remember—full of laughter, jealousy, passion, and above all, life.
Janet A. Griffin Artistic Producer
FOLGER.EDU/THEATRE | 202.544.7077
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE DIRECTED BY ROSA JOSHI SEP 3 – OCT 13, 2019
P
rince Hal spends his days carousing in taverns with criminals and lowly commoners, much to the dismay of his father, the king. Winding from the Boar's Head Tavern to the shadows of Gad’s Hill, Hal’s path to the throne may be unusual, but it eventually leads him to the one place where questions of honor and reputation come to a head: the battlefield. Director Rosa Joshi, whose adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy earned great acclaim at the Seattle Shakespeare Company, makes her DC directorial debut at the Folger.
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PRINCE HAL :
I know you all, and will awhile uphold The unyoked humor of your idleness. Yet herein will I imitate the sun, Who doth permit the base contagious clouds To smother up his beauty from the world ...
Maboud Ebrahimzadeh
Edward Gero
Naomi Jacobson
Kate Eastwood Norris
Avery Whitted
ALSO WITH: Peter Crook, Tyler Fauntleroy, Jordan Lee, Maribel Martinez, Alex Michell, Sam Midwood, Todd Scofield, Jazmine Stewart, U. Jonathan Toppo
This production is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a national program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
BY PETER SHAFFER DIRECTED BY RICHARD CLIFFORD NOV 5 - DEC 22, 2019
enius and jealousy collide in the opulent salons and opera houses of Vienna. When an impulsive and eccentric prodigy, Mozart, outshines an envious, God-fearing composer, theatrical fireworks ensue. Salieri will do everything in his power to destroy Mozart. Celebrated director Richard Clifford (Mary Stuart, The Clandestine Marriage) returns to the Folger to stage the Tony Award-winning play.
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SALIERI :
He had simply written down music already finished in his head! Page after page of it as if he were just taking dictation. And music, finished as no music is ever finished. Displace one note and there would be diminishment. Displace one phrase and the structure would fall.
Louis Butelli
Lilli Hokama
Nick LaMedica
Ian Merrill Peakes
Deidra LaWan Starnes
ALSO WITH: Matt Dallal, Allen McCullough, Yvonne Paretzky, John Taylor Phillips, Ned Read, Kurt Uy, Jessika Williams, Kathryn Zoerb
Amadeus
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BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE DIRECTED BY AARON POSNER JAN 14 - MAR 1, 2020
ome appetites never go out of style. Falstaff has a plan to woo a wealthy woman of Windsor—he's not particular about which one. Though his romantic targets are fast friends, he hedges his bets and pursues both at once. Too bad for Falstaff, the Windsor wives have plans of their own. His comeuppance is an absolute treat in Shakespeare’s delightful comedy on love, money, deception, and women's wiles. Six-time Helen Hayes Award-winner Aaron Posner (The Winter’s Tale, The Comedy of Errors) directs his 20th production at the Folger, bringing his playful and unique spin on Shakespeare’s joyful comedy.
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FALSTAFF :
I will not lend thee a penny. PISTOL :
Why then, the world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open.
Regina Aquino
Ami Brabson
Eric Hissom
Brian Mani
Cody Nickell
ALSO WITH: Linda Bard, Louis E. Davis, Danielle Gallo, Kate Eastwood Norris, Brian Reisman, Todd Scofield, Derrick Truby
PRE-SHOW, POST-SHOW, AND ANYTIME DIVERSIONS More than simply a terrific venue, we're part of a vibrant center for Shakespeare and his time. We encourage everyone to join us in spirited, informal, and frequent dialogues before and after the shows, often accompanied by light fare and drink. For the full schedule and ticket information, visit folger.edu/theatre. JOIN US FOR:
Director Talks. Insights into the creative process from those who've shaped the production. ! FREE Post-Show Discussions.
Stay longer and meet the cast. Moderated by our resident dramaturg Michele Osherow. Pre-Show Talks with Folger Library Director Michael Witmore. A look at the plays with a renowned Shakespeare scholar. Free Folger Fridays. A variety of pre-show events on select Fridays, most of which are free to attend. Brews and Banter. Join select cast members for a lively discussion, craft beer by Bluejacket, and snacks before select performances.
! NEW Teacher Talks. Join Director of Folger Education Dr. Peggy
O’Brien as she shares insights on the Shakespeare plays on stage this season. The pre-show talk comes with a special ticket price to the evening’s show for teachers who attend.
Top photo by Brittany Diliberto, bottom photo by Lloyd Wolf.
SUBSCRIBE FOR SAVINGS AND BENEFITS
folger.edu/subscribe | 202.544.7077 A Folger Theatre subscription not only guarantees a season of delectable theater, but also offers: Savings. Our subscribers enjoy the best seats at the best price—up to $50 off single ticket prices over the course of the season. Priority seating. As a subscriber, you are given the best seats in the house, which you can keep when we return to the Folger in 2022. Flexibility. Free exchanges protect against last-minute conflicts, ensuring you never miss a performance. Exclusive access. Enjoy subscriber pre-sales to special events and add-on productions—such as last season’s sellout hits Macbeth and Confection—before they go on sale to the general public. Partner discounts. Use the Folger Hill and Will card at a dozen businesses, including Sonoma, Peregrine Espresso, Osteria Morini DC, and the Folger Gift Shop, for special discounts.
Friends of the Folger provide vital support while enjoying all that the Folger has to offer. To become a Folger Theatre donor visit folger.edu/membership.
folger.edu/theatre 202.544.7077
2019/20 season
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