Annapolis Shakespeare Company to Present Opening Ceremony in the Key Auditorium at St. John's College

St. John's College, along with its programming partner Annapolis Shakespeare Company, is the host site for the state of Maryland for "First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare," a national traveling exhibition of the Shakespeare First Folio, one of the world's most treasured books. The Folger ShakespeareLibrary, in partnership with Cincinnati Museum Center and the American Library Association, is touring a First Folio of Shakespeare in 2016 to all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death.

Annapolis Shakespeare Company first approached St. John's College with the Folio Exhibit opportunity and the idea of creating a dynamic partnership to win this exhibit in June of 2014. "We are honored at the opportunity to help share the transformative work of William Shakespeare with the public and thrilled to present live, professional Shakespeare performances, educational workshops and a wide variety of public events in support of this tremendous exhibit." said Annapolis Shakespeare Company Founding Artistic Director Sally Boyett. "The Folio partnership underscores Annapolis Shakespeare Company's importance in the region as an emerging premier destination for professional Shakespeare and the classics."

The Opening Ceremony, directed by ASC Resident Director Donald Hicken and Artistic Director Sally Boyett, will be co-hosted by Denise Koch from WJZ-TV, and Donald Thoms from PBS/Maryland Public Television, and will feature scenes from Annapolis Shakespeare Company's current production of 'Twelfth Night' which is set in the golden age of the silver screen. Also included in the ceremony will be performances inspired by Shakespeare's work presented by the Annapolis Opera, St. John's College Orchestra, and students from the Baltimore School for the Arts. The program will include appearances by Senator John Astle, Ken Skrzesz, Coordinator of Fine Arts for the Maryland State Department of Education, and other dignitaries. The ceremony begins at 6:00pm and will be followed by a public viewing of the exhibit from 7:00pm-9:00pm. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations should be made at https://community.stjohnscollege.edu/pages/annapolis-events/first-folio-opening-reception?_ga=1.220960272.923392957.1477325197.

The exhibit will be on view at the Mitchell Gallery at St. John's College through December 4, 2016. Annapolis Shakespeare Company will be providing educational programming including panel discussions and workshops as follows:

Panel Program: November 6, 2016
Staging Shakespeare's Most Challenging Works: the Issue of Social and Political Correctness
An examination of theatrical approaches to bridging the divide between Merchant of Venice, Taming of the Shrew and other works which can be challenging for a modern audience. A lecture demonstration and conversation between theatrical directors, actors and scholars. Participating will be resident directors and actors from Annapolis Shakespeare Company with scholars from SJC and around the region.
FSK Auditorium
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Student Workshop: November 12, 2016
Shakespeare for Our Time: Discovering Shakespeare's Plays
A workshop for secondary school students led by master teaching artists from Annapolis Shakespeare Company.
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Teacher Workshop: November 19, 2016
Discovering Shakespeare: Creative Routes into the World of Shakespeare's Plays
A workshop for secondary school teachers led by master teaching artists from Annapolis Shakespeare Company.
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Family Fun Fair: December 3, 2016
Playing Shakespeare: Fun for the Entire Family
A family fun day for kids of all ages including costumes actors reading stories from Shakespeare, a Folio making craft, Shakespeare-themed games and activities, a photo opportunity with some of Shakespeare's most famous characters, and special performances by actors from Annapolis ShakespeareCompany.
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Additional Events:
Annapolis Shakespeare Company, the area's premier professional theatre company for Shakespeare and the classics and the official programming partner to the Folio Exhibit, will perform Shakespeare's classic comedy 'Twelfth Night'. A fast-paced romantic comedy with interwoven plots of romance, mistaken identities and practical jokes, the madcap confusion and chaos created by the lovers and eccentrics alike solidify this play as one of Shakespeare's finest comedies. Directed by ASC Artistic Director Sally Boyett, and starring resident company members Tony Tsendeas, BrIan MacDonald, Renata Plecha, Olivia Ercolano and Steven Hoochuk. The production will run through November 13 at ASC's Studio 111 in Annapolis. This is a ticketed event with prices ranging from $25-$45. Tickets are available at www.AnnapolisShakespeare.org or 410-415-3513.

About the First Folio:
Many of Shakespeare's plays, which were written to be performed, were not published during his lifetime. The First Folio is the first collected edition of Shakespeare's plays. It was published in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare's death. Two of Shakespeare's fellow actors compiled 36 of his plays, hoping to preserve them for future generations. Without it, we would not have 18 of Shakespeare's plays, including "Macbeth," "Julius Caesar," "Twelfth Night," "The Tempest," "Antony and Cleopatra," "The Comedy of Errors," and "As You Like It." All 18 appear for the first time in print in the First Folio, and would otherwise have been lost.

"The First Folio is the book that gave us Shakespeare. Between its covers we discover his most famous characters-Hamlet, Desdemona, Cordelia, Macbeth, Romeo, Juliet and hundreds of others-speaking words that continue to move and inspire us," said Michael Witmore, Director of the Folger ShakespeareLibrary. "Shakespeare tells the human story like no one else. He connects us to each other, to our history, and to themes and ideas that touch us every day. We are delighted that we can share this precious resource with people everywhere, from San Diego, California to Gurabo, Puerto Rico, from Eugene, Oregon to Duluth, Minnesota."

The Folger Shakespeare Library holds 82 copies of the First Folio, by far the largest collection in the world and more than a third of the 233 known copies in the world today. It is believed that 750 copies were originally printed. The Shakespeare First Folio is one of the most valuable printed books in the world; a First Folio sold for $6.2 million in 2001 at Christie's and another one for $5.2 million in 2006 in London. It originally sold for one British pound (20 shillings)-about $200 today.

When the First Folio arrives at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, its pages will be opened to the most quoted line from Shakespeare and one of the most quoted lines in the world, "to be or not to be" from "Hamlet." Accompanying the rare book will be a multi-panel exhibition exploring the significance of Shakespeare, then and now, with additional digital content and interactive activities. During the exhibition, St. John's College and the Annapolis ShakespeareCompany will host numerous public programs around the First Folio exhibition.

About Annapolis Shakespeare Company
The Annapolis Shakespeare Company (ASC) is a not-for-profit, professional theatre company engaging the community with bold, re-imagined, entertaining and accessible interpretations of Shakespeare and the classics. ASC is a proud member of Theatre Washington/Helen Hayes awards and the ShakespeareTheatre Association, an international association of theatres dedicated to producing Shakespeare's work; learn more at www.annapolisshakespeare.org.

About St. John's College
St. John's College, a four-year liberal arts college, is located in the heart of historic Annapolis, Md. The college, which also has a campus in Santa Fe, N.M., is known for its distinctive curriculum that focuses on the foundational works of Western civilization. The college also offers a graduate-level program based on these same principles; learn more at www.sjc.edu.

About the Mitchell Art Gallery
Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums in 2012 and dedicated to bringing art of world renown to Annapolis since it opened in 1989, the Mitchell Gallery attracts more than 10,000 visitors a year to its museum-quality exhibits; learn more at www.sjc.edu/mitchellgallery

About the Maryland Humanities Council
The Maryland Humanities Council (MCH) uses the humanities as tools for exploring critical issues and themes. The MHC brings communities together, promoting conversations about important issues. They encourage Marylanders with different backgrounds and viewpoints to see, hear and learn more about others and themselves. They believe that only informed, engaged citizens can build healthy, democratic societies.

About Folger Shakespeare Library Folger Shakespeare Library is a world-renowned center for scholarship, learning, culture, and the arts. It is home to the world's largest Shakespeare collection and a primary repository for rare materials from the early modern period (1500-1750). The Folger is an internationally recognized research library offering advanced scholarly programs in the humanities; an innovator in the preservation of rare materials; a national leader in how Shakespeare is taught in grades K-12; and an award-winning producer of cultural and arts programs-theatre, music, poetry, exhibits, lectures and family programs. Learn more at www.folger.edu.

About Cincinnati Museum Center Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) at Union Terminal is a nationally recognized institution and national historic landmark. Dedicated to sparking community dialogue, insight and inspiration, CMC was awarded the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 2012. CMC is one of only 16 museums in the nation with both of these honors, making it a unique asset and a vital community resource. Union Terminal has been voted the nation's 45th most important building by the American Institute of Architects. Organizations within CMC include the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater and Cincinnati History Library & Archives. Recognized by Forbes Traveler Magazine as the 17th most visited museum in the country, CMC welcomes more than one million visitors annually. For more information, visit www.cincymuseum.org. About the American Library Association The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with approximately 58,000 members in academic, public, school, government and special libraries. The mission of the American Library Association is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.
ALA's Public Programs Office provides leadership, resources, training and networking opportunities that help thousands of librarians nationwide develop and host cultural programs for adult, young adult and family audiences. The mission of the ALA Public Programs Office is to promote cultural programming as an essential part of library service in all types of libraries. Projects include book and film discussion series, literary and cultural programs featuring authors and artists, professional development opportunities and traveling exhibitions. School, public, academic and special libraries nationwide benefit from the office's programming initiatives. Additional information can be found at www.ala.org/programming.

About the National Endowment for the Humanities
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at www.neh.gov.

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