r ^ NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS DDTCrMTC PRESENTS - « -* * ■ SHAKESPEARE IN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES In partnership with Welcome to the world of William Shakespeare. The National Endowment of the Arts is proud to present Shakespeare in American Communities, the largest tour of Shakespeare in our nation's history. Over 15 months, six distinguished theater companies will bring new productions of Shakespeare to more than 100 small and mid-sized cities in all 50 states. The program will also reach thousands of schools through exciting educational materials, classroom workshops, and in-school performances. The National Endowment for the Arts has created this program in cooperation with Arts Midwest to help revive the American tradition of theatrical touring and to bring the finest art to the broadest possible public. I would like to thank the honorary co-chairs of Shakespeare in American Communities, Mrs. Laura Bush and Jack Valenti, Motion Picture Association of America President and CEO. Their enthusiastic support has gready enriched the program. This special commemorative program provides a timeline on the life and times of William Shakespeare. We hope this information will enhance your enjoyment of the performance. 2£u^^'< Dana Gioia Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts OM)|\l \\ K LOR LNT1SS TM A B 1< I ANNl^ I K T> Atcamc r 4rV titties p UD * A^Ubee^^U t bflO«r^ ,fc > H / ««" ,w TR AGED|f «3MP? .«<£ »<" 4 vi ^gSKF" Title pages from the quarto editions of the four plays being toured as part of Shakespeare in American Communities. <£*. <" .^>* Below, Cfcies Jansz Visscher's map of London, 1625 KM T Q R1UMQL K I O I O OR B & CELFJ K R K I MU \\ ■ / ')^t A * F I V 1U kk J -, > ; ■ MliwihBw.l itjJJ^fe NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS PRESENTS SHAKESPEARE IN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES Queen Elizabeth I of England begins her reign. J[ife and Times o/WIL 1564 1565 1566 1567 1568 1569 1570 1571 1572 1573 1574 1575 1576 1577 1578 1579 1580 1581 1582 1583 1584 1585 1586 1587 1588 1589 1590 1 • William Shakespeare : born to John and Mary '• Shakespeare in ; Stratford-upon-Avon. The first permanent theater in England, the Theatre, is built. Shakespeare marries Anne Hathaway. Arthur Golding translates Ovid's Metamporphosis. The text later influenced Shakespeare's work. Richard Burbage, who portrayed many of Shakespeare's characters, 555 1556 1557 1558 1559 1560 1561 1562 1563 1564 1565 1566 1567 1568 1569 1570 1571 1572 1573 1574 1575 Shakespeare's twins Judith and Hamnet born. Shakespeare's daughter Susanna born. Shakespeare goes to London to pursue life as an actor and playwright. Marlowe's play Dr. Faustus first produced. perf th Rid A 1582 1583 1584 1585 1586 1587 1588 1589 1590 1 LLIAM SHAKESPEARE 1% John Barrymore in Hamlet 1590 1591 1592 1593 1594 1595 1596 1597 1598 1599 1600 1601 1602 1603 1604 1605 1606 1607 1608 1609 1610 1611 1612 1613 1614 1615 1616 1617 1618 1619 1620 1621 1622 1C 162 Shakespeare begins writing the Sonnets. First performances of the Henry VI series, Richard III, and A Comedy of Errors. Hamnet Shakespeare dies at age 11. The Theatre permanently closes due to the expiration of its lease. Shakespeare becomes founding member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men. Shakespeare's father dies. Lord Chamberlain's Men lease land and build the Globe Theatre from the remains of the Theatre. The Globe opens. Shakespeare retires from the theatre, moves permanendy to Stratford. Puckjrom A Midsummer Night's Dream First performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and Richard II. i r Shakespeare is listed as a principal actor in the program for Ben Jonson's Every Man in His Humour, confirming his reputation as an actor. First performances of Twelfth Night and Hamlet. First performances of Julius Caesar, Henry IV Part I and II, Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Merchant of Venice. Queen Elizabeth dies. James VI of Scodand ascends to the throne, becoming King James I of England and Scodand. Shakespeare's Sonnets published without his permission. SHAKE5PEAKES SONNETS Lucy Newmcm-Wffiams in Macbeth First performances of Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, and Antony and Cleopatra. First performances of The Tempest and Henry VIII. * On April 23, Shakespeare dies at age 52, and is buried at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford, two days later. Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway, dies. First Folio of Shakespeare's work is published. Ben Jonson's Workes published. He is first living playwright to publish his complete works. Benjamin West's King Lear and Cordelia 5MJ 1591 1592 1593 1594 1595 1596 1597 1598 1599 1600 1601 1602 1603 1604 1605 1606 1607 1608 1609 1610 1611 1612 1613 1614 1615 1616 1617 1618 1619 1620 1621 1622 1623 1624 162 A MESSAGE FROM OUR PARTNER THE SALLIE MAE FUND As a charitable organization committed to creating educational opportunities for underserved students, The Sallie Mae Fund is proud to support the National Endowment for the Arts' Shakespeare in American Communities tour. The Fund applauds this impressive endeavor to share the works of one of the world's most celebrated artists with communities throughout the United States. We are particularly pleased that our contribution to the Shakespeare in American Communities tour will support The Sallie Mae Fund's Free Seats for Students initiative. In each community, 50 seats will be made available for free to underserved high school students and their parents or chaperones. The Sallie Mae Fund strongly believes that every student deserves the opportunity to reach their potential and fulfill their educational dreams. Today's students will be tomorrow's teachers, police officers, astronauts, doctors, and, of course, playwrights. That's why the Fund is working hard to make access to a post-secondary education a reality for America's children. The Sallie Mae Fund extends its best wishes to the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest for a successful tour. We hope you enjoy the performance. y& AS '0°™^ Theufll iHldbFund e s i www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org FOLGF.R. Unless otherwise indicated, all images are from the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC, home to the world's largest Shakespeare collection. To learn more, visit www.folger.edu.