Atlanta Shakespeare Company/American Shakespeare Tavern

Folio Auction at New Academy Open House

In honor of William Shakespeare's birthday on Sunday, April 23, the Atlanta Shakespeare Company at the New American Shakespeare Tavern will be hosting its first-ever open house at the company's new Shakespeare Academy.

The event will run from 1–5 p.m. and includes light hors d' oeuvres and champagne, interacting with the company's actors, and a tour of the new facility's classrooms, artist housing, education administration offices, and expanded lobby bar.

Participants also will get a sneak peak at 30 discrete leaves from a genuine 1632 Shakespeare Second Folio. These are the premium 30 leaves from what rare book dealer David Frohman is calling The Shakespeare 200: a limited edition of individual leaves originating from a single (imperfect) Shakespeare Second Folio.

"Maybe you've seen a Shakespeare First Folio…under glass…with two pages visible," Jeff Watkins, Atlanta Shakespeare Company and Tavern president and artistic director, writes in a letter to patrons. "Believe me when I say that this is different. On Sunday, April 23rd, you'll be able to hold up to 30 1632 Folio leaves in your very own hands! OK, they are protected by a museum quality acrylic case, but you can see both sides and get up close and personal with some of the greatest passages ever written."

The Tavern is partnering with Frohman to conduct an online auction for many of the individual leaves beginning April 28 and lasting 10 days. On May 17, the best leaves will be sold via silent auction "at our Shakespeare Tavern Swanky-do," Watkins writes. Half of all proceeds from both auctions will go to benefit the company's education work and the new Shakespeare Academy.

"Imagine owning the title page of Othello from a 1632 Folio!" writes Watkins. "Or one of only 62 printings of the leaf containing Hamlet's 'To be or not to be' speech still remaining in private hands."

April 19, 2017

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