Will In The ‘Ville

Accompanied by representatives from Louisville’s arts and cultural institutions, Mayor Greg Fischer yesterday officially announced an eight-month-long, city-wide celebration of William Shakespeare called Will in the Ville. This collaborative initiative—spearheaded by the Frazier History Museum, University of Louisville, and the Louisville Free Public Library—involves more than 45 arts, cultural, and educational organizations throughout Louisville and Southern Indiana. As part of the international commemoration of the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, it aims to make Louisville a “city of Shakespeare.”

Shakespeare events begin this month and continue throughout 2016. The celebration culminates with the arrival of a national traveling exhibit, First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare, on display at the Frazier History Museum November 10–December 10, 2016. The exhibit — co-hosted by the Frazier, UofL, and LFPL — is made possible through a grant from the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Cincinnati Museum Center, and the American Library Association and is traveling to all 50 states. Louisville was selected as the representative site for the state of Kentucky.

“Shakespeare’s writing is timeless – beautiful and poetic – and the city is honored to host this important celebration of all things from the Bard of Avon,” Fischer said.

The First Folio, published in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, is the first collected edition of his plays, many of which were not published during his lifetime. 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 greatest works, including "Macbeth," "Julius Caesar," "Twelfth Night," "The Tempest," "Antony and Cleopatra," "The Comedy of Errors," and "As You Like It."

“The University of Louisville is honored to have helped play a role in bringing the First Folio to our community,” said Neville Pinto, Interim Provost at the University of Louisville. “The historic significance of this compilation is beyond compare, and we’re pleased to make it available to our students, faculty and staff.  Departments throughout the university look forward to bringing Shakespeare to life for our campus community and the region through performances, lectures, exhibits and other programming.”

“Even today, four centuries after his death, Shakespeare’s storytelling brings people together,” said LFPL Director Jim Blanton. “His work is as relevant today as it was 400 years ago and I’m very excited to see how the First Folio brings our community together.”

When the First Folio arrives in Louisville, 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. In the months leading up to and during the exhibition, community partners are planning an array of programs and performances for the public as part of Will in the Ville.

“As the preeminent history museum in this region with world-class facilities and exhibitions, The Frazier is thrilled and honored to be chosen as the one venue in the entire state of Kentucky to display Shakespeare’s First Folio,” said Penelope Peavler, President & CEO of the Frazier History Museum. “The events and experiences surrounding the First Folio highlight the diverse arts and cultural scene in our community, and we are proud join with all of these wonderful community partners to continue the fine tradition of Shakespeare in Kentucky. For most people this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come within inches of one of the most influential books in history.”