Washington, D.C.’s literary crown jewel is opening a landmark exhibition this fall, and it’s one Shakespeare lovers won’t want to miss. On October 16, the Folger Shakespeare Library unveils “To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare,” its largest and most ambitious temporary exhibition since its new galleries opened in 2024.
Curated by Dr. Patricia Akhimie, the show brings together nearly 100 objects — photographs, playbills, posters, books, diaries, illustrations, and even costumes — that trace how Black women have engaged with Shakespeare, on stage and off, across more than four centuries. Visitors will encounter the work and stories of trailblazers like Phillis Wheatley, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Lorraine Hansberry, Ida B. Wells, Esther Rolle, and Mae Turner, alongside contemporary voices.
Among the treasures on view: a copybook created by Phillis Wheatley, the first Black American author to publish a book of poetry in 1773; Toni Morrison’s handwritten notes on her play “Desdemona”; a playbill from Maya Angelou’s production of “Macbeth”; and striking costumes designed for the Royal Shakespeare Company by Melissa Simon-Hartman, who has also designed for Beyoncé.
The experience goes beyond the display cases. Guests can try a hands-on interactive table, watch clips of Lorraine Hansberry and other artists discussing Shakespeare, browse a cozy reading area serving as a miniature archive, and follow an audio guide narrated by Adjoa Andoh — beloved by many as Lady Danbury in Netflix’s “Bridgerton.” The exhibition runs through May 2, 2027, at the Folger on Capitol Hill, with a $15 suggested donation supporting its programming.
Photo: Folger Shakespeare Library / Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University
