COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO: First Folio comes to Colorado

If it weren’t for a book known as the First Folio, many of William Shakespeare’s plays might have been forgotten, including “Julius Caesar,” “Macbeth” and “The Tempest.”

Released in 1623 by two of Shakespeare’s actors, John Heminge and Hendry Condell, the First Folio is the first published edition of Shakespeare’s theatrical work. It compiles three dozen plays, 18 of which were never published during the playwright’s lifetime.

The first national tour of this celebrated book, “First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare,” began earlier this year. It stops in Boulder and, starting Tuesday, Aug. 9, will be on view at the CU Art Museum at the University of Colorado Boulder. The historic folio stays at the museum through Aug. 31.

CU Boulder has been preparing for the Folio’s arrival. In April, organizers hosted a birthday/death day party for Shakespeare on campus. The celebrations included a “Guess that Shakespeare” game and a Shakespeare Insult Generator.  Many people think Shakespeare was a genius at writing insults, and the generator rearranges some of his famous digs into new ones, such as “Thou beetle-headed, motley-minded maggot-pie.” Those visiting the First Folio will be able to make their own Shakespearean insults.