The Shakespeare-themed exhibit will offer a behind-the-scenes look at "A Midsummer Night's Dream," as well as life in Elizabethan times.
After a pandemic hiatus, a popular attraction is returning to the National Building Museum this summer. Each year, the museum transforms the Great Hall of the building into a one-of-kind exhibit where visitors can escape the city heat.
Past Summer Block Party experiences included a life-size wooden labyrinth, an indoor beach with a ball pit ocean, and a giant grass lawn. This year, the museum will play host to the Playhouse, a theater-themed exhibit based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream.
The National Building Museum partnered with the Folger Theatre for this unique Summer Block Party.
The Playhouse will feature live productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream at night and serve as a museum exhibit during the day. Visitors can explore an art installation created by Southside Design and Building that tells the story of Shakespeare’s famous play, participate in activities like building an Elizabethan City, go on a scavenger hunt, or watch a sword-fighting demonstration.
“For the Folger and the National Building Museum, this is a shared invitation for people of all ages and experiences to uncover the magic of theater through The Playhouse’s intricate structural composition during the day and then beckons us to get lost in the passion and whimsy of storytelling at night," said Karen Ann Daniels, Director of Programming, Folger Shakespeare Library and Artistic Director, Folger Theatre. "After almost three years of waiting, The Playhouse permits us to dream, to play, and rediscover the joy of gathering."
Illustration from A Knavish Lad by Joanna Robson, Courtesy of National Building Museum
The Playhouse will be open at the National Building Museum from July 1 through September 6. Entrance to the exhibit is included with regular admission to the museum. Performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream will begin on July 12.
Tickets must be purchased through the Folger Theatre beginning on May 18.
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