"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"
The world has known the iconic sonnet line by William Shakespeare from required readings in literature, and now that this day marks the 400th death anniversary of the famous writer, Shakespeare's legacy proves to still be alive.
While not many children today are used to reading the classics, parents and educators who grew up reading Shakespeare may take this opportunity to share the wonders of the poet's literature to the younger generations.
According to Forbes, April 23 could be both the day Shakespeare was born in 1564 and died in 1616 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Here are some celebrations in the United States in honor of the "the greatest writer in the English language."
1. Forbes notes that the Folger Shakespeare Library will host a 90-minute live-streamed event on April 23 titled "The Wonder of Will Live" that will feature various actors, artists, community leaders and scholars that will share personal stories and performances to show how Shakespeare affected their lives. The event will be broadcast on C-SPAN2's Book TV and streamed at Folger.edu at noon.
2. Chicago has launched the Shakespeare 400 Chicago, the "largest global" quadricentennial celebration, as reported by The Guardian. The yearlong festival consists of 850 events in more than 120 locations. A fireworks display will cap off the celebration at 10:15 p.m. at the Navy Pier + Aon, Lakefront, Downton. The complete list of events is on their website.
3. Baltimore Consort, a group that specializes in the music during Shakespeare's era, will perform The Food of Love: Songs, Dances and Fancies for Shakespeare on April 24 in Houston, Texas, according to The Guardian.
4. The University of Colorado will host a celebration at 1 p.m. in the lobby of University Theater on the Boulder campus, reports Daily Camera. Attendees can also watch a student-run performance of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," adapted from Shakespeare's "Hamlet," that will be shown at 2 p.m.
