Wednesday, April 23, 2008

On This Date

April 23: William Shakespeare was born (1564) — and died (1616) — in Stratford-upon-Avon.

To be a well-favored man is the gift of fortune; but to read and write comes by nature.

– Dogberry, Act III, Scene 3, Much Ado About Nothing.

Coincidentally, today is also the start of the 27th annual William Inge Theatre Festival in Independence, Kansas. One thing that Inge and Shakespeare have in common is that they are, as far as we know, the only two playwrights who have a festival in their honor in the place of their birth.