Folger Theatre Sets 1950s American South Backdrop for Measure for Measure
Director Psalmayene 24 will reframe Shakespeare’s exploration of power and morality by staging his upcoming production of Measure for Measure within the racially charged landscape of the 1950s American South, marking the start of the Folger Theatre’s new all-Shakespeare season on Capitol Hill.
The production, running from September 22 through November 1, 2026, features Nathan Darrow as the Duke, Renea S. Brown as Isabella, and Lee Osorio as Angelo. Psalmayene 24, a Helen Hayes Award winner who previously helmed the theater’s Metamorphoses, views the move to the mid-century South as a vital lens for examining the play’s core themes of hypocrisy, mercy, and the malleability of authority.
This marks the first time the Folger has staged the work since 2006. The creative team includes a mix of veteran Folger performers—such as Holly Twyford and JaBen Early—alongside several newcomers making their debut. Performances will take place at the Folger Shakespeare Library, with tickets starting at $20.
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