BOSTON, MA — July 29, 2026 — The Boston Public Library (BPL) will welcome Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) for Shakespeare at the Library: Worlds of Imagination, a series of site-specific performances throughout the historic McKim building this October, made possible through generous donors to the Boston Public Library Fund (BPLF) who are committed to elevating public programming in the historic McKim building.
The program celebrates both the brilliance of Shakespeare’s works and the beauty of the library itself, featuring scenes and monologues chosen for their themes of imagination, storytelling, and transformation. Performed “pop-up” style, the production unfolds across four iconic spaces within the library, with each staging inspired by the art, architecture, and atmosphere of its setting, highlighting the library as a place where history, creativity, and imagination converge.
Performances will take place on October 6, 8, 13, and 14, with shows at 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM each day. Each performance runs approximately one hour. Audiences may choose to experience the performance in parts or follow the performers through the building, creating a flexible, immersive journey.
Audiences will move through four distinctive settings across the McKim building of the Central Library in Copley Square, each selected to complement the scenes performed within it:
- Dartmouth Street Entrance (Front Plaza): The performance begins on the library's grand exterior steps with the high-energy Prologue from Henry V, inviting the gathering audience to use their collective imagination to transform the historic stone facade into a gateway for storytelling.
- Sargent Gallery: Suspended beneath John Singer Sargent's epic murals, this stop plunges into the striking existential depth of Hamlet, utilizing the hall’s towering architecture to amplify the Prince's witty battle of wits with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and his iconic "To be or not to be" soliloquy.
- Abbey Room: Tucked away in this dark-paneled scholarly sanctuary, the tone shifts to brilliant comedy as Twelfth Night's pompous Malvolio falls for a hilarious literary prank, discovering a forged love letter and debuting his notoriously ridiculous yellow stockings.
- Courtyard: The performance culminates here with Shakespeare’s most famous moment of theatrical imagination, the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, followed by a grand finale celebrating the richness of his language.
“The Central Library’s McKim building is one of Boston’s most iconic civic landmarks, and through the generosity of our donors, CSC will help activate these historic spaces in new and meaningful ways,” said Paula Sakey, Executive Director of the Boston Public Library Fund. “We are thrilled to support experiences that foster a deeper connection between the Library and the community while expanding opportunities to bring the McKim building to life.”
"Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has always believed that these stories belong to everyone, which is why we've spent so many summers sharing them for free on the Common," said Victoria Townsend, Producing Director and Director of the piece, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. "Bringing that same spirit to a historic public space like the Boston Public Library felt like a natural next step. These performances give audiences a chance to encounter Shakespeare up close, in a place that already belongs to the community, and we're grateful to the Boston Public Library Fund's donors for helping make that possible."
Event Details:
- Dates: October 6, 8, 13, and 14, 2026
- Times: 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM
- Run time: Approximately 1 hour
- Location: Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square, 700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA
- Admission: Free
- RSVP: Encouraged but not required; details available closer to the event at bpl.org/events.
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ABOUT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library is a pioneer of public library service in America. It was the first large, free municipal library in the United States; the first public library to lend books; the first to have a branch library; and the first to have a children’s room.
The Boston Public Library of today is a robust system that includes the Central Library in Copley Square, 25 neighborhood branches, the Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center, the Kirstein Business Library and Innovation Center, and an archival center, offering public access to world-class special collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and prints, along with rich digital content and online services.
The Boston Public Library serves nearly 4 million visitors per year and millions more online. All of its programs and exhibitions are free to all and open to the public. The Boston Public Library is a department of the City of Boston, under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu. To learn more, visit bpl.org.
ABOUT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND
The mission of the Fund is to provide financial support to the Boston Public Library, ensuring that it remains viable, engaging, accessible, and free to all. The Fund fulfills this mission by working in partnership with the Library, donors, and other funders in supporting BPL programs and special initiatives. Support from the Fund supplements, but does not supplant, other BPL resources, including City of Boston funding. For more information, visit bplfund.org.
ABOUT THE COMMONWEALTH SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC), best known for its annual free performances on Boston Common, is a non-profit theater organization founded in 1996, dedicated to artistic excellence, accessibility, and education. CSC’s Free Shakespeare on the Common has served over one million audience members over its 30-year history, and has become a beloved summer tradition enjoyed by more than 50,000 people annually. In 2024, CSC introduced a production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", delighting audiences of all ages.
In addition to its live theatre productions, CSC provides robust Education and Training programs, including the renowned CSC Apprentice Program, the CSC2 company for early-career actors, and Stage2 programming for middle and high school students and educators. For more information, visit commshakes.org.