Shakespeare's 450th anniversary
1/12Performers sing "Happy Birthday" during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York
Performers sing "Happy Birthday" during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York April 23, 2014. Members of The Drilling Company celebrated Shakespeare's birthday (and the date of his death) by reciting speeches, soliloquies, sonnets, and other works throughout the park. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ENVIRONMENT)REUTERS![People write well-wishes and quotes on a giant "birthday card" during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York April 23, 2014. Members of The Drilling Company celebrated Shakespeare's birthday (and the date of his death) by reciting speeches, soliloquies, sonnets, and other works throughout the park. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ANNIVERSARY)]()
2/12People write well-wishes and quotes on a giant "birthday card" during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York
People write well-wishes and quotes on a giant "birthday card" during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York April 23, 2014. Members of The Drilling Company celebrated Shakespeare's birthday (and the date of his death) by reciting speeches, soliloquies, sonnets, and other works throughout the park. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ANNIVERSARY)REUTERS![Actress Rachel Pearl performs as Paulina in "The Winter's Tale" during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York April 23, 2014. Members of The Drilling Company celebrated Shakespeare's birthday (and the date of his death) by reciting speeches, soliloquies, sonnets, and other works throughout the park. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ENVIRONMENT)]()
3/12Actress Rachel Pearl performs as Paulina in "The Winter's Tale" during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York
Actress Rachel Pearl performs as Paulina in "The Winter's Tale" during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York April 23, 2014. Members of The Drilling Company celebrated Shakespeare's birthday (and the date of his death) by reciting speeches, soliloquies, sonnets, and other works throughout the park. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ENVIRONMENT)REUTERS![Actress Octavia Travis Richmond performs as Joan of Arc from Henry VI during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York April 23, 2014. Members of The Drilling Company celebrated Shakespeare's birthday (and the date of his death) by reciting speeches, soliloquies, sonnets, and other works throughout the park. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ANNIVERSARY)]()
4/12Actress Octavia Travis Richmond performs as Joan of Arc from Henry VI during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York
Actress Octavia Travis Richmond performs as Joan of Arc from Henry VI during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York April 23, 2014. Members of The Drilling Company celebrated Shakespeare's birthday (and the date of his death) by reciting speeches, soliloquies, sonnets, and other works throughout the park. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ANNIVERSARY)REUTERS![Actress Samantha Middler performs as Portia in "Julius Caesar" during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York April 23, 2014. Members of The Drilling Company, celebrated Shakespeare's birthday (and the date of his death) by reciting speeches, soliloquies, sonnets, and other works throughout the park. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ENVIRONMENT)]()
5/12Actress Samantha Middler performs as Portia in "Julius Caesar" during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York
Actress Samantha Middler performs as Portia in "Julius Caesar" during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York April 23, 2014. Members of The Drilling Company, celebrated Shakespeare's birthday (and the date of his death) by reciting speeches, soliloquies, sonnets, and other works throughout the park. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ENVIRONMENT)REUTERS![An actor performs during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York April 23, 2014. Members of The Drilling Company celebrated Shakespeare's birthday (and the date of his death) by reciting speeches, soliloquies, sonnets, and other works throughout the park. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ENVIRONMENT)]()
6/12An actor performs during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York
An actor performs during Bryant Park's celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday in New York April 23, 2014. Members of The Drilling Company celebrated Shakespeare's birthday (and the date of his death) by reciting speeches, soliloquies, sonnets, and other works throughout the park. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ENVIRONMENT)REUTERS![A flaming depiction of William Shakespeare is seen during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, southern England April 23, 2014. Known as the Bard and regarded as England's greatest playwright, Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday is celebrated on Wednesday, let his imagination roam as widely as his characters. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY)]()
7/12Flaming depiction of William Shakespeare is seen during a firework display at Royal Shakespeare Company marking 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon
A flaming depiction of William Shakespeare is seen during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, southern England April 23, 2014. Known as the Bard and regarded as England's greatest playwright, Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday is celebrated on Wednesday, let his imagination roam as widely as his characters. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY)REUTERS![A pyrotechnician lights a flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, southern England April 23, 2014. Known as the Bard and regarded as England's greatest playwright, Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday is celebrated on Wednesday, let his imagination roam as widely as his characters. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY)]()
8/12A pyrotechnician lights a flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon
A pyrotechnician lights a flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, southern England April 23, 2014. Known as the Bard and regarded as England's greatest playwright, Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday is celebrated on Wednesday, let his imagination roam as widely as his characters. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY)REUTERS![A flaming depiction of William Shakespeare is seen during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, southern England April 23, 2014. Known as the Bard and regarded as England's greatest playwright, Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday is celebrated on Wednesday, let his imagination roam as widely as his characters. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)]()
9/12Flaming depiction of William Shakespeare is seen during a firework display at Royal Shakespeare Company marking 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon
A flaming depiction of William Shakespeare is seen during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, southern England April 23, 2014. Known as the Bard and regarded as England's greatest playwright, Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday is celebrated on Wednesday, let his imagination roam as widely as his characters. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)REUTERS![People look at a flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, southern England April 23, 2014. Known as the Bard and regarded as England's greatest playwright, Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday is celebrated on Wednesday, let his imagination roam as widely as his characters. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY)]()
10/12People look at flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at Royal Shakespeare Company marking 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon
People look at a flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, southern England April 23, 2014. Known as the Bard and regarded as England's greatest playwright, Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday is celebrated on Wednesday, let his imagination roam as widely as his characters. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY)REUTERS![Fireworks go off over a flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, southern England April 23, 2014. Known as the Bard and regarded as England's greatest playwright, Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday is celebrated on Wednesday, let his imagination roam as widely as his characters. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY)]()
11/12Fireworks go off over a flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon
Fireworks go off over a flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, southern England April 23, 2014. Known as the Bard and regarded as England's greatest playwright, Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday is celebrated on Wednesday, let his imagination roam as widely as his characters. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY)REUTERS![Fireworks go off over a flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, southern England April 23, 2014. Known as the Bard and regarded as England's greatest playwright, Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday is celebrated on Wednesday, let his imagination roam as widely as his characters. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY)]()
12/12Fireworks go off over a flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon
Fireworks go off over a flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company marking the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in Stratford-upon-Avon, southern England April 23, 2014. Known as the Bard and regarded as England's greatest playwright, Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday is celebrated on Wednesday, let his imagination roam as widely as his characters. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY)REUTERS
Actors in London, New York City and William Shakespeare's hometown Stratford-on-Avon commemorated the 450th anniversary of the playwright’s birth (April 23, 1564). Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London, the modern-day counterpart to the original Globe theatre that first staged his plays, is setting out to test the Bard's maxim that "all the world's a stage" by taking "Hamlet" to every country on Earth, more than 200 in all. In another exploration of Shakespeare's legacy, some scholars are now examining Shakespeare’s interest in the natural world, finding that during the Bard of Avon's lifetime, new ideas about the universe and the place of human beings within it were gaining attention.
