William Shakespeare Biography

William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare

  • William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon on or around April 23, 1564. Birth records do not exist and only a baptismal record from the Holy Trinity, dated April 26, 1564, has any recorded evidence of Shakespeare's birth. The 23rd is merely a sentimental date being the day of England's patron, Saint George, and the date of the death of Shakespeare.
  • Shakespeare's parents were John and Mary Arden Shakespeare.
  • November 27, 1582, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway who was eight years older than him.
  • Susanna, Shakespeare's daughter, was born around May 26, 1583.
  • Hamnet and Judith, twins, were born around February 2, 1585.
  • Around 1592, it is believed that Shakespeare's Henry VI was performed at the Rose Theatre in London.
  • By 1594 Shakespeare had rapidly risen as one of the top playwrights of the time.
  • August of 1596 his son Hamnet died.
  • In 1599, the Globe Theatre was built. Shakespeare was one of the investors for this new theatre.
  • April 23, 1616 Shakespeare died.
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Recent Performances of works by William Shakespeare
Production/Credit WhereOpening Night
Macbeth Dover Little Theater 6/5/2020
Much Ado About Nothing Nutley Little Theatre 2/7/2020
The Taming of the Shrew Dover Little Theater 10/2/2015
Twelfth Night Holmdel Theatre Company 7/24/2015
As You Like It Nutley Little Theatre 2/13/2015
A Midsummer Night's Dream Bergen County Players 1/25/2014
Hamlet Circle Players 9/14/2012
As You Like It Circle Players 9/16/2011
The Merchant of Venice East Brunswick Community Players 4/8/2011
The Taming of the Shrew The Shakespeare Initiative 3/25/2011
The Tempest The Shakespeare Initiative 12/3/2010
King Lear The Shakespeare Initiative 6/4/2010
Othello Circle Players 4/23/2010
Merry Wives Of Winsor The Shakespeare Initiative 12/4/2009
Twelfth Night Dover Little Theater 9/25/2009
The Taming of the Shrew Rogues Company 9/12/2009
The Merchant of Venice Over The Rainbow Productions 9/4/2009
Much Ado About Nothing Oldwick Community Players 7/30/2009
Julius Caesar The Shakespeare Initiative 6/5/2009
Romeo and Juliet Rhino Theatre Company 5/29/2009
Richard III The Shakespeare Initiative 12/5/2008
The Winter's Tale Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 12/3/2008
Titus Andronicus CCM Shakespeare and Company 11/12/2008
The Tempest Nutley Little Theatre 11/7/2008
Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 10/15/2008
King Lear Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 7/2/2008
Romeo and Juliet The Shakespeare Initiative 6/6/2008
The Comedy of Errors Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 4/3/2008
All's Well That Ends Well Nutley Little Theatre 2/8/2008
King Lear Circle Players 11/9/2007
Blood & Roses : The Henry VI Plays Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 10/9/2007
Measure for Measure Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 7/10/2007
A Midsummer Night's Dream Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 6/19/2007
Titus Andronicus Brundage Park Playhouse 6/14/2007
Henry V Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 5/1/2007
Illyria ...... (Based on a Play) Chester Theatre Group 3/2/2007
Macbeth Circle Players 3/2/2007
Measure for Measure Nutley Little Theatre 2/2/2007
A Midsummer Night's Dream NENA Productions Theater Project 1/19/2007
Richard III Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 9/12/2006
Much Ado About Nothing Oldwick Community Players 7/21/2006
The Taming of the Shrew Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 7/18/2006
Much Ado About Nothing Oldwick Community Players 7/14/2006
A Midsummer Night's Dream Brundage Park Playhouse 5/19/2006
A Midsummer Night's Dream Paper Mill Playhouse 4/19/2006
A Midsummer Night's Dream Cabaret Theatre 3/29/2006
A Midsummer Night's Dream McCarter Theatre 3/21/2006
Hamlet Center Players (Freehold) 3/11/2006
As You Like It Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 11/29/2005
The Taming of the Shrew Circle Players 11/4/2005
Julius Caesar Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 10/11/2005
Hamlet Brundage Park Playhouse 10/7/2005
A Midsummer Night's Dream Triple Threat Foundation for the Arts 7/15/2005
Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare '70 6/9/2005
Merry Wives Of Winsor Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 5/31/2005
Twelfth Night Circle Players 11/5/2004
Macbeth Brundage Park Playhouse 10/8/2004
Much Ado About Nothing Friends of the Mercer County Library 10/1/2004
Twelfth Night NENA Productions Theater Project 1/16/2004
The Taming of the Shrew Battery Factory Theater 1/9/2004
The Taming of the Shrew Cabaret Theatre 11/13/2003
A Midsummer Night's Dream Strollers 11/7/2003
Othello Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 10/28/2003
A Midsummer Night's Dream Circle Players 9/12/2003
King John Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 7/29/2003
Much Ado About Nothing Trilogy Repertory Company 7/25/2003
Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 5/27/2003
Romeo and Juliet Triple Threat Foundation for the Arts 1/17/2003
A Midsummer Night's Dream Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 12/3/2002
Love's Labour Lost Academy Repertory Theatre Company 11/13/2002
Love's Labour Lost Academy Repertory Theatre Company 11/13/2002
The Tempest Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 10/29/2002
Pericles Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 7/9/2002
A Midsummer Night's Dream Holmdel Theatre Company 6/28/2002
Hamlet Villagers Theatre 4/26/2002
A Midsummer Night's Dream Drew University Theatre Arts Department 4/17/2002
The Comedy of Errors Villagers Theatre 3/9/2002
The Taming of the Shrew Studio Players 3/7/2002
The Boys from Syracuse ...... (Based on a Play) Opera Theatre of TCNJ 2/28/2002
A Midsummer Night's Dream Like 40 Productions 1/11/2002
Romeo and Juliet McCarter Theatre 9/11/2001
Hamlet Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 8/7/2001
The Comedy of Errors Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 6/12/2001
Romeo and Juliet Brundage Park Playhouse 6/1/2001
A Midsummer Night's Dream East Brunswick Community Players 4/20/2001
Macbeth East Brunswick Community Players 1/19/2001
The Merchant of Venice Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 10/24/2000
A Midsummer Night's Dream Barn Theatre 10/6/2000
Shakespeare's R&J ...... (Based on a Play) 12 Miles West Theatre Company 9/7/2000
Antony & Cleopatra Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 9/5/2000
Twelfth Night Destiny Productions 8/12/2000
Twelfth Night Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 7/11/2000
Twelfth Night Fellowship Theater 4/7/2000
Twelfth Night Cumberland Players 1/13/2000
Much Ado About Nothing Destiny Productions 11/19/1999
Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 10/26/1999
The Tempest Villagers Theatre 10/15/1999
Twelfth Night Function Ten, Inc. 8/13/1999
Measure for Measure Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 8/3/1999
As You Like It Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 6/8/1999
A Midsummer Night's Dream Players Guild of Leonia 5/7/1999
As You Like It Major Theater Series (MSU) 12/10/1998
Julius Caesar Mercer County Community College 4/3/1998
Cymbeline McCarter Theatre 1/20/1998
A Midsummer Night's Dream Chatham Players 2/28/1997
Romeo and Juliet Holmdel Theatre Festival 7/11/1996
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