Jacob Ming-Trent Brings ‘How Shakespeare Saved My Life’ to Folger Theatre in World Premiere Run

Folger Theatre is closing out its season with a deeply personal Shakespeare-meets-hip-hop story from Broadway’s Jacob Ming-Trent.

The company will present the world premiere of “How Shakespeare Saved My Life,” written and performed by Ming-Trent and directed by acclaimed theater maker Tony Taccone, for a limited engagement June 9–July 5, 2026, at the Folger Shakespeare Library.

The 90-minute solo work traces Ming-Trent’s turbulent youth and artistic awakening, blending Shakespeare with the voices and influence of Jean-Michel Basquiat, The Notorious B.I.G., and Tupac Shakur. At its core, the piece explores how art became a lifeline, helping a young performer find identity, purpose, and a way forward.

“I wanted to tell my story, but I wanted to tell it with purpose and for a purpose,” Ming-Trent said. “I thought there was another kid out there who needed to hear it, a young actor who needed to hear it, a young hip-hop artist, a young painter, a young whoever who needed to hear it and that my story could save their life. That’s why I called it ‘How Shakespeare Saved My Life.’”

Ming-Trent arrives at the Folger with major stage momentum. He was named one of American Theatre’s “People to Watch” in January, and his recent turn as Falstaff in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s “Merry Wives” earned a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best Ensemble. Folger audiences may also remember him as Bottom in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” staged at the National Building Museum in 2022.

His Broadway credits include “Shrek the Musical,” “Hands on a Hardbody,” and the recent revival of “Gypsy,” while his screen work includes “Watchmen,” “Only Murders in the Building,” “R&J,” and “The Forty-Year-Old Version.” He also earned a Drama Desk nomination for his performance as Falstaff in The Public Theater’s “Merry Wives.”

The creative team for “How Shakespeare Saved My Life” includes Tiffany Rachelle Stewart on choreography, Takeshi Kata on scenic design, Danielle Preston on costume design, Alan C. Edwards on lighting design, Jake Rodriguez as sound designer and composer, and Alexander V. Nichols on projection design. Taylor Kiechlin serves as production stage manager, with Miranda Korieth as assistant stage manager.

The work was co-commissioned by Folger Theatre and Red Bull Theater, and co-produced by Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Folger Theatre, and Red Bull Theater. Following its Folger run, the show is set to make its New York City premiere this fall in Red Bull Theater’s production at The Public Theater.

Tickets for “How Shakespeare Saved My Life” start at $20 and are available through the Folger Box Office and online at folger.edu/saved. Accessible performances and related programming will be offered throughout the run.